The competitive program (petite and up) is suitable for the more serious dancer with a sound technical background in dance; that loves to compete; or may even be striving to pursue a career as a professional dancer. This program is INVITE ONLY. Extra commitment to the competitive program is required with added time and finance for training; travel; rehearsals and competition fees. Dancers must be assessed and invited by our faculty to be a part of this program. Competitive group choreography is performed in the year end show.

PLEASE NOTE: Competitive Program dancers may be required to start one week prior to the main studio start date for setting group choreography - schedule tba

 

AGE GROUPS:

Petite: Age 5 years +

Minis: Age 7 years +

Juniors: 9 years +

Intermediates: 12 years +

Seniors: 14 years +

 

MANDATORY CLASSES...

The following classes are mandatory for the competitive dancer in order to maintain a high standard of technique and develop well-rounded dancers for a broad spectrum of choreography. 

  • Ballet Choreography - Competitive for Petites and Minis. Performance only for Juniors, Inters and Seniors.

  • Ballet tech & progressions.

  • Jazz Choreography - Competitive for all teams.

  • Jazz tech & progressions.

  • Lyrical Choreography - Competitive for Minis, Juniors, Inters, Seniors.

  • Contemporary Choreography - Competitive for Juniors, Inters, Seniors.

  • Conditioning/Acro Training

MANDATORY HOURS PER WEEK:

  • Petite: 2 DAYS A WEEK: 2.75 hours (Ballet choreo, ballet tech, jazz choreo, jazz tech, acro/conditioning training)

  • Minis: 2 DAYS A WEEK: 4.5 hours (Ballet choreo, ballet tech, jazz choreo, jazz tech, lyrical, acro/conditioning training)

  • Juniors, Inters & Seniors: 3 DAYS A WEEK: 6.00 hours (Ballet choreo, ballet tech, jazz choreo, jazz tech, lyrical, contemporary, acro/conditioning training)

BALLET CHOREOGRAPHY

An open ballet class teaching the fundamental techniques of ballet which is the foundation for all dance styles. Develop correct placement, alignment and increase core strength. Competitive ballet choreography is introduced to the younger teams (petites and minis) as they begin their journey on the competitive team. Once contemporary choreography is introduced at the junior level, dancers will only compete in ballet if SGDA ballet faculty feel a dancer is strong enough to meet the demands required for ballet discipline, as it advances with age. Competitive choreography in ballet may be offered as a solo, duet or small group (applicable for junior/ inter/ seniors). (COMPETITIVE GROUP CHOREOGRAPHY (petites & minis) / PERFORMANCE FOR YEAR END SHOW (juniors, inters & seniors).

BALLET TECHNIQUE

This ballet class is training only, focusing on perfecting ballet technique. Our certified ballet instructors in R.A.D (Royal Academy of Dance), Vagonova and Cecchetti deliver a variety of exercises and drills to increase the dancer’s ballet strength and flexibility, turns and elevation, and dance vocabulary. Traditional folk and character ballet work may also presented in this class to ensure the dancer understands the theatrical presentation of national and cultural traditions in ballet. (NON-PERFORMANCE, TECHNIQUE ONLY).

JAZZ CHOREOGRAPHY AND TECHNIQUE

Jazz classes includes turns, jumps, isolations technique, and across the floor combinations to up beat music. Dancers explore different styles of jazz from theatre, commercial, traditional to jazz funk. (COMPETITIVE GROUP CHOREOGRAPHY)

CONTEMPORARY/ MODERN

A Contemporary class has a strong influence from Modern technique combined with ballet, jazz and lyrical. A strong emphasis is on the use of breath, contractions, and suspension and fall work. Ages 9 and up only. (COMPETITIVE GROUP CHOREOGRAPHY).

