About the Dance Department
Students can study ballet, ethnic, modern, hip hop, and stage, as well as martial arts, dance conditioning, and yoga. All of these courses receive daily instruction for credit. Each path within the dance curriculum requires an audition process to move beyond beginner to intermediate and advanced, regardless of grade level. The Afro-Caribbean Dance and Drum Ensemble performs throughout the area and provides income for students during the summer months. Graduating seniors can earn a Dance Major Certificate by completing 5 credits in dance with at least one credit of Anatomy and Physiology,and the completion of a senior project approved by the Dance Department Faculty. Dance majors often engage in master classes with touring dance professionals and companies, including the Alvin Ailey Dance Company, the Paul Taylor Dance Company, the Eisenhower Dance Ensemble, Tommy Nani Igbani, an African dancer and drummer, and the Ghanaian dance and drumming ensemble lead by Bernard Woma.
The Dance Department also includes our Martial Arts program taught by Mark Cramer.
Dancers in Action
Course Descriptions
Beginning Courses
Introduction to Dance 6th Grade is focused on the beginning of all dance styles such as ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, hip hop, tap, African, and salsa. Each student will learn the background and history of each style along with gaining the knowledge of the basic steps and movement to each style.
Introduction to Dance 7th Grade is focused on an overview of all dance styles such as ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, hip hop, tap, African, and salsa. Each student will learn the background and history of each style along with gaining the knowledge of the intermediate to advanced steps and movement to each style. Students will also start focusing and analyzing their own choreography.
Introduction to proper etiquette, technique and history of ballet. Students will learn basic adagio and allegro combinations. Students will learn basic turns and leaps. Students will have an opportunity to learn and perform choreography.
Fees: Students must provide leotard, tights and ballet slippers.
Includes dance study concentrating on non-European styles, including West African, Javanese and contemporary Indian amongst others, with some cultural studies. Focus on Technique, Progressions, West African Dances, History, Acro-Partnering, Performance, Choreography
Beginning Hip Hop is focused on the beginning history of the style. It covers the importance of Hip Hop along with the best technical beginning skills that the style endures. At the end of the semester, students will understand the true meaning of hip hop, be able to compare and contrast the style from now and then, and excel in beginning movement for them to move on to the intermediate/advanced level technically
Students will learn basic movement based on several modern dance styles. Students will work on flexibility, strength and expression of movement. Students will begin working on improvisation through dance with verbal cues. Students will learn and perform modern dances.
Fees: Students need to provide black pants and white t-shirt.
A beginning level dance course that focuses mainly on jazz and tap technique, but also covers musical theater and contemporary. Open to anyone interested in dance!
Tap combines dance and music in a way that no other dance style does. If you’re drawn to the rhythm and swagger, this very American art form might be for you. No audition required, but tap shoes are. Assistance in obtaining tap shoes is available.
Intermediate Courses
This class builds on the technique and history of beginning ballet. Students will learn longer and more difficult combinations. Students will be introduced to higher level turns and leaps. Students will create and perform their own ballet choreography.
Prerequisite: Students need to have knowledge and have taken ballet prior to taking this class. An audition is also required.
Fees: Students must provide leotard, tights and ballet slippers.
Continued study of Ethnic styles, with influences of Yoga, Acro-Partnering, Performance, Choreography. The Afro-Caribbean Ensemble pairs with the Ethnic drumming class for Summer and School-Year Outreach Programs.
Prerequisite: Beginning Ethnic or prior training. An audition is also required.
Intermediate Hip Hop focuses on the history and today’s world of hip hop. The students will understand the differences between the two centuries along with the education of difficult movement within the style. Students will learn and study all advanced movement of Hip Hop along with practicing their own choreography within the subject.
Prerequisite: Beginning Hip Hop or prior training. An audition is also required.
Students will continue working and building on the skills that they have learned in beginning modern. Students will start lifting and bearing weight with a partner. Student will start creating their own dances based on time, space and energy. Students will learn and perform modern dances.
