Pre-Primary Division (Ages 3-5)

Our Pre-Primary classes are geared to meet the needs of our youngest dancers, ages three through five years. During these crucial years, we hope to foster the innate love of movement found in this tiny population. These cases are fun, exciting and educational. Your child will come out of class with a smile on his/her face asking when they can come again!

Dance Basics I

Dance Basics I focuses on creative movement concepts that explore spatial awareness and inventiveness. Our classes are designed to incorporate many different themes that your child will be exposed to in their preschool curriculum such as: colors, shapes, numbers and seasons. You will find that your child will enjoy his/her classes as they learn about:

Dance Basics II

Dance basics II reinforces all of the concepts that were introduced in Dance Basics I, as well as familiarizing the dancers with rudimentary dance vocabulary. Your child will be learning the basics in ballet, tap, and jazz, while still allowing for the development of creativity and expression.

Our Dance Basics classes are the building blocks to a strong well-rounded dance education. Your child will leave these classes with a good foundation and be ready to go on to Dance for Fives and begin his/her formal training.

Dance for Fives

Dancers in our Dance for Fives program will build on the training they have received in Dance Basics classes. They will use ballet and tap shoes and begin to learn the vocabulary necessary in both ballet and tap technique. Class time will increase to sixty minutes. They will participate in the Diamond Dance Center’s annual spring concert.

 

A Philosophy And Goals For Dance In Early Childhood

Dance, for the young child should be a joyful experience. Children need to enjoy the process of learning dance. In short, dance classes should be fun. In this way, children will develop a love and appreciation for the art.

Dance class should provide a positive environment in which children can learn and grow. It should offer a variety of experiences that promote physical, social, emotional and cognitive growth in the child. The physical benefits of dance class are widely accepted, but the social, emotional, and even academic learning promoted by a good dance program are less popularly understood. A well-balanced class addresses the “whole child.”

Dance class for young children should be child-centered. Children develop at individual rates, thus abilities and talents in early childhood are extremely varied. The curriculum should provide a sequential program that is appropriate to the age and developmental needs of the child. This will build the child’s self-confidence, an understanding and appreciation for his or her body and a love for movement and dance.

While developmental movement skills are important to acquire, dance for the young child should focus on creative movement. Not yet inhibited by socially accepted expectations, their imaginations are at a peak. A variety of sensory experiences to stimulate the imagination are important. Young children possess the imagination of the skilled artiest. They learn readily and deeply by applying acquired knowledge to solve problems in new and different ways.

In order to achieve a balance, technique should be intertwined, respective to the maturity of the child. While it is important that young children be provided with class structure that will promote learning, it is also important to provide nurturing for the individual development of the child.

Dance for the young child requires an experienced and adept teacher who understands the individual developmental needs of children and balance this with organized classroom management. Dance for all ages is a joyous learning experience, but formal dance class for children under three years of age is inappropriate. Under this age a different class structure is advised, preferably one with parent participation.

Dance in early childhood is important work that provides lifelong values.

UNITY
Goals for Dance in Early Childhood

1. Love of moving and dancing.

2. Appreciate and understand the art of dance.

3. Create a positive experience from which to learn and grow.

4. Develop physical skills that are age appropriate.

5. Develop social skills:
a) to participate and share within a group
b) to lead and follow
c) to appreciate the work of other children
d) to develop an awareness of personal space and to respect the personal space of others
6. Develop Body Wellness
a) to understand and respect one’s own body
b) to learn how to move safely

7. Educate the parent and greater community about the importance of
appropriate dance for young children.