Class Descriptions

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Music & Movement (Ages 18 months-3 yrs old):

This class is an introduction to musicality geared toward dancers ages 18 months-3 years old. We will focus on creative movement, body awareness, rhythm, and tempo.  Parents are welcome to start the class with their dancer but are eventually encouraged to make this an independent class for their dancer.

Dress Code:  Any leotard, tights, dance dress, tutu, or dance skirt.  

Dance Shoes: Pink ballet slippers

Dance shoes and dance attire can be purchased at Meraki Dance Academy.  

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Fairytale Ballet (Ages 3-6):

Fairytale ballet is a magical ballet class filled with imagination, wonder and creativity.  Each week is centered around a different princess, fairytale character or storybook character.  We will dance, move, act out and dress up in this 45-minute class that provides dancers with ballet technique as well as magical excitement.

Dress Code: Any color leotard, tights, dance dress, tutu or dance skirt. 

Dance Shoes: Pink ballet slippers

Dance shoes and dance attire can be purchased at Meraki Dance Academy.

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Ballet/Tap (Ages 3-6):

This is a combination class including ballet and tap. Students will learn technique, terminology, and musicality in both styles. Students will also work on leaps, turns, and choreography. This class is designed for students looking for a more technique filled class (compared to Fairytale Ballet).

Dress Code:  Any color leotard, tights, dance dresses, tutus, dance skirts or leggings.

Dance Shoes: Pink ballet slippers & black tap shoes.

Dance shoes and dance attire can be purchased at Meraki Dance Academy.

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Tot's Rock (Ages 3-6)

Musicality, rhythm and creativity are the key components of this fun, urban-style class. Dancers will learning the basics of different hip-hop styles and jazz terminology to some of their favorite music and get to express their own personalities in this high energy class.

Dress Code: Any color leotard, shorts, t-shirt or leggings.

Dance Shoes: Pink ballet slippers.

Dance shoes and dance attire can be purchased at Meraki Dance Academy.

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Pre-Acro (Ages 3-6)

Acro is a style of dance that combines gymnastics skills. At this level, dancers will study creative movement, and safely learn the basics of tumbling.  Students use hoops, trampolines, mats, and beams in this class and are encouraged to express their creativity and develop an appreciation for different styles of dance.

Dress Code: Leotard (gymnastics or dance) and fitted shorts.

Dance Shoes: No shoes are required for this class.  Bare feet

Dance attire can be purchased at Meraki Dance Academy

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Boys Ninja Warrior (Ages 3 and up)

This all new BOYS ONLY class is inspired by a fusion of gymnastics, street dance and obstacles course training will increase flexibility, teaching new skills, leaning discipline and focused energy.  Students will learn combinations of flips, rolls, jumps and kicks through strength and agility training.

Dress Code: Shorts and a t-shirt

Dance Shoes: No shoes required for this class. Bare foot please

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​Ballet

Ballet is the basic foundation for most forms of dance. Ballet provides the technique you need to flourish in all other dance styles. Improving balance, posture, flexibility and self-confidence Meraki ballet classes ensure dancers know proper technique and terminology.

Hair must be pulled back in a bun for all ballet classes.

Dress Code and Dance shoes:

Primary Ballet: Ages 4-7 Pink leotard, pink tights and pink ballet shoes. 

Ballet 1: Ages 6-9 Pink leotard, pink tights and pink ballet shoes. 

Ballet 2: Ages 8-11 Teal leotard, pink tights and pink ballet slippers.  

​Ballet 3: Ages 10-13 Teal leotard, pink tights and pink ballet shoes. 

Ballet 4: Ages 12 & up Black leotard, pink tights and pink ballet shoes. 

Ballet 5: Per teachers placement. Black leotard, skirt (optional), pink tights and pink ballet slippers.

Advanced Ballet: Must be enrolled in either Ballet 4 or Ballet 5.

 

Pre-Pointe & Pointe 1 & 2

​Pre-Pointe: Dancers must also be enrolled in an additional ballet class 

Dress Code: Black leotard, pink tights, pre-pointe shoes, and optional black ballet skirt. 

Ages 9 and up

Pointe: Dancers must also be enrolled in 2 additional ballet classes.

Dress Code: Black leotard, pink tights, pointe shoes, ballet slippers and optional black ballet skirt. dancers must take at least 1 ballet class in addition to the Pointe class.

Ages: By teacher placement

Pre-Pointe shoes must be purchased through Meraki. Dance attire can be purchased at Meraki Dance Academy.

 

Jazz/Tap

This is a combination class including jazz and tap. Students will learn technique, terminology, and musicality in both styles. Students will also work on leaps, turns, and choreography. The first half of class will be jazz and the second half will be tap.

