Class Descriptions

Summer Intensive @ GVMCC

Physical Therapy–Informed Conditioning & Applied Anatomy

Physical Therapy / Conditioning supports dancers in developing the strength, stability, mobility, coordination, and body awareness necessary for healthy and sustainable dance training. Rooted in anatomy-informed principles and guided by professional movement and rehabilitation practices, classes emphasize proper alignment, muscular balance, core integration, flexibility, injury prevention, and functional movement mechanics that directly support technical development across all dance forms.

Students engage in conditioning exercises designed to improve strength, endurance, postural support, turnout mechanics, foot and ankle stability, balance, and overall movement efficiency while cultivating a deeper understanding of how to support their bodies as developing artists and athletes. Through a clearer understanding of how the body functions within ballet and movement training, students are encouraged to develop greater body awareness, confidence, and appreciation for the capabilities of their individual bodies. Exercises may incorporate elements of physical therapy-based conditioning, Pilates-informed movement, mobility training, stabilization work, and dance-specific strengthening practices appropriate to students’ developmental levels and training needs.

This class is led by a licensed Physical Therapist, Senior Educator for Polestar Pilates, and PBT-certified instructor with extensive experience applying Pilates and conditioning methodologies to support dancers, aerialists, and other high-level movers. She is also a member of the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science (IADMS) and regularly pursues continuing education with leaders in the fields of dance and circus medicine.

These classes support students’ technical growth, physical resilience, and long-term dancer wellness throughout the Summer Intensive. Placement into the appropriate level will be determined during the first classes of the program.

Beginning Ballet Technique

Beginning Ballet Technique supports dancers in developing foundational skills within the classical structure of a ballet class. In an encouraging and inspiring environment, dancers—both new to ballet and those continuing at the beginning level—build and refine technique through a primary focus on proper alignment and core placement. Using an anatomy-informed approach, students develop coordination, strength, and clarity of movement as they progress toward a full ballet class. Classes may include the following elements at the barre—plié, tendu, dégagé, rond de jambe, fondue, frappé, and grand battement—progressing thoughtfully to center work such as adagio/balance, preparation for turns, movement across the floor, and introductory allegro. Emphasis is placed on placement, coordination, musicality, and developing strength and control while expanding technical skills and artistry.

Placement into the appropriate level will be determined during the first class of the program.

Intermediate/Advanced Ballet Technique

Intermediate/Advanced Ballet Technique supports dancers in refining classical ballet technique within a rigorous and artistically focused training environment. Designed for dancers with prior ballet experience, classes emphasize technical clarity, strength, coordination, musicality, and expressive performance quality while continuing to deepen foundational alignment and placement through an anatomy-informed approach to training. Classes progress through the full structure of a classical ballet class, including increasingly complex barre and center work designed to cultivate strength, precision, dynamic control, and artistic maturity. Dancers develop greater facility in adagio, pirouettes, petit and grand allegro, batterie, pointe preparation, and expansive movement across the floor while refining musical responsiveness, spatial awareness, and performance presence. Emphasis is placed on developing both technical excellence and sustainable training practices that support long-term growth and dancer wellness.

Placement into the appropriate level will be determined during the first class of the program.

Pre-Pointe 

Pre-Pointe focuses on building the strength, alignment, and technical foundation required for safe and successful pointe work. Students develop foot and ankle strength, intrinsic foot control, core stability, and proper turnout mechanics. Exercises emphasize correct weight placement, articulation through the feet, and postural alignment, preparing dancers for the demands of pointe with care and precision.

Pointe

Pointe supports dancers in developing the strength, technical precision, and artistry required for classical pointe work. Rooted in an anatomy-informed approach, classes emphasize proper alignment, foot and ankle articulation, core support, balance, and coordination while cultivating the control and placement necessary for safe and effective pointe technique. Students refine foundational pointe vocabulary through exercises at the barre and center, progressing thoughtfully according to individual readiness and technical development. Training may include relevés, échappés, bourrées, piqué work, turns, balances, traveling sequences, and pointe-specific strengthening exercises designed to build confidence, stability, and endurance. Emphasis is placed on developing both technical integrity and expressive artistry while supporting healthy, sustainable pointe training practices.

Story to Stage

This class offers a delightful exploration of stories from the classical ballet repertoire. Dancers discover the elements that make ballet a unique and expressive art form, learning how movement communicates narrative. Class includes an introduction to pantomime, musicality, character development, and theatrical expression, alongside exposure to pointe shoes, costume design, and stage props. Students gain a deeper appreciation of how technique and storytelling come together in performance.

Ballet Repertoire

In Ballet Repertoire, dancers bring their technique into practice through choreography drawn from the classical ballet canon. This class bridges training and performance, allowing students to apply foundational principles with clarity and intention. Focus includes musicality, phrasing, stylistic nuance, and spatial awareness, while developing memory, ensemble awareness, and performance quality. Dancers enrolled in the full two-week intensive will work toward a piece to be presented at the end of the Intensive at Performance in the Park.

Character

Character introduces dancers to the stylized movement traditions and theatrical expression found within classical ballet repertoire. Rooted in folk dance influences from countries such as Russia, Hungary, Poland, Spain, and Italy, students develop coordination, musicality, rhythmic clarity, stylistic versatility, and performance quality while deepening their understanding of classical ballet tradition and storytelling. Classes explore foundational character technique through posture, épaulement, port de bras, rhythmic footwork, traveling combinations jumps,, and theatrical expression, while fostering ensemble awareness, confidence, and dynamic artistry within an engaging and supportive environment.

These classes will culminate in an end-of-intensive showing highlighting students’ technical development, artistic growth, and application of class material in performance.

Modern

Modern Dance develops strength, coordination, expressive movement quality, and greater full-body awareness. Classes emphasize alignment, dynamic range, and fluid connectivity that encourages dancers to move with clarity, intention, and authentic expression. Awareness of weight, breath, momentum, and release, are some of the foundational modern dance techniques and movement principles explored. Classes include a thorough warmup, floorwork, traveling phrases, improvisation, and choreography designed to cultivate versatility, movement freedom, and artistic confidence within a supportive and creatively engaging environment.

For students enrolled in the full two-week intensive, these classes will culminate in an end-of-intensive showing highlighting students’ technical development, artistic growth, and application of class material in performance.

Contemporary

Jazz (Fosse)

Jazz (Fosse) introduces dancers to the stylized movement vocabulary, musicality, and theatrical performance qualities associated with the iconic work of Bob Fosse. Classes emphasize rhythmic precision, coordination, isolations, dynamic contrast, grounded movement quality, performance presence, and expressive confidence while developing versatility across theatrical jazz styles.Students explore foundational jazz technique alongside Fosse-inspired movement patterns, stylization, musical interpretation, and ensemble performance through across-the-floor progressions, center combinations, and choreographic phrasework in an engaging and artistically focused environment.

For students enrolled in the full two-week intensive, these classes will culminate in an end-of-intensive showing highlighting students’ technical development, artistic growth, and application of class material in performance.