Class information: Dance

Play it by Ear offers solo or small group classes in the following dance genres.  

Please note: Small groups must be grouped by similar area of study and skill level. Solo classes can be used to focus on a specific routine, goal or a general genre(s) of study. Below please find the variety of styles available at Play it by Ear. 

Baby Ballet (Creative Movement) is the youngest dance genre for your tiny, adorable dancers. The children start as young as 2 years old. Here, the goal is to introduce dance through fun and imagery while teaching the children to control and recognize parts of the body. They can  be graceful flowers stretching towards the sun or a bunny hopping to the rhythm of the music. The goal is to encourage socialization and communication and to teach dance movement through play. Children will learn basic dance positions and some dance terminology. It is a fun environment which enables the students to learn and grow. 

​Ballet is a fundamental necessity for any dancer. Study within this technique-driven genre is offered for all ages and levels. Based in the Cecchetti method, Ms. Susie begins with basic ballet positions and simple movements. From there, students will be guided to discover proper alignment, flexibility, muscle extension, and grace through control of movement.

Jazz is open to intermediate and advanced students. It stresses the subtlety and control of movement made famous by Bob Fosse. Technique is a must for this class, and every dancer will feel challenged with this class which introduces elements like improvisation,"feeling out the music" and full performance quality.

Hip-hop is one of the most appealing dance forms for new students and is found almost everywhere. It's fun, fast-moving and accompanied by upbeat music. It focuses on control of the body through isolation of movement and challenges the student to remember and practice quick-paced but complex combinations of choreography. Students love the energy of this genre, and it always creates a final performance with an attitude! 

Lyrical  is most often compared to ballet but actually fuses elements of ballet, jazz and modern dance. It stresses emotion and fluidity of movement in order to tell the story of a musical selection. In this genre, experienced students are encouraged to apply what they've learned in order to create artistic expression and show off their skills at the same time.

Pointe is open to only the more advanced student and students hoping to go on pointe must be vetted. Many younger dancers hope to, one day, be introduced to this beautiful yet difficult form of dance in which students are trained en pointe. This term indicates that all of the dancers weight and movement is supported on their toes while wearing a special pair of shoes. This class is rooted in classical ballet technique and not right for every student. It requires a healthy amount of practice, time, and dedication. The student will be guided through the process of purchasing a pair of pointe shoes that complement their anatomy and onto strengthening their core and turn-out in order to achieve the line, grace and beauty of the prima ballerina. 

​Tap is a timeless favorite which begins with those shiny black shoes with metal taps that students love as soon as they see them... or rather hear them! Tap begins with guiding the student through learning how to create sounds by isolating different parts of the feet. From there, students work to create rhythms and count time using their feet as their musical instrument.