The Musical Theater Center: Class Descriptions

Class Descriptions for Winter/Spring 2009

DANCE
Tap/Jazz Combo - This is a wonderful introduction to musical theater's two main dance styles

Introduction to Broadway Dance - The class focuses technique, musicality, and style necessary to build skills that every performer needs.

General dance information:

TAP - Tap is a form of dance where rhythmic sounds are created by the feet. Except where noted, MTC teaches Broadway or show tap which incorporates upper body and use of arms. Classes emphasize the development and strengthening of basic tap technique and terminology
highlighting the importance of rhythm and sound. Tap shoes are required.

JAZZ - A style of theatrical dancing conceived in America. Its technique derives from ballet and modern and is influenced by the musical styles of each succeeding decade. Classes teach basic jazz dance technique, terminology and movement quality with an emphasis on proper execution of jazz isolations, rhythms and style performed to contemporary music.

LYRICAL JAZZ - Lyrical dance is a combination of the beauty of ballet with the expressive abilities of modern or jazz. Generally, lyrical is done to more contemporary music. It is designed for high intermediate and above dancers who have experience in both dance forms.

HIP HOP - In the 1-level class, students will learn the latest dance moves and hear the latest hits. They also will be able to use basic steps to create explosive hip-hop moves with plenty of attitude. No prior experience required, but for younger students some prior dance training is recommended. Students considering Hip Hop 2 should have a minimum of one year of Hip Hop 1 and some jazz background.

JAZZ FUNK - Jazz Funk is a dance form combining hip-hop and Jazz. This style of dance can be seen in videos by artists such as Ciara, Shakira, Jessica Simpson, Usher and others. This class is for the intermediate or advanced dancer who has a greater knowledge of jazz or ballet technique. In Jazz Funk, not only does the dancer learn the latest hip-hop moves, but they are combined with leaps, turns, and jumps in a high-energy funky style.

BALLET - A classical form of dance based on traditional positions of the arms and feet. Classes consist of barre exercises, center work, adagio and allegro combinations. Physical maturation interacts with training to allow readiness for each level in ballet. Students should expect to spend more than one year at most levels. Teachers work to refine skills and build proper technique with more advanced students at each level. Ballet requires mental and physical discipline and repetition to train the muscles.

Dance Class Levels
Advancement by recommendation of instructor only.
Beginning: Little to no previous class instruction in this dance form. For Hip Hop, this is Level 1.
Advanced Beginning: Emphasizes further development and mastering of skills learned in Beginning. Please consult class teacher for proper counseling on student’s progress, development and placement. For Hip Hop, this is Level 1.
Prerequisite: Completion of a minimum of one year of training at Beginning level in grade category and dance form.
Intermediate: Geared for dancers with a sound knowledge of dance technique and terminology within the discipline and ability to execute movements with ease. Dancers are challenged with increasing complexity in movement and skills. For Hip Hop, this is Level 2.
Prerequisite: Completion of a minimum of one year of training at Advanced Beginning level in grade category and dance form or permission of instructor.
Advanced: Classes are geared for the advanced level dancer and provide instruction on perfecting skills and performance technique. Classes emphasize complex combinations and mastering dance as an art form.
Prerequisite: by permission of instructor.
Advanced Tap Repertoire: This class is by audition and permission of instructor. Class will polish advanced tap technical skills through mastery of advanced tap repertoire.

Dance Class Policies/Attire

Students arriving ten minutes after class begins will be asked to observe the class. Proper warm-up exercises, as in any physical activity, are critical to building a solid technical foundation and for injury prevention.
No jewelry, hats, or gum chewing.
MTC require students to wear proper attire for all dance classes. Students not appropriately dressed as listed below will not be permitted to participate in class.
Jazz Classes: students must wear black jazz pants, black tights or black dance Capri pants and any color leotard.
Tap Classes: students must wear black Capri or shorter dance pants and any color leotard. If students are wearing jazz pants, the pants must not be so long as to cover the feet.
Ballet Classes: students must wear pink, tan, or black tights and any color leotard.
Shoes appropriate to the class must be worn. Students in hip hop classes may wear new sneakers that haven’t been worn outside.
Long hair must be pulled back in a pony tail or bun.
No bare midriffs.
Jeans, gym shorts and baggy shirts are not permitted.

