Calliope curriculum for this age is based on pre-ballet, creative movement and tap. The focus is to teach children to express themselves through movement. Students will explore locomotive and non-locomotive movement, pathways, and directions using music and stories. The class teaches an awareness of oneself and one’s relationship to the world around them. In addition to physical advancement, the children will learn about communication, self-discipline, and confidence. Most important, the focus of creative movement is to discover the joy in movement and to have fun! Tap is included at the end of class to enhance rhythm and listening skills.

Calliope curriculum for this age is based on the basics of classical ballet and forms a foundation for future dance education. The class will teach primary skills while cultivating a love for movement and dance, including creative dance by using improvisation and modern dance to encourage the child’s development of self-expression and imagination. In some classes Tap is included at the end of class to enhance rhythm and listening skills.

While continuing to cultivate a joy in movement and dance, this ballet class for older children focuses more on technique and skill building. More complex choreography is also taught. And modern dance and improvisation are included to allow the child to explore movement and find freedom in the body and the natural creative skills.

Students must be fluent in Spanish and prepared for a complete immersion experience. Based on the unique and fun lesson plans of our Calliope Class, structured around ballet, creative movement and tap, this class offers the young child an opportunity to strengthen their self-expression in the Spanish language through movement and body awareness. Language doesn’t come separate from culture; movement and verbal language are also inseparable. In this class we explore the Spanish language through dance, and we incorporate identity, history and culture of Spanish-speaking countries through music and stories. While having fun and exploring the body and movement, the children enhance their motor skills, rhythm, coordination, connect movement patterns developed at earlier stages and learn about confidence and relationships of body-space-others.

This class offers the basics of flamenco such as the arm and hand movements known as braceo, some footwork technique and the use of the skirt with dance steps. Children will learn about flamenco rhythms and palmas (hand-clapping), as well as the use of castanets. The class will be taught in Spanish and the students will learn basic choreography in a fun, dynamic environment. Flamenco dance offers a unique way for girls ages 5-6 to develop rhythm, grace, proper alignment and posture, self-confidence and self-love!

This class offers the basics of flamenco such as the arm and hand movements known as braceo, some footwork technique, flamenco rhythms and palmas (hand-clapping), as well as the study of the Sevillanas and the use of castanets. Part of the class will be taught in Spanish and the students will learn basic choreography in a fun dynamic environment. Flamenco dance offers a unique way for girls ages 8-12 to develop rhythm, grace, proper alignment and posture, self-confidence and self-love!

Character shoes and a Flamenco skirt or a long, full skirt are required.

Take a trip around the world with music and dance! This class is a unique and fun way for children to explore the music and dance of cultures from around the world. From India to Morocco to Polynesia each four week unit explores a different culture and its music and dance. Children will learn about different rhythms, musical instruments and costumes with visual aids (drums, finger cymbals, photographs, costumes) and story telling to enrich the experience of learning the dances. Dance steps are adapted and simplified to a suitable level for children to get plenty of exercise and have fun while getting a taste of each dance style.

At Calliope we each year with a recital in which all participating students can perform for their families and friends. Every year we create a new story-based performance with a variety of choreographies and music from around the world. During the creative process in the second semester of the year, the children not only rehearse their dance but they also participate in the creation of ideas around the story, the music editing, and the lighting and set design. It’s a truly fun collaborative process in which the children work together with the teacher/choreographers and the production team. The costumes are sewn one by one for each child by a local wonderful costume maker, Liz Terbolizard.