Our Early Childhood Program is specially designed to provide children between three and eight years of age with a strong foundation in dance and movement.  It teaches the young dancer the basic elements of movement and dance:  space and how we relate to it, both as an individual and as a member of a group; the eight basic locomotive movements; musical rhythm, beat and time; opposites and directions; some elementary positions of ballet.  Integrated with these physical concepts are the intellectual concepts of self-awareness, creative expression, imagination, teamwork, and basic body/health awareness.

Through participation in these classes, students also learn the basics of classroom behavior and manners, which remain the same throughout their dancing years.  These concepts include learning how to take turns, follow another dancer or leading the way, waiting patiently, working together with others, and having a positive attitude.

Educators now know that training young children in the concepts of movement sequencing, patterning, and spatial relationships lays a strong foundation for the later development of reading, mathematics, and other educational skills.  Children in our Early Childhood Program work actively in all of these areas.