Our combination classes are for preschool children ages 3-5, and children in kindergarten, ages 5-6. The child will be taught class etiquette (listening and following directions) while being introduced to basic dance fundamentals of beginning level steps in BALLET and TAP. Large and small motor skill development will be practiced using hula hoops, bean bags and other manipulatives. Rhythm and counting will be introduced while singing and clapping. Children will be taught to memorize three simple pieces of choreography – one will be performed in the Christmas Show in early December and the other two will be performed at the Spring Recital in May.

Jazz is sharp and fluid movements used to create a visually technical dance and style. It is usually done to popular music. Class will consist of center floor warm up, progressions across the floor and center floor combinations. Progressions consist of technical jazz dance walks, turns and jumps. Body isolations, stretching, turning, leaping and technical steps are also taught in this class. Two pieces of choreography will be taught, memorized and publicly performed at the December Christmas show and the Annual Recital in May.

The tap dancer will be expected to learn different aspects of musicality, such as counting, rhythm and music theory while developing tap technique. Tap is one of the oldest dance forms in the USA. Class will consist of a rhythm warm up and center floor combinations and will include timing and leg/foot coordination done to various types of music. Different styles of tap will be explored. Choreography will be expected to be memorized and performed at the Christmas show in December and at the end of the 9 month season during the Annual Dance Recital in May.

Ballet is the “backbone” of all dance training. In ballet the student will learn grace, elegance, technique, discipline, flexibility, stamina, and endurance. We strongly feel that ballet is the most important dance form that a child or adult can study. Class will consist of barre work, adagio and allegro center floor combinations, and technical progressions which will include ballet walks, turns and leaps. Two pieces of choreography will be taught, memorized and publicly performed at the December Christmas show and the Spring Recital in May. We offer ballet for all ages and abilities.

Hip-hop dance refers to street dance styles primarily performed to hip-hop music or that have evolved as part of hip-hop culture. It includes a wide range of styles primarily breaking, locking, and popping which were created in the 1970s and made popular by dance crews in the United States. This is a great way to dance while having fun and gaining confidence. We recommend, for the more serious dancer, that other regular technique classes like ballet, tap or jazz should be taken along with hip-hop classes.

AcroDance is the beautiful fusion of the artistic motion of dance and the athleticism of acrobatics. It is not the same as gymnastics. It combines classical dance technique with precision acrobatic elements.  It is defined by its athletic character, flexibility and its unique choreography, which seamlessly blends dance and acrobatics, and its use of acrobatics in a dance context. Skills taught might look the same as gymnastics, but they are taught differently to compensate for the absence of a sprung floor. Class placement requires an evaluation by instructor. Forever Dance Alaska is the only certified studio on the Peninsula to use the highly acclaimed Acrobatic Arts syllabus.

The Aurora Company is Forever Dance Alaska’s pre-professional dance company and require auditioning every year to level for class placement. Aurora Company members train in the disciplines of ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, hip hop, contemporary and musical theater. Dancers are encouraged to excel and master advanced technique levels in the mentioned disciplines that includes barre work, adagio and allegro center floor combinations, technical dance progressions, turning, leaping and hip hop style movement. Companies are expected to perform many times during the season and travel for competitions annually.

In the same way that we all learn to speak years before we learn to read and spell, Simply Music Piano temporarily delays music reading and immerses students in the experience of immediately playing great-sounding music. We do this so successfully by introducing students to an array of unique playing-based concepts that unfold directly onto the keyboard. The result of this is that students quickly, easily and naturally are playing a solid foundation of 35 to 50 beautiful pieces, and this is typically acquired over the first year or so of lessons. Thereafter, our unique approach to music reading is introduced. We love that our students become strong readers and we love our unique approach of how we teach students to read. We also love the fact that we don’t introduce reading from the very beginning – it’s the future of music education, and it’s a far more natural approach.