This yearlong course is designed to develop versatile, expressive performers through the study of musical theatre dance. Students will strengthen their technical foundation while exploring how movement communicates character, emotion, and story. Through focused warm-ups, across-the-floor progressions, performance exercises, improvisation, and choreography, students will build confidence as both dancers and storytellers.

Throughout the year, students will develop coordination, flexibility, musicality, stage presence, and artistic expression while gaining experience in multiple dance styles commonly used in musical theatre. Weekly instruction will emphasize technical growth, movement quality, character development, ensemble awareness, and choreographic interpretation. Students will be encouraged to make intentional artistic choices and deepen their ability to connect movement to the dramatic demands of performance.

The course is structured in three progressive units:

Unit 1: Jazz Foundations and Musical Theatre Performance
Unit 2: Tap Fundamentals and Rhythmic Expression
Unit 3: Contemporary Movement and Emotional Storytelling

Students will have two special opportunities to share their progress with family during our informal “Family Night: Inside the Studio” events, held at the end of each semester (December and May). These evenings are designed to let families step into the studio and see firsthand what their student has been learning and experiencing each week, and to provide a celebratory atmosphere for students to showcase their growth and skills.

Class Objectives:

1. Demonstrate foundational technique in jazz, tap, and contemporary dance styles
2. Apply proper alignment, coordination, strength, flexibility, and movement control in class exercises and choreography
3. Interpret music, lyrics, and dramatic context through expressive movement choices
4. Develop performance skills including stage presence, focus, projection, and character embodiment
5. Learn and apply dance and musical theatre vocabulary with accuracy and confidence
6. Collaborate effectively within an ensemble while maintaining spatial awareness and performance responsibility
7. Explore improvisation and movement exploration as tools for creativity and artistic growth
8. Analyze and perform choreography with attention to style, musicality, storytelling, and intention
9. Demonstrate increased confidence, versatility, and expressive range as a musical theatre performer

Instructional Tone: Encouraging, collaborative, and artist-focused—emphasizing technical growth, creativity, performance excellence, and personal expression
Activities: Technical warm-ups, across-the-floor progressions, center combinations, choreography study, improvisation exercises, character-based movement exploration, and ensemble performance work
Skills Focus: Dance technique, musicality, rhythmic accuracy, character development, storytelling, versatility, collaboration, and stage presence
Performance Readiness: Performance of musical theatre dance combinations demonstrating technique, artistry, and storytelling, shared during informal *In the Studio* observation events.

Aligned National Core Arts Standards (Dance):
Creating:
DA:Cr1.1 — Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work (expressive improvisation, choreography choices)
DA:Cr2.1 — Organize and develop artistic ideas and work (technical drills, phrase learning)
Performing:
DA:Pr5.1 — Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation (alignment, jazz skills, dynamic range)
DA:Pr6.1 — Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work (musical interpretation, character, emotion)
Responding:
DA:Re7.1 — Perceive and analyze artistic work (partner/group collaboration, timing, spatial awareness)
DA:Re8.1 — Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work (expressive choices)
Connecting:
DA:Cn10.1 — Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art (style exploration, emotional expression)
DA:Cn11.1 — Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding (different jazz styles)