CREATIVE DANCE
Creative Dance is a form of dance that combines movement and artistic expression, without the requirement of extensive training (Gilbert, 1992). Typically creative dance focuses on the development of motor skills and emotional expression. Creative dance allows for variation amongst the skill level of its participants, affording opportunities for those of any age and ability (Wang, 2004). Creative dance has also been shown as an effective holistic approach to promote movement development and improve social and cognitive functioning (Scharoun, 2014). Classes will focus on rhythm, and basic technique with ballet as the foundation. Music will range from classical, to follow along pre-school/
school age music. Classes are upbeat and fun. Props include: scarves, balance beams, ribbons and more.
https://wiki.ubc.ca/Course:KIN366/ConceptLibrary/Creative_Dance
BALLET
Ballet, one of the most classical and artistic forms of dance, has a rich history. It first emerged during the Italian Renaissance in the 15th century, before France and Russia developed the techniques further. Additionally, the word “ballet” itself is a French word derived from the Italian word “Balletto,” which means “to dance.”
Ballet has become famous worldwide in the 20th century, infiltrating cultures from countries all around the world.
Methods of Ballet
Systematic and standardized classical ballet training programs are frequently developed by a single designer or a ballet company. However, no single originator has standardized the French and American ballet styles as a training system or method.
https://cpyb.org/guide-to-everything-you-need-to-know-about-ballet/
JAZZ
Jazz dance is an umbrella term encompassing several different styles of dance that became
popular in the early 20th-century. Though jazz dance has mixed roots extending back through both
African and European traditions, it's a uniquely American creation, which developed simultaneously
with jazz music in New Orleans. Today, jazz dance continues to evolve and blend with other dance styles —
for example, street jazz and theatre dance. However, true to its roots, jazz dance
continues to hearken back to the ethnic eclecticism that birthed it.
Some identifying elements of jazz dance include:
Isolations: a dancer isolates one specific part of her body, such as her rib cage or wrist
Grounded movement: dancers keep a low center of gravity, and often bend their knees
Syncopation: accenting an offbeat or note of the musical accompaniment that surprises the audience
Contractions: motivated by her breath, a dancer will make a C-shape with her core
https://www.vox.com/2018/7/13/17556030/sytycd-dance-styles-guide
HIP HOP
The history of hip hop is distinctly American, though, like other "distinctly American" forms of dance, its roots extend back through jazz to African dance.
Competitive nature: hip hoppers challenge each other with dance moves
Isolations: dancers control and move specific parts of their bodies
Popping: quick contraction and release of a dancer's muscles to the beat of the music
Locking: performing a series of movements to "lock" parts of the body in different positions
Breaking: improvisational freestyle movements performed closely to the rhythm of a song,
often including flips and tricks
https://www.vox.com/2018/7/13/17556030/sytycd-dance-styles-guide
CONTEMPORARY
Contemporary dance is a style of expressive dance that combines elements of several dance genres including modern, jazz, lyrical and classical ballet. Contemporary dancers strive to connect the mind and the body through fluid dance movements. The term "contemporary" is somewhat misleading: it describes a genre that developed during the mid-20th century and is still very popular today. Contemporary dance stresses versatility and improvisation, unlike the strict, structured nature of ballet. Contemporary dancers focus on floorwork, using gravity to pull them down to the floor. This dance genre is often done in bare feet. Contemporary dance can be performed to many different styles of music.
Pioneers of contemporary dance include Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham, and Merce Cunningham because they broke the rules of the strict forms of ballet. These dancers/choreographers all believed that dancers should have freedom of movement, allowing their bodies to freely express their innermost feelings.
https://www.liveabout.com/what-is-contemporary-dance-1007423
LYRICAL
Lyrical dance is a dance style that blends elements of ballet and jazz dance.
Lyrical dance is generally a little more fluid than ballet and also somewhat faster although not as rapidly executed as jazz dance. Lyrical dance is also somewhat smoother and a bit faster
than ballet, but not quite as fast as jazz.
https://www.liveabout.com/what-is-lyrical-dance-1007414
IMPROVISATION
When taught holistically improvisation can help dance students grow in their technique,
artistry, and overall well-being. There are many benefits to incorporate improvisation into your students’
dance training, regardless of their age or the dance style they are studying. Improvisation helps dancers to:
for their own bodies;
enabling them to find joy and a greater sense of self through movement.
https://shannondoolingdances.com/2018/07/11/danceimprovisation/
TAP
Tap dancing originated in the U.S. and brought together elements from a number of other ethnic dances, including West African step dances and Scottish, Irish, and English jig. Many elements of modern tap dance, including syncopated rhythms, come from African tribal dances and songs. When enslaved people couldn’t perform with their traditional drums, they found ways to make similar sounds with their feet and bodies to keep their culture alive.
The type of tap dance we would recognize today was introduced in the 1920s when tap shoes were first created. The first tap shoes were built by nailing or screwing small pieces of metal to the toes and heels of dance shoes. Performing groups and chorus lines started performing in tap shoes, and the dancing and footwear quickly gained popularity. Metal taps allowed for a louder and more rhythmic sound. Around the same time, tap dancing became a popular addition to traveling vaudeville shows. Tap dancing had previously been largely an individual performance, but it became a group routine with the help of choreographers and standardized steps.
https://www.adanceplace.com/history-of-tap-dance/
Acrobatics
Acro dance is a style of dance that combines classical dance technique with precision acrobatic elements. It is defined by its athletic character, its unique choreography, which seamlessly blends dance and acrobatics, and its use of acrobatics in a dance context.[1] It is a popular dance style in amateur competitive dance as well as in professional dance theater and in contemporary circus productions such as those by Cirque du Soleil. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acro_dance
Mindful Movement
Mindful movement is an activity and/or exercise performed with awareness. It is putting your attention and focus on noticing and feeling what your body does while engaging in movement. It is a mental focus and practice of being aware of our entire body. Mindful movement allows us to recognize the capability and potential of our bodies.It is fully finding an appreciation of how truly amazing your body is while allowing your mind to connect to your body. Activities that are both structured and unstructured can be considered mindful movement. Some of the structured activities include: dance, yoga, pilates, strength training, stretching. Unstructured activities may include: freestyle dance, singing in the car, games with children, gardening, and playing with pets. https://sagenutrition.org/2017/02/23/what-is-mindful-movement/
Musical Theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an integrated whole. Although musical theatre overlaps with other theatrical forms like opera and dance, it may be distinguished by the equal importance given to the music as compared with the dialogue, movement and other elements. Since the early 20th century, musical theatre stage works have generally been called, simply, musicals. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_theatre
The word “ballet” itself is a French word derived from the Italian word “Balletto,” which means “to dance.”