Manoa Dance Studio Classes
Listed below you will find the class descriptions of both The Manoa Dance Studio and Total You Dance. We offer class for everyone of all ages. Please check class schedule for an up to date list of classes offered for current session. If you have a specific request for a class that is currently not on our schedule, we would love to hear from you!
Creative Movement Ages 3-5
Self-expression through movement is the foundation of this class. Basic movement and awareness along with some simple dance terms and vocabulary are taught. Basic movement skills along with creative, playful learning tools and imagination exercises are used to help your little dancer along on their way to learning about their body and self through movement. All different genres of music are used to expose students to different rhythms, learning how to clap to a beat, count and express.
Ballet-Tap Combo Ages 3-4
A delightful first approach to dance! Students will learn basic ballet and tap terms, technique, and self-expression using large motor and coordination skills. The Ballet portion of the class will have a main focus on basic ballet movements using creative expression through movement while implementing structure and basic discipline. The tap portion runs about 15 minutes of class time and basic tap steps are taught with fun drills and choreography.
Ballet-Tap Combo Level I Ages 5-6
A building on of the classes above with creativity and fun still playing a roll in learning with an increased focus on developing larger motor skills, a wider range of ballet terms and vocabulary with a deeper understanding of how the body moves in ballet. The tap portion of the class also builds on the basics of the above class into more complex steps and combinations. Choreography is taught in both portions.
Pre-Ballet Ages 3-5
Introduces the basic elements of ballet through creative movement activities. Students will explore space, force, and timing while learning specific movements, such as hopping, skipping, and eventually sou sou, cloche. and other ballet movements and terms. All classes are conducted through playful and age suitable movement and musicality activities and games. Pre-Ballet expands the students’ movement vocabulary and understanding of ballet terminology through copying and creating activities, simple dances, and movement exploration. Each class incorporates movement themes, such as the use of levels, interaction with a partner, movement dynamics or patterns, and utilizing dancing to learn ballet stories of the romantic and classical ballet repertoire.
Ballet I Ages 6-8
Technique is taught with a contemporary flair. The emphasis is on creative phrasing, while increasing strength and technical ability. Objectives include moving through the five positions which wire the ballet system of movement. This class begins with activities to help prepare for learning and improves social and behavioral skills through the teaching of ballet classroom etiquette. The aim is to boost brainpower through exercise, increasing blood flow and oxygen to the brain through dancing, so the students can be challenged both mentally and physically. Getting started at the barre is a critical element to this class and emphasis is placed on plies and tendu and degage exercises from first position. Activities center floor focus on breathing, being a visual versus a tactile dancer (dancing with and without the mirror), and working both the core and the distal lines of the limbs.
Ballet II Ages 8-10
In this level of Ballet the dancers mind and body are ready for a deeper understanding and discipline. Focus is on the terms and wider range of steps, combinations and choreography.
Ballet III Ages 12+ (Instructors approval)
This level will further increase the dancers foundation of steps, principles and understanding of basic anatomy to help promote the development for healthy dancers. At this level, the dancers are encouraged to come multiple times per week as they are ready for the full commitment to the understanding of ballet.
Ballet IV Ages 14+ (Instructors approval)
With a strong foundation and deep understating of ballet movements, terms, and combinations, here the dancers discipline will be sharpened and perfected. Dancers work on perfecting technique, center work, across the floors and choreography.
Pointe (Instructors Approval)*
Pointe will further increase the dancer’s strength in steps and provide a foundation for mature ballet dancing. Principles of the basic anatomy of the foot and understanding of balance through kinesiology help promote the development of healthy dancers en pointe and are integral to the curriculum. At this level, dancers are encouraged to attend ballet classes multiple times per week as they are ready for a full commitment to perfecting and understanding ballet techniques, which will enable them to dance efficiently en pointe.
Acro I Ages 5-7 & II Ages 8+
By far the most fun and thrilling class at Total You Dance! Acro dance is a style of dance that combines classical dance technique with precision acrobatic elements. Dancers learn different stunts and lifts, back bends, headstands, shoulder stands and partner work! Students learn through increased flexibility to become good tumblers with great balance and agility. An excellent companion class for any competitive or recreational dancer.
