| OUR PROGRAMS
 The Early Dance Program in Creative Movement and Pre-Ballet: Develops an awareness of using the body expressively with rhythm. These classes encourage young dancers to learn the joy of movement to music in a fun environment.
Elementary Dance Levels: At these levels students begin the more intense, focused work of learning the challenging fundamentals of classical ballet.
Classical Dance Program: These classes develop strength and flexibility through pure classical technique.
Creative Movement
The child begins to develop an awareness of how to use the body expressively through rhythm and age-appropriate movement activities.
Where do we start? Young children are encouraged to join Creative Movement for 3 and 4 year olds. Students younger than three are usually not ready to join an organized class.
What can we expect? Students learn to find and move to a beat, locate their bodies on a dance floor, and move around the room with other students. Activities are short to accommodate the young child’s limited attention span.
What do we need? Girls should wear comfortable clothing to move in or a leotard of any color, tights optional, and bare feet or ballet shoes (leotard, tights and ballet shoes optional). Boys should wear athletic shorts, t-shirts and bare feet.
Where do we go from here? Students who are at least four years old may join a Pre-Ballet class r other dance class appropriate to their age group.
Pre-Ballet
The student is introduced to basic positions and vocabulary in preparation for further ballet study.
Where do we start? Students ages 4 & 5 who want to take ballet classes will join Pre-Ballet. Absolute beginners ages 6-12 will join Elementary I Beginners class.
What can we expect? Students will learn basic technique through carefully graded rhythmic exercises developing poise, flexibility and grace.
What do we need? Required dance attire: Girls: Black leotard, pink tights, pink ballet shoes (snug with elastics sewn across the instep). Boys: white t-shirt, black tights, white socks, white ballet shoes.
Where do we get it? Dance Wear House of Canton and Stage Center in Akron carry shoes and dance attire. See note at After three sessions of Pre-Ballet and with the end of booklet.
Where do we go from here? Instructor’s permission, students will move to Continuing Pre-Ballet.
Continuing Pre-Ballet
Where do we start? Students ages 5 or 6 who have taken Beginning Pre-Ballet classes and have the instructor’s permission will move up to Continuing Pre-Ballet.
What can we expect? Students continue with simple, basic techniques and flexibility exercises while adding movements requiring coordination in rhythmic changes.
Where do we go from here? The instructor will advise Continuing Pre-Ballet Students when to move into the Elementary ballet program.
Elementary Ballet
These classes stress the basic vocabulary and technique of Classical Ballet. For students wishing to go on to more advanced ballet studies, elementary classes are an excellent preparation. All levels are assigned by the instructor. You will be notified about moving to the next level.
Where do we start? Students ages 6 – 12 will begin in Elementary I Beginners class offered in the Fall and Winter sessions. Students moving up from Continuing Pre-Ballet will go into Elementary I. Students who have had ballet but are new to the program are assigned to a level by the instructor.
What can we expect? These classes are an extension of pre-ballet with more emphasis on elementary technique to prepare the young child for classical training. Students from Absolute Beginners, Elementary I, through Elementary III, will have a one hour class per week. Students in Elementary IV must take two 1 and ¼ hour classes per week.
What do we need? Required dance attire (see Pre-Ballet) no skirts!
Where do we get it? Dance Wear House, Stage Center, or Dance Distributors online. See note at end of booklet.
What about Summer Session? Any Elementary level ballet students may take the two-week Elementary Ballet Summer Performance Workshop which includes a mini-French class, ballet technique, and choreography, with a performance on the last day.
Where do we go from here? The instructor will recommend that students move to Classical Ballet where they will begin taking two 1 and ½ hour classes weekly.
What are the advantages of joining? Students have the opportunity to perform with the Wayne Center Ballet in professional, quality productions – an annual Spring Performance, and a bi-annual, full-length production of the Nutcracker Ballet.
What if I want to take ballet but not join the company? Students who do not join the Wayne Center Ballet Company may, when needed, be a part of the large group dances in the Spring production and in the bi-annual Nutcracker.
Classical Ballet
 Students will find a continuing and progressive program of formal training in classical ballet technique with emphasis on postural alignment, coordination, terminology and basic execution.