Prerequisite: Students must be knowledgeable and perform skills taught in Beginning Modern. An audition is also required.
Fees: Students need to provide black pants and white t shirt.
Intermediate stage 1 covers the dance styles of jazz, contemporary, musical theater and tap. Open to all grade levels, but must audition with teacher before enrolling.
Prerequisite: Intermediate level of jazz technique
Intermediate stage 2 is the third level of stage dance classes that cover the styles of jazz, contemporary, musical theater and tap. High level of technique is expected and must audition with the teacher before enrolling in class.
Prerequisite: High intermediate level of jazz technique. An audition is also required.
Advanced Courses
This class builds on the knowledge and skills they have learned in intermediate ballet. Students will be ask to create a lesson plan and teach a beginning ballet class. Students will develop on their skill levels by mastering turns, leaps and longer combinations. Students will start creating solos and group pieces and verbally express what is the meaning of the dance.
Prerequisite: Intermediate Ballet, or equivalent knowledge and skills. An audition is also required.
Fees: Students must provide leotard, tights and ballet slippers
Pointe is the part of ballet that happens on the dancer’s toes. This is a class teaching both foundations and more advanced pointework. Must audition into Int. 2 or Advanced Ballet. Previous experience on pointe is not required. Pointe shoes are required. Assistance in obtaining pointe shoes is available.
Continued study of Ethnic styles, with influences of Yoga, Acro-Partnering, Performance, Choreography. The Afro-Caribbean Ensemble pairs with the Ethnic drumming class for Summer and School-Year Outreach Programs.
Prerequisite: Intermediate Ethnic or prior training. An audition is also required.
Advanced Hip Hop dancing and choreography, including strength training, flexibility and endurance. The cultural impact of hip hop, and influential artists is also studied. For students who have successfully completed Intermediate Hip Hop.
Prerequisite: Intermediate Hip Hop or prior training. An audition is also required.
Continuing with techniques and influences of various modern dancers, this class provides advanced training including: Technique, Progressions, Partnering/Acro, Choreography, Apparatus work- Chairs, Boxes etc
Prerequisite: Prior training in Modern and Ballet or Intermediate Modern. An audition is also required.
This course is offered to the most advanced dance students in the styles of jazz, contemporary, musical theater and choreography. These students dance for two hours a day, and perform in many productions throughout the year. Very dance intense class with warm-ups and technique- high level of dedication required. Must audition and be approved by teacher to enroll.
Prerequisite: Intermediate Stage. Must be a versatile dancer in the styles of jazz and contemporary. An audition is also required.
Additional Courses
Dance conditioning is focused on the work ethic of one individual on a physical level. This class focuses on one’s physical ability and health. Students will exercise doing various workouts along with learning how to write workout and nutritional plans. At the end of the course, students will have a strong stamina, core, understanding of food groups, and the knowledge of all bones and muscles in the body.
A course designed for the practice of yoga, with flexibility and strength building activities. Suitable for both the dancer and those seeking physical education credit. Technique/Practice Asanas, History/ Health- research and lecture, Acro-Partnering, Choreography- Minimal with minimal performance responsibilities.
Toledo School for the Arts Seiwa Kai Goju Ryu Karatedo
芸術のためのトレド学校 誠和会剛柔流空手道
Karatedo at TSA is taught as a traditional Japanese martial art. Students will be studying Goju Ryu (Hard Soft Style) which is one of several traditional Okinawan/Japanese styles practiced around the world. Students participate in all of the following activities: Conditioning (Junbiundo, 準備 運動), Basic Techniques (Kihon, 基本), Art (Kata, 型), Self-Defense (Bunkai, 分解 ) and Sport (Jiyu Kumite, 組手).
For students who have completed at least on year of Martial Arts study, an additional course to further develop their skills.
Prerequisite: Martial Arts, instructor permission.