Dress Code: Leotard or fitted top, fitted shorts/fitted capris or leggings

Dance Shoes: Tan tap shoes & Tan jazz shoes. 

Dance shoes and dance attire can be purchased at Meraki Dance Academy.

Primary Jazz/Tap: Ages 4-7

Jazz/Tap 1: Ages 6-9

Jazz/Tap 2: Ages 8-11

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​Tap

Expanding on our previous tap program, students will learn a variety of tap styles from Broadway to Rhythm tap. Dancers in these classes work on rhythm, musicality and choreography.

Dress Code:  Any color leotard, tights, dance dresses, tutus, dance skirts or leggings.

Dance Shoes: Tan tap shoes.

Dance shoes and dance attire can be purchased at Meraki Dance Academy.

Intermediate Tap: Ages 8-12

Advanced Tap : Ages 10 & up or teacher placement

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​Jazz

Jazz dance is an American dance form which evolves and changes with the latest popular styles. Jazz is a fun, upbeat style that has a firm technique and strength base. Jazz is a great form of dance for any age, developing strength and flexibility, while teaching important technique and performance skills.

Dress Code: Leotard or fitted top, fitted shorts/fitted capris or leggings

Dance Shoes: Tan jazz shoes. 

Dance shoes and dance attire can be purchased at Meraki Dance Academy.

Jazz 3: Ages 8-12

Jazz 4: Ages 10 -14

Jazz 5: Ages 13 & up

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Broadway Jazz

Throw on your heels and kick up your feet for this fun Broadway Jazz Class.  A theatre style jazz class that emphasizes the characterization and theatricality found in Musical Theatre performances. Students can expect to dance to broadway songs from musicals such as; Wicked, Matilda, High School Musical, Aladdin, Oliver, Annie and film musicals such as 'The Greatest Showman'.  

Dress Code: Leotard or fitted top, fitted shorts/fitted capris, jazz pants, etc. 

Dance Shoes: Tan Jazz shoes

Ages 8 & up

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Lyrical

Lyrical dance is a style of dance created by merging ballet and jazz. Taking the technique from these two styles, lyrical challenges dancers to interpret music and express emotion. It is recommended that dancers in this class have some experience in ballet and/or jazz.

Dress Code: Leotard or fitted top, tights, fitted shorts/fitted capris, or leggings

​Dance Shoes:  Half soles, turner shoes or Foot Undeez. 

Dance shoes and dance attire can be purchased at Meraki Dance Academy.

Lyrical 1: Ages 5-8

Lyrical 2: Ages 7-11

Lyrical 3: Ages 10-14

Lyrical 4: Ages 13 & up

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Aerial Silks/Cirque Skills

This class focuses on disciplines being performed by artists in Cirque style shows.  From Hand Balancing, to Partner Acrobatics, to juggling and more.  Join us for this exciting and new class this season! Students use aerial silks to wrap, suspend, fall, spiral and swing their bodies into various acrobatic positions that require flexibility, strength and balance. 

Dress code: Leotard or gymnastics leotard

Dance Shoes: No shoes are required for this class.  Bare feet please

Ages 8 and up

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​Hip Hop

A high energy class that not only teaches hip hop movements and technique but also instills rhythm and precision. Students can take what they learn and apply it to various dance styles and settings. Classes may require a placement test.

Dress Code:  Any dance clothes that is comfortable to dance and move in.

Dance Shoes: Black hip-hop sneakers or any CLEAN tennis shoes that are not being worn outside, but only used for hip hop classes.  We will not allow "everyday" tennis shoes to be worn in class as it leaves debris on the floor and can ruin our dance floors.

Hip Hop 1: Ages 5-7

Hip Hop 2: Ages 8-10

Hip Hop 3: Ages 9-12

Hip Hop 4: Ages 13 & up

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Acro/Contortion (Tumbling/Dance Technique)

Cirque de Soleil is taking over the dance world, and MDA is excited to move their strong acro program into a class that will help further our students dance careers. Students will learn gymnastic skills, improve flexibility and learn fun, exciting and breathtaking tricks. This program is designed to help children develop balance, coordination, and body awareness. As classes progress in levels students will learn tumbling skills that can be partnered with dance techniques, and learn how to create amazing acrobatic shapes with their bodies and friends. In past years the studio has not performed Acro dances in the recital, but we cannot wait to show you the amazing things that your kids are capable of using this new training program.

Dress Code:  Gymnastics or dance leotard, shorts and tank tops 

Dress Shoes: No shoes are required for this class

Acro/Contortion 1: Ages 6 & up

Acro/Contortion 2, 3 , 4 & 5 (require teacher placement or placement test from last season)

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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.

