Fall is just around the corner and SAAC would like to remind you that now is the time for you to register your kids for Arts Academy classes. SAAC’s ballet program will be held in-house and beginning soon!

SAAC’s ballet program is available for dancers as young as four, and offers classes geared for each level of experience. The fall 2020 roster includes a new class called Pre-Ballet for the very youngest dancers and those with no ballet experience. “This class will focus on ballet as an art form that can be used to tell a story,” said Lowery. “Students will learn a few basic ballet terms while practicing a variety of small and large body movements. Students will also work on telling a story or expressing a feeling with movement.”

Another addition to the dance curriculum is Lyrical Ballet, led by Elizabeth Wood. This class is available to dancers in grades 5-12, and offers a chance for more intensive study. “Lyrical ballet is a style that combines techniques from ballet, jazz and modern,” says Wood. “It is more fluid than ballet and embodies deep expression of emotions, which will be a focus in this class. The class will also focus on individual steps from each technique and how to blend them together to form combinations and dances.”

Pre-Ballet (Age 4-1st grade and / or no SAAC ballet experience) will meet on Mondays 4:00-4:45 with Stephanie Lowrey.

Ballet 1 (Kindergarten and 1st grade with previous SAAC ballet experience or 2nd grade without SAAC ballet experience) will focus on basic ballet foot positions and beginning ballet movements and terminology through a short barre and “center”. Students will also practice remembering movement sequences, matching movement to music tempo, and expression. They will meet on Wednesdays 4:00-4:45 with Stephanie Lowrey.

Ballet 2 (2nd grade with previous SAAC ballet experience and 3rd-4th grade) will focus on Ballet 1 skills as well as more complex ballet movements, counting, musicality, and ballet head and body positions. Ballet 2 will meet on Tuesdays 3:45-4:45 with Elizabeth Wood or on Thursdays 4:00-5:00 with Stephanie Lowrey.

Ballet 3-4 (5th-12th grade with previous SAAC ballet experience & 7th-12th grade without previous SAAC ballet experience) will focus on more advanced ballet movements, putting separate movements together to make combinations, artistry, expression, choreography, and writing ballet terminology. The class will be held on Tuesdays 4:00-5:30 with Elizabeth Wood & Thursdays 6:30-8:00 with Stephanie Lowrey.

Lyrical Dance (5th-12th grade) will be held on Tuesdays with Elizabeth Wood instructing.