Musical Theater
These classes provide students the opportunity to explore acting exercises, movement for musical theater and singing.

Exploring Broadway - Sing, Dance and Act! Students learn songs and dances from current and classic musicals.

Broadway Kids - Sing, Dance and Act! Students learn songs and dances from current and classic musicals.

Broadway Senior Year - Learn songs and dances to musicals from the bleachers to the classroom like Grease, Legally Blonde and Hairspray.

Broadway Animals - In this musical theater class, students will learn songs and dances from the popular Broadway shows Seussical, Lion King and Cats.

Go Wildcats! - Come and learn songs and dances from Disney’s High School Musical 1, 2 and 3!

That's Entertaiment! - This class focuses on beginning skills in musical theater. The focus will be presentation skills and working as a group using contemporary and classic Broadway shows.

Gotta Sing! Gotta Dance! - Students work on developing performance skills in basic Broadway Style movement technique, and on basic singing through learning production numbers from Broadway shows.

High School Musical 1 - Required (Two semesters of Musical Theater or permission of the instructor) Students will perform a Black Box production of this popular show on an actual stage with basic props, costumes and stage elements. Students will be required to learn how to perform characters and should have good memorization skills.

ACTING
Acting is an important component of musical theater training. Using a variety of approaches, methods and techniques, classes provide students with concentrated work in basic acting techniques, improvisation, character development, scene work, monologue study, stage direction, script analysis, critiquing and mime techniques. Most acting classes are geared to the strengths and weaknesses of the students enrolled and should be repeated.

Acting for Broadway and Musical Comedy - Discover how to create a character using your imagination.

VOICE

Start to Sing! or Essence of Voice These introductory courses are designed to introduce students to the basic techniques of vocal production, tone production, and breathing through various exercises and demonstrations. Repertoire selected from Broadway musicals. Students must be at least in 3rd grade and be not younger than 8 years old by the start of classes. No prior vocal training required.

Semi-private voice - Intensive work on vocal technique; repertoire suitable for the individual student. Two students per half-hour class. Prerequisite is one of our introductory classes or permission of the instructor. Returning voice students may continue with permission of instructor.



