All Technique Classes at Bracken Dance Academy follow a graded syllabus of mastery.
Ages are approximate and for reference only. All Classes except Pre-Pointe/Pointe are open to both Boys and Girls.
Please contact the office at (210) 901-9403 or fill out the Contact Form for proper placement.
Once proper placement has been determined you will be able to easily register for classes online.
Creative Movement Levels 1 & 2 classes are a ballet and tumble class that follows the Acrobatic Arts Pre-School syllabus and taught by our certified instructor.
Creative Movement Level 3 classes are a continuation of levels 1 & 2 with an introduction of Tap as well. Each class students will have Ballet, Tap, then Tumble. This class is also taught by our Acrobatic Arts certified instructor.
Combo Level 1 & 2 these classes students will begin each week with Ballet then halfway through the class change shoes for Tap.
Ballet classes will focus on building the strength, flexibility and control needed to execute ballet moves. Each class will emphasize barre exercises and will also include a combination of center floor work and across-the-floor combinations.
Pre-Pointe classes are offered to ballet students who are not yet on pointe to further develop and strengthen the muscles necessary to go en pointe. Pre-Pointe classes also allow teachers to assess readiness, offering an atmosphere for proper evaluation of important skills.
Pointe classes are designed for students with previous ballet training. Students will utilize previously learned ballet technique while working in pointe shoes. Each class includes barre exercises, center floor work and across the floor combinations. These exercises focus on strengthening the feet and ankles.
Tap classes are designed to develop rhythm, style, and sound. Students will learn a variety of tap styles from Broadway to Rhythm tap. The class emphasis is on developing proper tap technique, producing clear tap sounds, and having fun.
Hip-Hop is a high-energy class that infuses the latest styles of street dancing, breaking, popping, and locking. Classes will encourage students to step outside of the box by bringing their own individual style and personality to the movements.
Jazz classes teach basic jazz dance technique, terminology, and style with an emphasis on proper technique, alignment, and movement quality. Set to jazz, R&B, ethnic and pop music.
Contemporary/Lyrical as a dance style is defined, in part, as a fusion of ballet and jazz, demanding technical skill, musicality and an expression of emotion. A solid, ballet-based technique, proper placement and bodily alignment are essential components.
Leaps and Turns is a class created for the serious dancer who wishes to give extra attention to improving their technique. This class will focus on the proper execution of basic – advanced leaps and turns and will include leap combinations and turn sequences.
Middle School Dance Team Skills is a class for dancers 5th-7th grade who are interested in trying out for their middle school dance teams. This class runs all year round and the curriculum is based on the skills dancers will need to be able to execute at tryouts. Don’t wait until tryout season plan ahead and join today.
High School Dance Team Skills this class is for dancers with prior dance training 8th-11th grade who are interested in high school dance team . This class runs all year round the curriculum is based on JV & Varsity skills dancers will need to be able to execute at tryouts.
Class Levels and Criteria
All creative movement, combo, level 1, and level 2 classes are based on your dancers age of September 1st.
Creative Movement 1 – Dancers ages 2-3 (must be 2 by September 1st of the dance season)
Creative Movement 2 – Dancers ages 3-4 (must be 3 by September 1st of the dance season)
Creative Movement 3 – Dancers ages 4-5 (must be 4 by September 1st of the dance season)
Combo (ballet & tap) 1, Hip Hop Level 1, Primary Acro – Dancers ages 5-6 (must be 5 by September 1st of the dance season)
Combo (ballet & tap) 2, Hip Hop 2, & Basic Acro – Dancers ages 6-7 (must be 6 by September 1st of the dance season)
All the classes listed below are based on skill and ability. A dancer will be placed in their age group for evaluation and then moved to the appropriate level based on skills if needed.
Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop Level 3/4 – Dancers ages 7-10 (must be 7 by September 1st of the dance season). Dancers placed in level 3 have completed Creative 1 – level 2 at BDA or minimum of 1 year dance experience.
Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Leaps & Turns Level 5/6 – Dancers ages 9-11 (must be 9 by September 1st of the dance season). Dancers placed in level 5 have completed Creative 1 – level 4 at BDA or have a minimum of 3-4 years of consistent prior dance experience.
Pre-Pointe – Dancers interested in pre-pointe must be placed in ballet level 5/6 and have a minimum of 3-4 years of prior ballet training.
Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Leaps & Turns, *PBT Level 7/8 – Dancers ages 12-114 (must be 12 by September 1st of the dance season). Dancers placed in level 7 have completed Creative 1 – level 6 at BDA or have a minimum of 5-6 years of consistent prior dance experience.
Pointe – Dancers interested in pointe level 1 must be placed in ballet level 7, completed level 6 and pre-pointe, have a minimum of 5-6 years of prior ballet training and teacher permission.
Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Leaps & Turns, *PBT Level 9 – Dancers ages 15 and up (must be 15 by September 1st of the dance season). Dancers placed in level 9 have completed Creative 1 – level 8 at BDA or have a minimum of 7-8 years of consistent prior dance experience.
Pointe – Dancers interested in pointe level 2 must be placed in ballet level 9, completed ballet level 5/6 and pre-pointe, ballet level 7/8 and pointe level 1, have a minimum of 6-7 years of prior ballet training and teacher permission
Beginner Acro – Little to no prior Acro training. Dancers will need to master unassisted forward roll, backward roll, handstand, bridge, cartwheel (two handed & one handed), and randolph before eligible for Advanced Beginner Acro.
Advanced Beginner Acro – Dancers must be able to do unassisted forward roll, backward roll, handstand, bridge, cartwheel (two handed & one handed) and radolphs. To be eligible for Intermediate Acro dancers will need to master headstands, elbow stands, chest stands, unassisted backbend, backbend recover, cartwheel pick up, one handed randolph, handstand bridge recover, backbend kickover.
Intermediate Acro – Dancers must be able to do unassisted forward roll, backward roll, handstand, bridge, cartwheel (two handed & one handed), randolphs, backbend, backbend recover, cartwheel pick up, one handed randolph, handstand bridge recover, backbend kickover. To be eligible for Intermediate Advanced Acro dancers will need to master unassisted front walkover, back walkover, front limber, back limber, sashay step hurdle – cartwheel (one and to handed), randolph (one and two handed), cartwheel from one knee, head spring, kip up, elbow cartwheel, and backward roll to plank.
Advanced Acro – Dancers must be able to do unassisted forward roll, backward roll, handstand, bridge, cartwheel (two handed & one handed), randolphs, backbend, backbend recover, cartwheel pick up, one handed randolph, handstand bridge recover, backbend kickover, front walkover, back walkover, front limber, back limber, sashay step hurdle – cartwheel (one and to handed), randolph (one and two handed), cartwheel from one knee, head spring, kip up, elbow cartwheel, and backward roll to plank. To be eligible for Advanced Acro dancers will need to master unassisted spider cartwheel, valdez, backwards roll to standing, dive front walkover, standing back handspring, randolph back handspring, cartwheel back handspring, back step out, side aerial with prep, side aerial from standing, and brandy. Advanced Acro dancers will be mastering their front aerials, back tucks, layout and step outs as well as advanced sequences.
*PBT – All strength & conditioning classes at BDA are Progressing Ballet Technique led by a certified instructor. What is PBT? A cutting-edge approach to modern training methods, PBT harnesses the power of muscle memory to develop and strengthen ballet and dance technique. The method trains core stability, correct weight placement and proper alignment to give dancers the essential tools they need to master their practice.
Please see the Schedule Tab for our full class schedule.