Where do we start? The first level of Classical Ballet is Advanced Beginners. Students will move up from Elementary IV with instructor’s permission. Students not advancing from the Art Center’s program must arrange a placement audition class to determine level of training.
What can we expect? A minimum of 2 classes per week is required for Advanced Beginners. Intermediate levels and above must take a minimum of 3 classes per week. Classes include ballet technique, pointe and variations, and pas de deux.
What do we need? Dress Code for Classical Ballet:
Females: black camisole leotard (Mirella or other brand), theatrical pink tights with seams, pink ballet slippers (canvas or leather) properly fitted with elastics sewn on. Hair secured tightly to the head and away from face.
Males: black tights, dance belt (if needed), white t-shirt tucked in, white socks, black or white ballet shoes with elastics sewn on. Unless the student is injured, sweat pants, shirts, and leg warmers must be removed before class.
Where do we get it? Stage Center. See note at end of booklet.
When do we go on Pointe? The most important requisite for pointe work is coordination of the whole body, each part adapting correctly and without strain to a new position while keeping the “placement” established by several years of training. Only the ballet instructors can decide when the student has achieved the correct posture and strength and has feet and ankles sufficiently fexible for the demands of pointe work.
What can we expect once on pointe? Pointe work usually begins with 10 minutes of exercises at the barre at the end of technique class. The feet begin to tolerate longer periods of pointe work until all movements are studied on pointe.
Where do we get pointe shoes? Stage Center will properly fit the pointe shoes along with appropriate lambs wool, ouch pads, ribbons, etc. The pointe shoes MUST BE CHECKED by the instructor before being sewn or worn, or they cannot be returned if not correctly fitted.
What about Summer Session? Ballet Summer School is a 5-week program offering students classes in technique, variations, Jazz, Modern, and Character dance. WCB members are required to take 3 weeks each summer. Creative Movement, Pre-Ballet, and Continuing Pre-Ballet are offered in the summer.
Wayne Center Ballet
Wayne Center Ballet is the resident youth ballet company of the school, providing the community with quality ballet performances and performing experiences for its dancers who are chosen by audition. The repertoire includes a performance each spring, as well as a full-length Nutcracker Ballet on even numbered years.
What do we need? Most students will have the required attire by the time the get to this level. Ballet shoes shoes should fit well.
Where do we get it? Dance Wear House, Stage Center, or Dance Distributors, online. See note at end of booklet.
What about Summer Session? At the end of Spring Session, students advancing from Continuing Pre-Ballet to Elementary I are eligible to take the Elementary Ballet Performance Workshop (details under Elementary Ballet).
THE BASICS
Observing Classes: Parents and friends may observe classes the last week of each session.
Consultations: Dance faculty is always pleased to speak with parents and students regarding class work and student progress. For an appointment, please leave your name and number with the front desk, and you will be contacted.
Tuition: Payment in full must accompany all class registrations unless a payment schedule has been approved in advance. Students whose tuition is past due may not register for classes in the following sessions.
Financial Aid: Financial assistance is available. Application forms may be picked up at the front desk.
Dress Code: The dress code is designed to encourage unity and discipline among students. It distinguishes our program as one devoted to the development of dedicated young dancers.
Where to Purchase Dance Attire:
Dance Wear House, Canton,OH (330-497-9419)
Payless Shoesource, Wooster OH (345-5722)
Wal-Mart, Wooster OH (330-345-8955)
Online Dance Distributors: www.dancedistributors.com
Stage Center*, 908 North Main Street, Akron OH 44310 (330-535-7816 or 1-800-535-7810).
*Stage Center offers a discount to members of the Wayne Center Ballet
Classroom Etiquette and Policies
• Be on time for class. Arrive early to change.
• Speak to the Instructor about problems or injuries before class begins.
• No gum, or water bottles in the studies.
• No street shoes on dance floors, no hanging on barres. Keep hands off mirrors.
• Clothing should be worn over dancewear to and from studios. Be respectful and courteous to Arts Center instructors, staff and students at all times.
• Ask permission before leaving the studio.
• No talking during class.
• Accept corrections in a mature manner. The correction is given to help you with your training.
• Parents should not enter the studio while class is in progress.
• At the end of class, students should applaud the instructor and themselves for a job well done.
• Follow the Dress code for all classes.
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