Spotlight on: Dance Classes 2018-2019

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A Work in Progress has offered dance classes from the day we opened our doors, because we know that the benefits students gain from dance classes can impact their every day lives. Self-confidence, poise, and strength are among the many well-known benefits of dance training… and at AWIP, we offer these classes in an atmosphere that is encouraging, welcoming, and fun. Meet Jayden, who has been taking Creative Dance classes with us for the past two years…

 

Meet Jayden, pictured here at the Junior Production Cast party

“A Work in Progress is fun. The teachers are so nice and help me to learn things that I want to learn. I love dance because it is so much fun. Miss Dani and Miss Hannah were very good at explaining things and were fun. The Junior Production was super fun and cool to do. The teachers helped me to feel like I could do a good job. I really liked High Notes Junior as it was soo much fun to sing. I think Miss Audrey loved teaching this class and always made it fun. I also took classes with Miss Nicole. We learned a lot of cool songs about famous people like Amelia Earhart and Joan of Arc. She always made me feel happy to be there! AWIP is awesome! I can’t wait for classes to start again!”

 

Thanks, Jayden! We love your energy and have been amazed to see you exploring so many different avenues at AWIP. We will post more about those other classes soon, but for now, let’s focus on dance!

This year, we have more options in dance than ever before! Check them out, and be sure to register soon because we keep our dance class sizes small.

 

Schedule for all dance classes:

  • Our Fall semester runs for 8 weeks (September 11-October 30) and includes a Fall Class Presentation for families on the last day.
  • Our Spring semester runs for 12 weeks (January 8 – Mar. 26 & Weds. April 3)* and includes participation in the annual Junior Production in April.
  • *except for recreational ballet and hip hop classes, which run on a different spring schedule. We will have separate posts focused on those offerings soon!

 

Dance Class Offerings:

NEW THIS YEAR – Ages 4-6 Dance Off! A Combo Class

We have offered two separate classes for ages 4-6 over the past 4 years, and many families have opted to take both.  This year, Miss Bailey and Miss Hannah have decided to try something new: to combine their classes (Classical Ballet and Creative Dance) to offer a one-hour option for ages 4-6. This way, students get to experience multiple forms of dance! Class will begin with a dance warm up, followed by classical ballet, basic tumbling, creative dance, and dance games! A short break will also be provided. This will be the class your kids will look forward to all week! Scroll down to read more about Miss Hannah and Miss Bailey.

Classical Ballet – ages 7-9 and 10-12

Students in Classical Ballet classes will learn alignment fundamentals and ballet basics. In a nurturing and fun environment, students will work on technique, physical awareness and discipline. This training will impact them for years to come as they learn self-control, poise, and grow in strength.

Creative Dance – ages 7-9 and 10-12

Creative Dance

Our Creative Dance classes will encourage children to have fun, be confident, and use their imaginations while learning jazz and musical theatre dance. Students will build on their flexibility, balance, strength, and memorization skills.

 

 

 

Introduction to Acro – ages 7-12

Acro class will give kids the opportunity to build strength and flexibility, while teaching them the basics of acrobatic skills. The class is devoted to learning technique, practicing proper form, being safe, and having fun. If your child participates in any of the creative dance classes, then the skills they learned in class will be featured in those dances!

 

Tap-it-Out – ages 7-12 and 12-18

Here’s your chance to get your toes tapping, in a relaxed atmosphere. This class will encourage beginners while offering some new combinations for those who have taken tap before. No tap shoes necessary! Just a shoe with a flat sole will work.

Hip Hop – ages 8-12 and 12-18 

In this dance class, the emphasis is on high energy and intensity movements and isolations. Students will learn combinations set to engaging, upbeat, and uplifting music. Students individuality is greatly encouraged, and all levels are welcome – beginners thru advanced!

*stay tuned for a separate blog post about this class

 

Recreational Ballet for ages 12-18

In this class, the level of ballet technique covered will be based upon the experience of the students who sign up to participate. It is open to those who have never practiced ballet before, or those who have more advanced training and would like a chance to focus on technique. We will focus on the execution of basic steps as well as add to our vocabulary some slightly more complicated ballet movements.

*stay tuned for a separate blog post about this class

 

Meet our Instructors:

Student Teachers are under the guidance of the AWIP staff. Read more about our student leadership positions here!