Dress Code: Leotard or fitted top, fitted shorts, tights, capris or leggings

Dance Shoes: Half soles, turner shoes or Foot Undeez

Dance shoes and dance attire can be purchased at Meraki Dance Academy.

Contemporary 1: Ages 6-8

Contemporary 2: Ages 8-10

Contemporary 3: Ages 10-13

Contemporary 4: Ages 13 & up

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Poms/Cheer

Poms/Cheer Dance can be performed with any type of dance style such as Jazz, Funk, Pop, or Hip-hop. This class focuses on kicks, turns, jumps and strength, as well as synchronization and clean, precise motions needed to be on a Cheerleading team or Poms squad.

Dress Code:  Any dance clothes that is comfortable to move in.  

Dance Shoes: Tan jazz shoes

Dance shoes and dance attire can be purchased at Meraki Dance Academy.

Poms/Cheer 1: Ages 4-6

Poms/Cheer 2: Ages 6-9

Poms/Cheer 3: Ages 10 & up

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Tumbling for Dancers

Tumbling is a genre of gymnastics.  In Tumbling for Dancers class, students will learn tumbling skills, and connective forward and backward elements such as cartwheels, round offs, aerials, handsprings and more! Dancers will learn strength, power and agility through repetition of skills that they can apply to their dance training.  

Dress code: Gymnastics or dance leotard, shorts and tank tops 

Dance shoes: NO shoes required for this class.  Bare feet please.

Ages: 8 and up

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Modern

Modern dance is a free, expressive style of dancing that started in the early 20th century as a reaction to classical ballet. We focus mostly on the Horton and Graham technique. Instructor permission is required to enter this class.

Required Attire: Leotard or fitted tank top and fitted shorts and turner shoes.

Dress Code: Black leotard and black convertible tights

Dance Shoes: Half soles, turner shoes or Foot Undeez.

Dance shoes and dance attire can be purchased at Meraki Dance Academy.

Ages: 10 & up

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Turns & Leaps Technique

This class was created for the dancer who wants to give extra attention to improving the technique needed for advanced turns and leaps. Along with leap and turn combinations, this class will increase your flexibility, strength and endurance.

Dress Code: Leotard or fitted top, fitted shorts/fitted capris or jazz pants

Dance Shoes: Half soles, turner shoes. or Foot Undeez.

Dance shoes and dance attire can be purchased at Meraki Dance Academy.

Turns & Leaps 1: Ages 6-8

Turns & Leaps 2: Ages 8-10

Turns & Leaps 3: Ages 10-13

Turns & Leaps 4: Ages 13 & up

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Musical Theater

Our Musical Theatre Class is about building confidence through movement, acting and singing.  It has been developed to build the skills necessary to communicate the dramatic content of musicality over a range of musical styles/categories.  Dancers will build on voice, movement, setting and staging, and musicality.  

Dress Code: Leotard or fitted top, fitted shorts/fitted capris or leggings

Dance Shoes: Tan jazz shoes. 

Dance shoes and dance attire can be purchased at Meraki Dance Academy.

Ages: 6-10

 

Improv

Dance improvisation can help dance students grow in their technique, artistry, and overall well-being.  In this Improv Class dancers will learn about choreography, a variety of audition techniques and other crucial skills to be successful in the dance industry.  The class will be ending the season with a dance that they choreograph together.

Dress code: Leotard or fitted top, fitted shorts/leggings

Dance Shoes: Tan Jazz Shoes

Dance shoes and attire can be purchased at Meraki Dance Academy

Ages 8 and up

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Pilates for Dancers

Pilates is a method of body conditioning that focuses on the deep muscles of the core. Pilates is beneficial for dancers because it helps to improve strength, balance, and flexibility. Pilates also builds long lean muscles that are ideal for dancers as it stretches the muscles continuously. Pilates mirrors, many of the movements dancers are doing their classes and protect them from injury, due to muscle weakness or low range of motion.  Join this NEW class and our newly certified Pilates Instructor.

Dress Code: Comfortable dance clothes to stretch in

Ages 8 & up

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Stretch & Strength for Dancers

Stretch and strength for dancers it is an ideal cross conditioning program for dancers looking to improve their strength, balance, control, flexibility,  breathing and more. It aims at strengthening and lengthening the ballet muscles, increasing flexibility and coordination.  Jump higher, turn better, move faster and take control of your performance and dancing technique.  This class is suggested for more committed dancers who wish to take their abilities to the next level.

Dress Code: Leotard or fitted top, fitted shorts/fitted capris or jazz pants

Dance Shoes: Tan jazz shoes, turner shoes, half soles or Foot Undeez

Dance shoes and dance attire can be purchased at Meraki Dance Academy.

Ages 8 & up

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