Classes at Good Vibes Dance Studio
At GVDS we acknowledge that dancers of different ages require different things from their classes.
Throughout the year our Tinies class focuses on basic movement (including coordination and self awareness), following instruction, mimicking movement, dramatic expression and endless fun.
Within our Sub-Junior classes we focus on safety in stretching and strength development, technique, fitness and friendship. At this age dancers begin to explore dancing as a team and developing a performance style.
Junior levels aim to further develop technique and performance while experimenting with emotion, subtext and musical influence. Safety is the highest priority in both teaching and practice. At this age a large focus falls to friendship and trust within the dance team and we begin to explore accountability.
Intermediate to Adult classes further develop performance and technique as well as building a supportive network. At these ages we find assistants and mentors to our younger classes.
All classes at Good Vibes Dance Studio are fun and engaging by being tailored to the individuals within each group.
They aim to help all students explore and develop our school values- Pride, Passion and Perseverance.
Toddler
Dance and Play
The gvds toddlers spend their year playing games that assist in improving fine and gross motor skills, learning valuable social interaction skills, following instructions and remembering sequences and activities to help prepare for the tinies class. This all comes together for an adorable end of year routine, which is performed at our annual concert.
Tinies Combination
This is an hour long class which shares focus between basic stretch, strength, ballet, jazz and (as of 2019) tap! Tinies class is aimed at pre-to-beginning school aged children and is a thorough and fun introduction to the dance experience. Between 2017 and 2018 our Tinies class increased in size by 200%! Tinies perform in our end of year concert and are encouraged to develop studio independence throughout the year.
book your place early as this class is extremely popular and may reach capacity!
Sub-Junior Combination
This is a 2 hour long class which shares focus between safe stretch, strength and skill as well as the styles of jazz, tap, Ballet and lyrical! sub-junior combination has a greater focus on technique and is aimed at dancers aged 6-9. sub-juniors perform a routine for each of the above styles at the end of year concert.
book your place early as this class is extremely popular and may reach capacity!
Jazz
Jazz is a high energy style of dance that draws its inspiration from a variety of theatrical dance styles and classical ballet. this style promotes cardiovascular fitness as well as flexibility & strength. We offer individual, hour-long jazz classes for junior, intermediate and senior dancers. within these individual classes students are offered the opportunity to complete an internal jazz dance examination each year as well as performing two concert routines at the end of the year.
jazz is included as a part of ALL COMbination classes.
Lyrical
A lyrical dancer uses movement to express strong emotions, such as love, joy, yearning, fear or anger and powerful music is often chosen to increase the impact of such choreography.
Lyrical dancers often perform to music with lyrics. The lyrics of the chosen song serve as inspiration for the dancers' movements and expressions. Music used for lyrical dance is typically more emotionally charged and expressive.
Contemporary
Contemporary dance breaks down the rigid technical stylings of classical ballet and as such is not introduced until the junior age group. with a cross between ballet and modern technique it requires a great amount of strength as well as an additional maturity and understanding of subtleties within music. this modern dance style is creative and interpretive and often includes strong legwork and creative shapes. contemporary dance is varied and often unpredictable and has been referred to as the ‘independence between dance and music’ (Merce Cunningham).
Ballet
Ballet technique is considered the foundation of all dance and is highly regarded for its assistance in the development of strength, flexibility, poise, posture and confidence. these skills carry through to every other style.
most ballet classes at gvds will include warm up/stretching, barre work, centre work and a routine. every age group is offered the opportunity to complete an internal ballet exam, which reflects the work they have been doing in class. currently our senior ballet class is non-performance with an intense focus on strength and technique, however this is subject to discussion if the needs of the class are to change.
Hip Hop
hip hop technique is often considered an extension of jazz with a modern twist, however it does offer some extreme skills of its own including isolations, popping & Locking, breakdance and advanced balances. this street dance style is all about fitness and attitude with characterisation often heightened to focus within a routine.
at gvds hip hop is offered as a one hour class to all age groups from minis to adults.
Tap
tap originated from Irish dancing combined with an African step dance style known as ‘juba’.
rhythms are produced using tap plates on the heel and ball of the foot. tap challenges the dancer to count unheard beats within the music and to strive for the ultimate unison, the end goal being to hear all tappers as one sound.
as of 2019 gvds will be offering tap to all classes, tinies through to adults. junior, intermediate and senior dancers may complete a tap exam. students learn the physical steps, but also the theory behind them. from junior level up dancers are expected to develop a tap vocabulary which allows them to explain, describe and break down their tap steps.