Bailey Tolliver

Instructor for Classical Ballet, Ages 4-12

Bailey Tolliver

Bailey began dance instruction at the age of three at The Turning Pointe School of Dance, in Plainville MA.  After almost a decade of taking ballet, jazz, and lyrical, Bailey decided to focus on classical ballet, Isadora Duncan, and contemporary. She has performed in many shows of The Nutcracker performing as Russian lead, Spanish chocolate, flower, snowflake, Arabian lead, kissing doll lead and more. After her first nutcracker performance in 2014 she had decided to dance full time at Foxboro Classical Ballet under the direction of 3 former Boston Ballet performers, including a former Boston Ballet Mistress and the current Ballet Mistress for Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre. In 2015 she joined Perceptions Concert Dance Experience, a pre-professional contemporary company, and performed in For the Living under the direction of Alexander Drapinski. She has also begun dance modeling.
Bailey has enjoyed demonstrating for 3 different studios in jazz and ballet, and likes to attend dance intensives. For fun she has taken classes in hip hop, tap, and acro but also enjoys the outdoors and camping with her family.

 

 

Hannah Macomber

Instructor for Creative Dance + Acro

Hannah Macomber

Hannah began gymnastic as soon as she could walk and began dance at age 3. She has 10 years of dance background in ballet, tap, jazz, ballroom and hip hop. She has been a competitive gymnast for 9 years. She has been a State Champion and a Regional Championship competitor. She is currently a Platinum level gymnast at Marcov Sharp Gymnastics in Bellingham.
2018 will be her 5th Mainstage Production with AWIP and most recently, she played Judy in “White Christmas.”  She has been an acting intern for the last three Junior Productions, as well as the Creative Dance Intern last year. She is entering her third year as a member of AWIP’s Salt + Light outreach team.

Meghan Lamb

Instructor of Junior Tap

Meghan Lamb

Meghan Lamb has been a dancer since she was 2 years old. For the last 10 years, she’s been a student at New England Dance Academy, where she has been a member of their elite competition team. She also studies at Heritage Ballet in Lincoln, RI, where she is beginning her pursuit of being a professional ballet dancer. A veteran of the stage, she has been in several AWIP productions, including her role as Neleus in “Mary Poppins.” She enjoys working with young children and passing along her love of dance.

 

 

 

Heather Brown

Instructor of Recreational Yoga + Ballet

Heather Brown

Heather began her training with Boston Ballet and continued with Ballet Theatre of Boston performing as a member of Youth Works. Through college, she was able to continue her study of ballet with Rockford Dance Company of Illinois and became a part of the Celonia Modern Dance Company of Beloit. At that time, she also started teaching beginner ballet to the mostly modern dance population of Beloit College. She has performed in a broad range of classical and contemporary works including The Nutcracker, Cinderella, and Wreath of Memories. She has been performing with Spindle City Ballet since 2008 and started teaching ballet and modern in 2011. In 2013 she decided to rededicate her life to teaching and creating dance. She is currently teaching ballet and modern in several schools in the New England area and performing on occasion with Freedom Dances. Her most recent choreography was performed as part of the aMaSSiT program at The Dance Complex in Boston. She is looking forward to another great season with A Work in Progress.

Michelle McWilliams

Instructor of Hip Hop Classes, Choreography Assistant for the MainStage Productions

Michelle McWilliams (pictured with her husband)

Michelle is a graduate of Dean College, with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance. She began her training at a local dance school at a very young age, and was a competitive dancer until she graduated high school. She also began teaching at her dance school in her late teen years, and choreographed pieces for the annual recitals. Through her dance school, she had the experience of dancing in Disney World, Carnegie Hall, and attended countless master classes.   She furthered her dance education at Dean College, where she became part of the dance company her senior year. She performed as part of the hip hop and tap company. During college she also choreographed her former high school’s musicals, and still taught classes at her former dance school. After graduating, she began teaching at another local dance school where she taught ballet, jazz, modern, hip hop, and tap. She has choreographed for her church’s Christmas production, “Another Chance.” Michelle is a homeschooling mother of four, and is so incredibly grateful to be back teaching the amazing art of dance.

 

 

Ready to register?

Click the links below to go to the class pages for more information, and then register through our new registration system! And if the price of tuition is an issue, don’t worry – we understand! We are homeschoolers, too, and we know that there are many demands on a homeschooling budget. Click here to read all about our discounts, tuition-assistance programs, and scholarship info!

As always, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us! 

#learngrowshine,

Jen Roca (Director), for all of us at AWIP