Early Dance program

Dance classes for children ages 18 months to 3 years explore basic rhythmic activities and locomotor skills using props and the open space in the dance studio. Designed for a parent and child to attend together. Children at this level do not perform on stage.

Instructor - Diane Brown

Children ages 3 and 4 (as of September 1) are taken on a fun-filled educational journey into the world of dance, stimulating their imagination and introducing them to musicality, locomotor skills and group movement activities using bright visuals and a variety of music. Child participates without parent for a 45 minute class. Children at this level do not perform on stage.

Instructor - Diane Brown

A preparatory dance class designed for the young dancer ages 4 and 5 (as of September 1). Students are introduced to classroom etiquette, basic floor and freestanding exercises, musicality, imagination, mastery of gross locomotor skills and patterning in choreography. PreBallet is taken in combination with Tap to expose children to different varieties of dance. Children at this level are invited to perform in the Spring Production.

Instructor - Diane Brown

Ballet 1 offers barre work, center floor work, flexibility and endurance exercises, choreographic challenges, musicality and terminology. Students at this level are invited to perform in Ballet Chesapeake's Spring Production. 

Instructors - Diane Brown, Gail Melfi

Ballet 2 and 3 offers barre work, center floor work, flexibility and endurance exercises, choreographic challenges, musicality and terminology. Students at this level are invited to perform in Ballet Chesapeake's Spring Production. 

Instructors - Barclay Gibbs, Gail Melfi, Holly Mora

Registration for these classes is by invitation only. Dancers in the Ballet Intensive program are required to take a minimum of two ballet classes per week. Students selected for this program show exemplary behavior, focus, and aptitude in their ballet classes, and this program will prepare young dancers to participate in the pre-professional ballet program. 

Instructor - Barclay Gibbs

Performance classes give students the opportunity to prepare a piece of choreography for the spring performance without taking time away from thier technique classes. This insures that all DCM students are well prepared for their performing experience and that they maintain a strong technical foundation throughout the year. 

Performance Classes are held in the Winter and Spring sessions  for students in all ballet classes. Students must register for both the Winter and Spring sessions and return a signed concert commitment form in order to participate in the performance. 

Boy's classes as well as ballet classes in recommended level per week.  

Male students ages 6 and up taking ballet receive full scholarship to DCM.

Instructor - Algernon Campbell

Progressing Ballet Technique is an innovative program for students developed to understand the depth of training muscle memory in achieving their personal best in classical ballet.

Safe Dance training has been a passion of PBT creator Marie Walton-Mahon's as an educator for over 40 years. It is difficult for students to feel what muscles initiate the correct alignment in ballet training, however, as the fit ball is continually mobile under the students’ body, it gives the students a sense of posture and weight –placement whilst feeling each correct muscle group.

Each exercise has been developed with care and guidance with a team of physiotherapists. To learn more about PBT, click below.

https://www.pbt.dance/home/about

Modern dance focuses on use of space, time and energy. This form teaches fundamentals of modern dance and allows for freedom of movement and improvisation. Students are encouraged to focus on their own interpretation of the music. Students taking class in this dance form are invited to perform in the Spring Production.    

Instructors - Linda O'Brien, Shana O'Brien, 

Algernon Campbell

Tap dance offers students the opportunity to focus on rhythm, sound, and silence using a variety of musical selections and is introduced at an early age in the DCM PreBallet & Tap syllabus. Basic instruction involves learning steps, hops, and brushes and gradually proceeds to slaps, shuffles, cramp rolls, pullbacks, wings, etc. Students taking class in this dance form are invited to perform in the Spring Production. 

Instructors - Anita Samek

Jazz dance improvises on basic, defined technical movements. This popular contemporary dance form is taught from a traditional approach. Instruction in basic jazz positions, exercises, foundation steps, turns, jumps and isolations are taught while working with rhythm using popular and cultural music. Working with particular styles such as musical theatre/Broadway, hip hop/street and lyrical are introduced after the basic technique is established. Students taking class in this dance form are invited to perform in the Spring Production. 

Instructors - Diane Brown, Shana O'Brien

A high energy, high-impact dance class exploring a wide range of styles including krumping, tutting, breaking, locking, and popping. This form of dance is inspired by urban hip hop music. All movement and music selections are age appropriate for young dancers and offer a fun and relaxed environment to enjoy this popular dance form. Students taking class in this dance form are invited to perform in the Spring Production. 

Instructor - Amber Leissler

Choreography class will help you realize that well crafted choreography is much more than the simple orchestration of mechanical elements.  Good choreography comes from the manipulation of the most basic elements of dance: time, space, and energy. Whether or not you continue to create after the completion of  choreography class, you’ll be a better performer, technician, teacher and artist as a result of the effortful journey.

Instructor - Shana O'Brien

The recreational ballet classes are recommended for dancers who wish to continue their ballet training past the Ballet 3 level by attending class once or twice per week. These classes are for students ages 12-adult and focus on applying correct technique to more advanced vocabulary. Students at this level are invited to perform in the Spring Production.  

Instructor - Ashley Spears

DCM Students in middle school and high school are eligible to participate in this group of dancers presenting the NHSDA Showcase and/or join the NHSDA Ensemble traveling and performing at regional festivals, performances, and workshops. 

Instructor- Ashley Spears

At least three ballet classes per week.

Ballet 4 offers barre work, center floor work, flexibility and endurance exercises, choreographic challenges, musicality and terminology. Students at this level are invited to perform in Ballet Chesapeake's Spring Production.  (Pre Pointe is optional)

Instructors: Algernon Campbell, Barclay Gibbs, 

Holly Mora, Kait Weber

At least four ballet classes per week and one Pointe or Pre-Pointe class per week.

Instructors: Barclay Gibbs, Shana O'Brien, 

Ashley Spears, Jessica Treherne

At least five ballet classes and one Pointe or Pre-Pointe class per week.

Instructors: Barclay Gibbs, Shana O'Brien, 

Jessica Treherne, Paul Wegner

At least five ballet classes and one Pointe or Pre-Pointe class per week.

Instructors: Barclay Gibbs, Shana O'Brien, 

Jessica Treherne, Paul Wegner

Men's classes as well as ballet classes in recommended level per week.  

Male students ages 6 and up taking ballet receive full scholarship to DCM.

Instructor - Paul Wegner

Private lessons are available on a limited basis for students who need extra practice or who are participating in the Youth America Grand Prix ballet competition, or college/school auditions. 

Click HERE for more information.