class descriptions

Youth Programs


Creative Dance

Creative Dance (3-4 yrs, 5-6 yrs)

Developed especially for the younger child, this program is designed to nurture, develop, and encourage inner creativity and individual expression in a spontaneous and joyful atmosphere. These classes promote positive social interaction with peers, freedom of movement, coordination, and natural movement vocabulary. They teach, guide, and encourage creative thinking, creative movement, and creative expression though a series of playful exercises, inspirational activities, and fun games.

Ballet

VSC Dance's ballet program creates dancers with a strong, clean, classical ballet technique focused on artistry, musicality, and purity of line. We develop dancers who have solid technical and artistic sensibility, who are versatile, self-disciplined, and self-confident. Our faculty addresses the needs of individual students based on sound anatomical principles and current professional standards. For the more recreational student to the pre-professional student, VSC Dance is pleased to offer ballet exams.

Youth and Teens

VSC Dance’s junior ballet program gives careful attention to the individual needs and development of the younger dancer. We encourage creative thinking, artistic expression, self-discipline, and musicality while fostering a solid foundation and technique born from the natural joy of movement found in every child.

Pre-professional

These classes are designed for the serious student, age 12 and up, and are a continuation from the junior ballet program. Students are challenged to gain a deeper and more thoughtful understanding of the art form of ballet, both artistically and technically. Careful attention is given to develop dancers who are self-directed, versatile, open-minded, physically confident, and who have a solid understanding of functional anatomy and creative expression. Exams are also offered at this level.

Pointe

Students work on strengthening exercises to develop the muscles of the feet required to support the dancer while on Pointe. Exercises will include floor, barre, and centre work. More advanced students will also learn classical variations and repertoire including some partnering work.


Modern/Contemporary

A rich, diverse, and unique movement form that supports individual expression while developing a solid technical base. Classes focus on alignment, kinetic awareness and placement of the body, encouraging freedom of movement, coordination, and inner creativity. Skills of improvisation, partnering work, and creative process are developed in these classes.

Modern/Contemporary (youth and teens)

This program encourages individual expression and creativity. While developing solid modern technique, these classes promote coordination, freedom in movement, confidence, and overall body awareness. Improvisation, creative process and an introduction to partnering are explored in this program. These liberating classes will let your joyful dancer shine!

Modern/Contemporary (pre-professional)

Dancers will develop a solid technical base to support individual expression. Classes focus on healthy body imagery and alignment while encouraging freedom of movement, authenticity, and qualitative movement choices. All classes include release work, core conditioning and technique. Movement combinations, improvisation, partnering work and creative process skills are honed in these classes.


Performance Companies

VSC Dance is home to three Performing Repertory Companies. Acceptance into the companies is by invitation or audition. All companies work with a variety of renowned guest choreographers and VSC Dance faculty throughout the year. Guest choreographers have included Shay Kuebler, Ron Stewart Clinton Draper and Resident choreographer Jung-Ah Chung. This season we are pleased to have Josh Beamish & Robert Halley working with the companies. While the focus of these companies is on repertoire and performance opportunities, all members will also participate in dance for camera projects, dance history seminars, performance laboratories, dance funding and grant writing seminars, and more. Company members will also be encouraged to create their own work for KINECT our annual student choreographic performance. The Companies have their own show every year at the lovely Metro Theatre.


Adult Programs

Adult Modern/Contemporary

These classes focus on wholesome body imagery, good alignment and artistic expression. They encourage freedom of movement, and overall body awareness. All classes include a general warm-up, release work, core conditioning, technique, movement combinations and choreography. A great way to stay in shape and express yourself at the same time. Classes for beginners to advanced dancers. Come prepared to sweat, laugh, and experience the joy and delight of being in your body!

Conditioning/PYC Training

Want to take it to the next level? Whether you are a seasoned dancer or just looking for an effective way to condition your entire body, PYC is for you. Pilates/Yoga/Conditioning combines a series of different fitness- and dance-based techniques and fuses them together (yoga, pilates, core work, strength and endurance training). This is a guaranteed effective way to lengthen muscles and increase overall flexibility and range of motion in the joints. Strengthen your entire body and improve your overall endurance! Come give it a try. All levels welcome.



New Programs

Improv. Mondays

This season the class is shared with three teachers, Jung-ah, Robert & Anthea. These three very experienced performers and improvisers will share with the class, their own ways into movement improvisation. Movers will explore exercises designed to generate new and innovative movement choices. Get ready to move, surprise yourself, break familiar movement patterns and be inspired. Drop-in or sign up for the full year.

Professional Classes

VSC Dance is pleased to be able to offer two weekly day classes this season. These classes are also open to pre-professionals and dancers at an advanced level in their training. There is a discounted rate for working professionals.

Yoga for Dancers

Draw on the principles of Vijnana Yoga to wake up energetic lines of connection, and expand your dance possibilities. We'll work mostly with the first three of the Seven Vital Principles, Rooting, Connecting, and Awareness of Breath, to bring ease to balance, grace and fluidity to dance combinations. Find a clearer connection to your core, and bring breath awareness into your performance, calming nerves, making dancing even more joyful.



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©2010 Victoria School of Contemporary Dance
Centennial United Church
612 David Street, Victoria, BC
info@vscdance.com
Telephone: 250-383-7183