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Youth Dance Classes |
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| Program Overview |
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Through Hubbard Street Dance Chicago’s children’s dance classes, children of all ages can experience the joy of dance: learning to use their own bodies to explore space, time and energy, exploring their own choreographic capabilities and learning from others.
Our Creative Movement curriculum allows young students to explore their developing movement skills while interacting with caregivers and peers, while older students will incorporate their expanding vocabulary and dance experience into original movement studies. For students interested in focusing on the techniques that support contemporary dance, HSDC offers classes in ballet, jazz, tap and hip-hop.
Through age appropriate movement development goals, improvisation, dance vocabulary, stories and music, our students explore all aspects of dance and learn new ways to communicate their ideas.
Come join us in an encouraging and creative environment where everyone is welcome.
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| Class Descriptions |
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Creative Movement Classes
9-18 mos (A parent/child class)
Designed for little ones just beginning to move through space. Caregivers are an essential part of this class as we bounce, swing, twirl and jump to learn more about ourselves, others and the world around us accompanied by vibrant music and stories.
18 mos–2 years (A parent/child class)
Exploring the many ways toddlers love to move, we’ll walk, run, wiggle, spin, and shake. Through familiar stories and songs, caregivers and their toddlers will groove together.
3–5 years
Join us as we explore the different ways we move our bodies through space and learn to tell stories with our movements.
5-7 years
Exploring Body, Energy, Space and Time, young dancers will gain greater understanding of how their bodies move and how to communicate meaning through dance.
7-9 years
Building on their increasingly sophisticated movement vocabulary and imaginations, students will learn the tools of choreography. Through improvisation and structured choreographic activities, these dancers will create a series of movement studies to share each session.
Dance Technique Classes
For students interested in focusing on the techniques that support contemporary dance, HSDC offers classes in ballet, jazz, tap and hip-hop. Students in the technique classes are placed by experience:
Level A: for students with little or no experience
Level B: for students with some experience (1 year of continuous study)
Level C: for students with 3-5 years of continuous study.
Students should expect to stay in each level a minimum of 2 years; progress is monitored by faculty. Students in Level C should sign up for both ballet classes and at least one other technique class. Students in level B should sign up for one other technique or Creative Movement class. HSDC reserves the right to place a student in the appropriate level at any time.
Ballet
The classical dance form that can be mastered by itself or used as a technical base or supplement to other dance forms. Ballet fundamentals improve balance, posture, coordination, rhythm, and musicality. Class focuses on overall body alignment and awareness with emphasis on proper usage of feet and legs. Carriage and usage of upper torso and arms are also stressed.
Hip-Hop
The class will introduce the student to hip hop fundamentals. As students work to internalize proper body movement to music, they will develop rhythm, coordination, and motor skills.
Jazz
Ballet, tap, and jazz music are just a few influences of jazz dance, a mix of rhythm and style. Class provides a system of exercises for physical toning, strengthening, flexibility, isolations and placement. There will be a progressive warm-up, across the floor progressions including turns and jumps and a short combination that brings all of these elements together.
Tap
Class includes basic vocabulary and execution, exercises to warm and strengthen the ankles, center floor combinations using the steps, technique and rhythms that are learned as the class progresses.
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| Schedule |
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Winter Session: January 4–March 20 (11 weeks)
Spring Session: March 22–June 6 (10 weeks)
Creative Movement Classes (CM)
9–18 months (caregiver & child); 18 months–3 years (caregiver & child); 3–5 years; 5–7 years; 7–9 years
Dance Technique Classes: ballet, jazz, tap, & hip hop
Level A: little to no experience (7–13 years)
Level B: 1-2 years of continuous study (7–13 years)
Level C: 3+ years of continuous study (10–13 years)
WINTER SESSION:
SPRING SESSION:
Session start dates:
Winter: January 4
Spring: March 22
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| Spring Session Registration |
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45-minute class for 10 weeks = $140
60-minute class for 10 weeks = $150
75-minute class for 10 weeks = $160
Download Registration Form [PDF]
To Register Online:
Register your child for class with WebScheduler.
- Create your login and password and add your child/birthday info to your account.
- Select the "Youth Classes" tab at the top of the page to see all available classes and reserve your child's place in our Youth Dance Classes.
- After checking out, be sure to click "Schedule It" to select the correct class and to confirm your reservation.
- Note: You will receive a confirmation email with your class information. If you do not receive this email, please call the number below.
- Once registered, you may call 312-850-9744 ext. 149 to give your payment information by phone or send a check in the mail to:
Youth Dance Classes
1147 W. Jackson
Chicago, IL 60607
Please make check out to Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.
Questions?
312-850-9744 x149
community@hubbardstreetdance.com
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| Policies & Procedures |
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Dress Code
- For Creative Movement: Students should wear clothing that is comfortable, does not restrict movement and does not inhibit the instructor from ensuring proper technique.
- For Jazz, Tap, and Hip Hop: girls should wear a leotard and jazz pants, boys should wear a t-shirt and jazz pants.
- For Ballet: girls should wear a black leotard and pink tights, boys should wear a white t-shirt and jazz pants.
