Rea Farms – Providence Classes
2024-2025 Dance Season Class Descriptions
Acro is a 45-minute class for students 5 to 18 years old. This is an acrobatic style class that teaches floor gymnastics. Acro is a class that progresses from forward rolls and cartwheels to advanced tumbling, including aerial work. Teachers work with each student on their individual level. This class also focuses on flexibility, agility, and teamwork. All students taking this class must participate in recital due to tricks and partner work.
Acting is a one hour class for students 8+. This class will have an “Intro to Acting” and will begin working on monologues, interactive acting (games), exercises and scenes. This class will focus on character development and writing skills working toward bringing each character to its fullest potential.
Broadway Heels is a 30-minute class and offered to students 9 to 18 years old. This class is for the dancer who is interested in taking jazz technique to the next level, concentrating on teaching students to dance smoothly in character shoes “heels” (used in musicals and Broadway shows), and is perfect for the dancer who wants to pursue musical theater.
Combo is a 45-minute class for students 2 ½ to 6 ½ years old. This class teaches the fundamentals of tap and ballet. Students will begin with tap and finish with ballet. Students should arrive in class with tap shoes on. Teachers will assist young dancers with shoe changes. Young combo students should wear a pull-up if they are not potty trained.
Hip Hop/Funk is a 30-minute or 45-minute class offered to students 7 to 18 years old. Hip Hop is an upbeat style of dance performed to popular music. Although Hip Hop’s roots came from urban street dancing, it has become increasingly popular in the entertainment world. Funk dancing is the perfect fusion of styles, incorporating jazz roots into a melting pot of Hip Hop, break, popping & locking, along with other fashionable dance genre.
Homeschool Class is a 45 minute class offered to students 7-12 years old that are homeschooled. This class will be dedicated to stretch, conditioning and cardio. Each week we will rotate genres such as Hip Hop, Jazz, Musical Theater and more!
Jazz is a 45-minute class offered to students 9 to 18 years old. Jazz is a style of dance that is structured in technique while taking many shapes and forms. It can be performed to a vast variety of style music from Broadway to pop.
Jazz & Tumble is a 45-minute class for students 3 to 5 years old. This class will be a combination of first tumbling with various beginner acrobatic skills followed by an upbeat jazz/hip hop class. They will have no recital dance for tumbling. They will perform a jazz dance in the recital.
Jazz/Hip Hop is a 30-minute or 45-minute class for offered to students 5 to 18 years old. This class combines the upbeat dancing style of hip-hop with the technique of jazz. All music selections and dance moves are age-appropriate.
Lyrical/Contemporary is a 30-minute or a 45-minute class for students 7 to 18 years old. Lyrical dance is a fusion of ballet & jazz dance techniques that uses dramatic motion to interpret music and express emotion. Contemporary dance is a style of expressive dance that combines elements of several dance genres including Modern, Jazz, Lyrical & Ballet.
Mommy & Me is a class structured to stimulate coordination skills, listening skills, balance, music interpretation, creative movement and motor development in the youngest dancers, ages 1.5 – 3 years of age. Moms wear comfortable clothing and our young dancers wear a leotard, tights and pink ballet shoes.
Musical Theater is a 30-minute class for students 6 to 10 years old, which incorporates a combination of Jazz and acting. With this style of dance, you are working through Jazz technique while portraying a character. Using songs from Broadway, we focus on bringing out our inner actor/actress!
Pre-Ballet & Ballet is a class for ages 6 & up. This class is divided into 6 levels (Pre Ballet to Ballet V) and students are placed by skill level. (Younger students are encouraged to take a Combo Tap/Ballet class). New students, please contact the office for an evaluation appointment for levels II-V.
Pointe/Pre-Pointe is a class wherein the ballet dancer supports all their body weight on the tips of fully extended feet. Dancing en pointe makes the dancer appear weightless and sylph-like; this is done by wearing special box-toed pointe shoes. Students are recommended for pointe based on age and ability. A minimum of two regular ballet classes must be attended to dance en pointe, one of which must be the ballet class directly before pre-pointe or pointe. There is no recital for Pre-Pointe classes.
Poms is a 30 minute movement based class for ages 4-6, 5-8, 7-10 and 9+ that focuses on sharp arm movements, execution of choreographic visuals and dance team/cheer skills.
Tap is a 30-minute or a 45-minute class that is offered for students 6 to 18 years old. This is a percussive style of dancing. Its name comes from the tapping sound made when the metal plates on the dancer’s shoes touch a hard surface. (Younger students are encouraged to take a combination class, see Combo.)
Tumbling is a 30-minute class for students 3 to 6 years old. This class teaches the basics of floor tumbling including forward rolls, back bends, cartwheels, and fundamental acrobatic strengthening and coordinating skills. There is no recital for Tumbling classes.
Class FAQs
Student Dress Code
Modesty: No midriffs should be shown at any time, and thighs should be covered.
Leotards should be worn with tights. Students may elect to wear shorts over top of their leotard, but tights must still be worn underneath.
Shoes: Proper shoes in specific colors are required for all classes.
Hair: Hair should be pulled up and away from the student’s face.
Piercing: The only piercings allowed are in the earlobes of girls. All other piercings should be removed prior to entering the studio.
Tattoos: Absolutely no tattoos allowed. No exceptions.