Adult Ballet
The goal of this class is for the adult who is either interested in learning about Ballet or the dancer that wants to get back into dancing. A fun, safe, comfortable yet challenging class to work on ballet technique, style, terms and combinations.
Jazz, Ballet, & Tap Combo Ages 4-7
An exciting, age appropriate fun way to learn how to move in different ways and explore all the areas of technical dance! Dancers learn 20 minutes of each style of dance in Jazz, Tap and Ballet. With each different style, this will help dancers become more well rounded and help them focus on what they desire as a growing dancer.
Jazz Pizzaz Ages 5-7
An exciting, extremely age appropriate fun way to learn how to move a different way with keeping the same principles, foundation, and discipline in technical movement! Using fun music to teach a focus on the importance of stretching, learning isolations, strong technique, across the floors, combinations, performance basics and fun choreography. Your little dancer will come home happy to show you what they learned in class. *Recommended dancer takes at least one ballet class along with this level of Jazz.
Jazz I Ages 6-8
A more advanced level of Jazz dance where stronger bodies are developed in control and technique, but still with all the fun. More focus on strength, flexibility, technique, and performance, as well as more intricate choreography. * Must take at least one ballet class along with this level of Jazz.
Jazz II Ages 8-10
With a stronger foundation and a stronger body, the Jazz dancer is now ready for in-depth development of Jazz technique and choreography. Here we work on body awareness, strengthening, flexibility, turns, across the floors, all with a strong focus on performance. *Must take at least one ballet class to accompany this level of Jazz.
Jazz III Ages 12+
With a full foundation of technique and performance ability, this level is about perfecting and honing in on advanced skills, tricks, stunts, technical skills in center work, across the floor combinations, and choreography.
Adult Jazz
A fun yet challenging work out, this class is a safe and comfortable class environment to sharpen or learn new skills. Jazz center work, across the floors, choreography, technique, isometric exercises, as well as some Pilates are incorporated.
Technique, Turns, Leaps and Progressions, Ages 13+
This class focuses on strength and flexibility to help students progress as a well rounded dancer. Elements of ballet and contemporary Barre mixed with across the floor progressions, flexibility conditioning and center turns. Dance combos are taught at the end of every class to put everything together. Perfect addition to your advanced classes!
Hip Hop
This class teaches rhythm, musicality, coordination, and age-appropriate hip hop choreography. Hip Hop is upbeat and great for kids who like to move. This is an excellent class for high-energy kids who want to take a fast and fun dance class. Students are challenged to think on their feet while enjoying an energetic and fast-paced dance class. Our Hip Hop dancers develop focus, strength, and agility while having fun.
Lyrical & Technique
A blend between ballet and jazz, lyrical style is free flowing using movement to express and/or to tell a story. Technique is a strong focus here, as well as self-expression and passion while dancing.
Tap I Ages 5-7
These classes teach rhythm, coordination, basic tap terminology and choreography.
Tap II Ages 10+
This class is designed to refine tap skills, while moving beyond the fundamentals of tap. Students will put the fundamentals to work by learning new steps, rhythms, patterns, and combinations. Students will also learn different styles of tap such as Stomp, Showboat, and Rhythmic.
Adult Tap
Always wanted to learn tap? Just learning tap? Has it been a while since your last tap class? If you an adult seeking to learn or perfect your tap skills, Come on over! This technique class will focus on faster and more intricate footwork for the seasoned tapper and sharpen the basics for the beginner. The dancer at this level will develop speed, clarity, dynamics, and the ability to execute to complex rhythmic combinations.
This class will explore and refine the movement dynamics essential to performance. Through contemporary styles each student will discover their unique form of expression, collaborate to create and challenge the technical aspects of dance.
Contemporary/Jazz Ages 12+
This class will combine both jazz and modern techniques in an effort to generate awareness, capability, and versatility for the focused dancer. Chelsea’s class pulls from the foundation of jazz-geniuses such as Jack Cole, Gus Giordano and Frank Hatchett; and in addition, encompasses many different modern dance forms from masters including Limon, Horton, Brown, Simonson and Taylor. Dancers will be challenged to improve their risk taking skills, move quickly, be bolder artists, understand movement dynamics, create their own compositions and perfect their performance strategies. With a certification in Simonson technique, Chelsea is able to find the safest movement for every dancer in her class, while pushing them to express themselves fully through movement.