	Class descriptions Instructors Winter/Spring 2009 class schedule Online registration Registration form (pdf) Registration policy Printed class schedule Class Descriptions for Winter/Spring 2009 DANCE Tap/Jazz Combo - This is a wonderful introduction to musical theater's two main dance styles Introduction to Broadway Dance - The class focuses technique, musicality, and style necessary to build skills that every performer needs. General dance information: TAP - Tap is a form of dance where rhythmic sounds are created by the feet. Except where noted, MTC teaches Broadway or show tap which incorporates upper body and use of arms. Classes emphasize the development and strengthening of basic tap technique and terminology highlighting the importance of rhythm and sound. Tap shoes are required. JAZZ - A style of theatrical dancing conceived in America. Its technique derives from ballet and modern and is influenced by the musical styles of each succeeding decade. Classes teach basic jazz dance technique, terminology and movement quality with an emphasis on proper execution of jazz isolations, rhythms and style performed to contemporary music. LYRICAL JAZZ - Lyrical dance is a combination of the beauty of ballet with the expressive abilities of modern or jazz. Generally, lyrical is done to more contemporary music. It is designed for high intermediate and above dancers who have experience in both dance forms. HIP HOP - In the 1-level class, students will learn the latest dance moves and hear the latest hits. They also will be able to use basic steps to create explosive hip-hop moves with plenty of attitude. No prior experience required, but for younger students some prior dance training is recommended. Students considering Hip Hop 2 should have a minimum of one year of Hip Hop 1 and some jazz background. JAZZ FUNK - Jazz Funk is a dance form combining hip-hop and Jazz. This style of dance can be seen in videos by artists such as Ciara, Shakira, Jessica Simpson, Usher and others. This class is for the intermediate or advanced dancer who has a greater knowledge of jazz or ballet technique. In Jazz Funk, not only does the dancer learn the latest hip-hop moves, but they are combined with leaps, turns, and jumps in a high-energy funky style. BALLET - A classical form of dance based on traditional positions of the arms and feet. Classes consist of barre exercises, center work, adagio and allegro combinations. Physical maturation interacts with training to allow readiness for each level in ballet. Students should expect to spend more than one year at most levels. Teachers work to refine skills and build proper technique with more advanced students at each level. Ballet requires mental and physical discipline and repetition to train the muscles. Dance Class Levels Advancement by recommendation of instructor only. Beginning: Little to no previous class instruction in this dance form. For Hip Hop, this is Level 1. Advanced Beginning: Emphasizes further development and mastering of skills learned in Beginning. Please consult class teacher for proper counseling on student’s progress, development and placement. For Hip Hop, this is Level 1. Prerequisite: Completion of a minimum of one year of training at Beginning level in grade category and dance form. Intermediate: Geared for dancers with a sound knowledge of dance technique and terminology within the discipline and ability to execute movements with ease. Dancers are challenged with increasing complexity in movement and skills. For Hip Hop, this is Level 2. Prerequisite: Completion of a minimum of one year of training at Advanced Beginning level in grade category and dance form or permission of instructor. Advanced: Classes are geared for the advanced level dancer and provide instruction on perfecting skills and performance technique. Classes emphasize complex combinations and mastering dance as an art form. Prerequisite: by permission of instructor. Advanced Tap Repertoire: This class is by audition and permission of instructor. Class will polish advanced tap technical skills through mastery of advanced tap repertoire. Dance Class Policies/Attire Students arriving ten minutes after class begins will be asked to observe the class. Proper warm-up exercises, as in any physical activity, are critical to building a solid technical foundation and for injury prevention. No jewelry, hats, or gum chewing. MTC require students to wear proper attire for all dance classes. Students not appropriately dressed as listed below will not be permitted to participate in class. Jazz Classes: students must wear black jazz pants, black tights or black dance Capri pants and any color leotard. Tap Classes: students must wear black Capri or shorter dance pants and any color leotard. If students are wearing jazz pants, the pants must not be so long as to cover the feet. Ballet Classes: students must wear pink, tan, or black tights and any color leotard. Shoes appropriate to the class must be worn. Students in hip hop classes may wear new sneakers that haven’t been worn outside. Long hair must be pulled back in a pony tail or bun. No bare midriffs. Jeans, gym shorts and baggy shirts are not permitted. Musical Theater These classes provide students the opportunity to explore acting exercises, movement for musical theater and singing. Exploring Broadway - Sing, Dance and Act! Students learn songs and dances from current and classic musicals. Broadway Kids - Sing, Dance and Act! Students learn songs and dances from current and classic musicals. Broadway Senior Year - Learn songs and dances to musicals from the bleachers to the classroom like Grease, Legally Blonde and Hairspray. Broadway Animals - In this musical theater class, students will learn songs and dances from the popular Broadway shows Seussical, Lion King and Cats. Go Wildcats! - Come and learn songs and dances from Disney’s High School Musical 1, 2 and 3! That's Entertaiment! - This class focuses on beginning skills in musical theater. The focus will be presentation skills and working as a group using contemporary and classic Broadway shows. Gotta Sing! Gotta Dance! - Students work on developing performance skills in basic Broadway Style movement technique, and on basic singing through learning production numbers from Broadway shows. High School Musical 1 - Required (Two semesters of Musical Theater or permission of the instructor) Students will perform a Black Box production of this popular show on an actual stage with basic props, costumes and stage elements. Students will be required to learn how to perform characters and should have good memorization skills. ACTING Acting is an important component of musical theater training. Using a variety of approaches, methods and techniques, classes provide students with concentrated work in basic acting techniques, improvisation, character development, scene work, monologue study, stage direction, script analysis, critiquing and mime techniques. Most acting classes are geared to the strengths and weaknesses of the students enrolled and should be repeated. Acting for Broadway and Musical Comedy - Discover how to create a character using your imagination. VOICE Start to Sing! or Essence of Voice These introductory courses are designed to introduce students to the basic techniques of vocal production, tone production, and breathing through various exercises and demonstrations. Repertoire selected from Broadway musicals. Students must be at least in 3rd grade and be not younger than 8 years old by the start of classes. No prior vocal training required. Semi-private voice - Intensive work on vocal technique; repertoire suitable for the individual student. Two students per half-hour class. Prerequisite is one of our introductory classes or permission of the instructor. Returning voice students may continue with permission of instructor. Home \| Calendar \| Productions \| Classes \| Summer Camp Ensembles \| Press \| Support \| About