- Appropriate shoes are required: ballet shoes for ballet class; jazz shoes for jazz class; bare feet for creative movement; tap shoes for tap class; and jazz shoes or clean sneakers for hip-hop.
- Hair must be kept back out of the face and not interfere with class.
Youth Program Policies
- Students arriving more than five minutes late to class will not be permitted to join. Late students may observe.
- HSDC reserves the right to cancel any class due to insufficient attendance. Alternative class placement or refunds will be offered under such circumstances.
- Instructors are subject to change. No credits or refunds will be issued in this case.
- $25 fee will be charged for returned checks.
- HSDC and its instructors are not liable for any injuries sustained while student is in class, or on the premises.
- Visit the restroom before the beginning of class.
- No food or gum in studios.
- No refund or credit is given for missed classes.
- No video, audio, photo or any other recordings are allowed in the studios, with the exception of parent observation days.
- Contact the Community Programs Coordinator with questions about classes. Any questions for teachers will be passed along by the coordinator. 312-850-9744, ext. 149, community@hubbardstreetdance.com
- Parents are not allowed in the studios before or after class, with the exception of classes requiring caregiver participation. Parents are welcome to observe classes during parent observation week each semester.
- The first day of class should be considered a placement day. HSDC reserves the right to move students to the most appropriate level based on their skills.
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| Instructor Bios |
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Keesha Beckford (CM 9-18 mos and 18 mos–3 years) began her dance studies in Queens, New York. She graduated cum laude from Princeton University with a major in American history and a certificate in Dance. In New York, City she was a member of Steeledance and Amy Marshall Dance Company. Her European credits include the German tour of Tabaluga and Lilli and Giselle: The Presence of the Past. Ms. Beckford's teaching credits include New York City's Steps on Broadway, The Spence School and Trinity School as well as workshops at Yale University and Ballet Academy East. After moving to Charlotte in 2002, Ms. Beckford danced in the companies of Martha Connerton and Sabrina Berry, and taught and choreographed at UNC Charlotte and North Carolina Dance Theater. Keesha has been a Lead Teaching Artist with HSDC since 2006.
Karen Castleman (Ballet, all levels) is originally from Bakersfield, CA. She studied dance at Civic Dance Center as well as San Francisco Ballet School and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School. She received her BA in Dance from Belhaven College in Jackson, MS and has since been on the faculty of Loyola University Chicago, The Academy of Movement and Music in Oak Park, IL, as well as dance institutions in Houston, Philadelphia and Jackson, MS. As a dancer, Karen has traveled extensively as a soloist with MOMIX and as a member of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.
Kristen Gurbach Jacobson (Community Programs Coordinator, CM ages 3-9, Jazz, all levels) holds an MA in Arts in Youth and Community Development from Columbia College Chicago and a BA in Musical Theatre and Dance with a concentration in education from Point Park University. Before coming to HSDC, Kristen developed the Metropolis Outreach Program providing in- and after-school performing arts opportunities for students and individuals throughout Chicagoland. Kristen taught and choreographed with a variety of organizations including Pittsburgh Musical Theatre, DanceTime Studio, LABCO Dance Co., Free Street, Metropolis before joining HSDC’s Education & Community Programs in 2009.
Shannon Johnson (hip-hop, all levels) Shannon Johnson was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She began her professional dance training at Howard University, and recently received a BFA in Dance. While at Howard, she received summer internships at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Ronald K. Brown/Evidence, and Dallas Black Dance Theatre. She was on scholarship at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's training program, the Lou Conte Dance Studio, Jacob’s Pillow Jazz/Musical Theatre Program, and Nathan Trice Summer Dance Intensive. She continues to train and teach Hip Hop, Hip Hop Yoga, Jazz, Ballet, and Tap throughout the city of Chicago as a faculty member of the Lou Conte Dance Studio, Mindful Practices and Principle Dance Studio.
Cheryl Olendzki (CM 9-18 mos and 18 mos- 3 years) is a full-time teaching artist with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago where she teaches in Chicago Public Elementary Schools and in the Youth Dance Program. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance Teaching and Choreography from Columbia College Chicago. She views the dancer as a whole person promoting positive self-esteem and confidence through connecting dance to their lives. She is thrilled to be twisting, jumping, stomping, and singing in the Parent/Child Creative Movement classes this year!
M.K. Victorson (CM ages 3-9) has worked in the HSDC education program since 2004. A former dancer with the Chicago Moving Company, M.K. is active as a performer and choreographer in the Chicago theater community. M.K. has taught dance and drama in several arts programs and with organizations such as the Old Town School of Folk Music and the Chicago Children's Museum. Currently, she teaches creative dance and drama at Murphy Elementary School in Chicago. She holds an M.F.A. in dance from Smith College and an M.Ed. in Elementary Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Kari Wall (CM 9-18 mos and 18 mos – 3 years) a lead teaching artist with HSDC since 2003, Kari holds a Masters of Dance Studies from the Laban Institute in London and a Bachelor of Dance Arts from the University of Michigan. In addition to working with HSDC, Kari co-leads an advance arts apprenticeship program at Gallery 37/After School Matters. Kari is also an independent artist who choreographs and performs in the Chicago area. |
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