CONDITIONING/ ACRO TRAINING

Conditioning/ Acro training is designed to increase the dancers core strength and target muscle groups primarily used for developing strong technique. A variety of stretch exercises are introduced to reach maximum flexibility and endurance to increase stamina. Acro at SGDA follows the Acrobatic Arts Syllabus which focuses on fundamental acrobatic technique for the dancer. Acro teaches flexibility, balance, strength, muscle control & concentration. Students will start with being introduced to handstands, chin stands, cartwheels, bridges, walkovers, balances and flexibility skills. Once these fundamental skills are mastered then dancers can progress to advanced skills including ariels, handsprings etc only when the SGDA acro faculty feel they are ready. Acro is not a tumbling or gymnastics class. We strongly recommend dancers to be enrolled in a technical training dance classes such as ballet, jazz etc. If SGDA acro faculty feel a dancer is strong enough, competitive choreography in acro may be offered as a solo/ duet or small group. (NON-PERFORMANCE/ TRAINING ONLY)

LYRICAL

Lyrical combines ballet and jazz technique to display fluidity and grace. Normally faster paced than ballet yet slower than jazz to create an emotionally mature dance. (COMPETITIVE GROUP CHOREOGRAPHY).

OPTIONAL CLASSES...

Optional Classes are highly recommended to continue the development of a strong technician and performer.

PBT - PROGRESSING BALLET TECHNIQUE

Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) is an innovative body-conditioning and strengthening program that has been designed to enhance students' technique by focussing on training the muscle memory required in each exercise in all forms of dance. The program helps with injury prevention and rehabilitation and enhances the ability of athletes to perform at their best. It can be difficult for students to feel which muscles initiate the correct alignment in training. However, with the use of an exercise ball and resistant therabands, the students gain a great sense of posture and weight-placement whilst feeling each correct muscle group working throughout each exercise, which then stays with them when whilst performing in dance or their chosen field of sport. PBT focuses on core strength, weight placement and alignment of the body with a gradual approach of carefully designed exercises and repetitions of these exercises that trigger their muscle memory. (TRAINING ONLY: OFFERED TO JUNIORS/ INTERS/ SENIORS).

ADDITIONAL JAZZ TECH CLASS

Competitive dancers are being offered the opportunity to take an additional jazz tech class in addition to their mandatory jazz classes. The extra training allows dancers to continuing working on their flexibility, core strength, and technical skills for jumps and turns. (TRAINING ONLY: OFFERED TO JUNIORS/ INTERS/ SENIORS).

FUSION

Fusion is a fun-filled class that explores dancing about a theme or character using costume, object manipulation, props and special lighting in class. Dancers use imagination and creative movements to build upon their artistry.. (PERFORMANCE FOR YEAR END SHOW).

HIP HOP 

Hip Hop incorporates the latest in street dances: House, Popping/Locking, Crumping, Animation etc. A dance style used in the commercial pop industry in music videos and concerts. It is recommended that dancers also take some formal training to help with musicality, rhythm, coordination and strength. Dancers must have at least one years training in hip hop to be considered to join the competitive hip hop choreography team. (COMPETITIVE GROUP CHOREOGRAPHY / PERFORMANCE FOR YEAR END SHOW)

ACRO PERFORMANCE

With the conditioning/ acro class focusing on training only for the competitive dancer, the acro performance class gives the dancer the opportunity to work their skills into a performance piece for the year end performance. If SGDA acro faculty feel a dancer is strong enough, competitive choreography in acro may be offered as a solo/ duet or small group. (COMPETITIVE TBD/ PERFORMANCE FOR YEAR END SHOW)

POINTE 

INVITATION ONLY. Dancers must display a strong foundation in ballet technique to be invited to take Pointe classes. Age 11 and up. If SGDA ballet faculty feel a dancer is strong enough, competitive choreography in pointe may be offered as a solo/ duet or small group. (COMPETITIVE TBD/ GROUP PERFORMANCE AFTER A MINIMUM OF 2 YEARS POINTE WORK TRAINING).

STAGE REPERTOIRE/ MUSICAL THEATRE 

A fun and theatrical dance representing a theme from a popular musical, movie or tv show. (COMPETITIVE GROUP CHOREOGRAPHY).