Dance classes geared toward kindergarten and first-grade dancers focus on introducing students to the basic principles of dance. Students will learn two or three basic ballet foot positions and arm movements. Most teachers of this level encourage children to use their creativity while enjoying movement. Kids will march and skip across the floor and play dance-related games. If the class combines ballet, tap and jazz, students will also learn basic tap steps and jazz stretches. Lessons for students this young usually meet once a week for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
In the second, third and fourth grades, students have the muscular development necessary to begin studying dance technique more intensively. Young dancers will build upon the skills they cultivated in introductory dance classes while learning more positions and movements in ballet, jazz, tap or all three, depending on the dance technique emphasized. In beginning dance classes, teachers will focus on helping students execute steps with proper technique but might still include a few fun movement games to keep kids interested. Beginning dance classes meet once or twice a week for an hour to an hour and a half.
By the fifth grade, if not earlier, students in private dance schools will begin to be divided into levels according to ability and experience rather than age. If students in fifth, sixth and seventh grade have mastered dance basics, they will move on to an intermediate level. Intermediate students continue to work on technique, with additional emphasis on mastering higher level steps such as turns and leaps. Students will also focus on connecting steps into combinations or dance phrases. Intermediate classes usually meet two or three times per week for at least an hour and a half.
In middle school and high school, students who have mastered beginner and intermediate steps and technique will start to study at an advanced intermediate level. While some studios offer classes for students who are too advanced for intermediate classes but not yet ready for an advanced level, most advanced-intermediate dancers are placed either in an advanced class or an intermediate class. The teacher will give the advanced-intermediate student special instruction to accommodate her specific ability level. This is often the level at which students decide whether or not they want to pursue dance seriously as a pre-professional.
High-school-aged students with strong technique, discipline and several years of dance experience under their belts will be prepared for advanced level dance classes. Advanced classes focus on preparing students for careers in dance. Although technique is strongly emphasized, advanced students will also work on the artistic quality of their dancing. Upon high school graduation, advanced dancers will prepare to audition for collegiate dance programs, dance companies or other professional dance jobs. Students must be deeply committed to the art form to study at an advanced level, attending classes three to six days a week, often for several hours at a time.