When do classes start?
2023-2024 dance season begins Friday, August 18, 2023
What should I expect in the first week?
Preparing for Class
1. Dancers are to enter the dance studio fully dressed for class with their hair properly pulled back (bun for ballet) and dance shoes on. Please do not wear street shoes into dance rooms. Dance bags may be brought into the room or left in the cubby area
2. Combo classes (preschool through 6 years old) will need to have their tap shoes on each week when entering class. Please put your ballet shoes in a dance bag that they will bring in with them. Put your child’s name in the shoes and on the bag. The teachers will help dancers change shoes in the middle of the class.
3. There are 2 multi-stall restrooms for our female dancers, should you need to change. Males; please use the men’s restroom across from the front office.
What to Expect Your First Week
1. The halls are very crowded for the first few weeks of classes. This will settle down after the first few weeks.
2. There is a lot of switching around of classes as parents are trying to get settled in the new schedule of the year. Please be patient. Classes are often ending with students needing to get to their next class immediately in order to accommodate the different subjects that dancers are taking.
3. Similar to academic classes, the first few weeks of dance classes are curriculum review and getting everyone comfortable with new classes and new teachers. This will relax the students and helps our teachers ensure that students are properly placed in correct classes.
4. If dancers have been placed into classes that are not correct for them –Don’t worry – we will find a more suitable class!
5. Parking is the #1 complaint with parents in dance schools around the nation. This is something that can’t be helped. Please be careful to watch for children!
6. Parents, it is best to get your dancer in class on time and ready to dance. Room D has a viewing window. The other rooms do not have viewing windows. Twice a year (normally in December and around Spring Break), all families are invited to attend Parent Observation Week.
7. The youngest dancers will often have tears or anxiety in the first few weeks. This is normal. The teachers are trained to get children “on task” quickly. It is not uncommon to have a few dancers that need to be held the first month of class! The best way to ensure success is to assure them they are going to have fun. Leave as quickly as possible and watch them through the window. Please keep the noise down at the window and don’t let siblings open the door or knock on the window. This will distract the dancers.
8. Please have all dancers use the bathroom before class. Teachers will gladly take them if they do need to go during class, but this can be a disruption.
9. You do not have to stay at the studio while your child has a class unless there is a break between their classes and will require your assistance to get to their next class. However, if you do leave during your child’s class, you must be on time for pick-up. If you are running late, please call the office so that we can notify the teacher and your dancer. Your dancer will either be in their classroom or in the office waiting for you.
Always stop in the office if you have questions or concerns. Every staff member wants your Miller Street experience to be positive and rewarding.
Does my name need to be on my belongings?
Yes! Please label all shoes, dancewear, dance bags, coats, etc. with the students first and last name. Please write your dancers name on the bottom of their shoes. If not labeled properly, teachers will write your dancers first and last name on their shoes during the first few weeks of classes. If the item left behind is properly labeled, the studio will attempt to contact the parent and hold that item in the “pick-up drawer” located in the studio office.
How do I stay up-to-date with studio news?
All registered accounts will automatically be subscribed to our email newsletter and studio updates. You can unsubscribe or change your email preferences at any time through your Parent Portal. To keep up with the most important studio information, register, and make payments online, download the Miller Street Dance App Today! Make sure to enable push notifications to receive updates directly from MSDA!
We are also on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! Become a fan and keep up with the latest Miller Street news.
What if my dancer misses a class?
If a student will be missing 2 or more consecutive weeks of class, please contact the studio office. The office staff will relay the information to the instructors. There are no refunds for missed classes. These can be made up any time before March 24 in an age-appropriate class, even if it’s a different style than what the student is taking. Please contact the studio office for information. Please get a “Make-up Class” form from the office to take into class with you.
Is there a place for my child to do homework?
Miller Street offers a student homework area. We are happy to help our dancers in their scholastic efforts. We would love all our dancer’s to make the Honorable Dancer roll.
Food is allowed in the homework area with some exceptions.
Homework & Snack Area Rules
Quiet: This is a quiet area for study. Please respect those focusing on their work.
Proper: Do not sit or stand on the study counters or furniture.
Neat: Please pick up after yourself.
Food & Drink: This is the only area that food and drink are allowed in. We encourage healthy snacks and require that all drinks be clear liquids (water, clear Gatorade, etc.) In the event of a spill, please advise the front office so we can clean up the mess as soon as possible. No food or drinks, besides water bottles, are allowed in any studio classroom at any time. Please do not bring any nut products into the studio. We have students with severe nut allergies and must make the studio a safe place for everyone.
How do I get in touch with my child's teacher?
Instructors can be contacted via email. All emails are listed on our Staff page. Please do not try to catch an instructor between classes. Class schedules are very tight and our instructors would like to give your questions and concerns the proper attention.
Do you have a lost-and-found bin?
Yes! The lost and found bin is located in the bin in the cubby room at the studio. Please check the office for lost jewelry or hair items. Items will be donated during Winter, Spring, and Summer breaks and when the bin is too full. We will let you know via newsletter before items are donated. Please check these bins regularly. Miller Street Dance Academy is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
Can I come in and watch my child's class?
Winter and Spring Parent Observation Weeks are the only times parents and families are invited into the classroom. During the rest of the dance season, our classes are closed-door sessions. Please do not open the door during class time.