Hopkinton Center for the Arts Dance Program

Welcome to Jessica Wilson, the HCA's new Director of Dance. Jessica is a former student and instructor of Jacquline Cronsberg's studio in Hopkinton and is the director and owner of MetroWest Ballet in Hudson. You can read more about Jessica and her close association with Hopkinton here in her letter to students. Fall classes are now open for registration. For placement questions please email jessica@hopartscenter.org.

Class Descriptions  I  Instructors  I  Dress Code

Class Descriptions

Creative Dance
Through story telling, props, music, and play, young dancers are introduced to the joy of dance, and our experienced HCA faculty work to ensure this joy and appreciation of dance will remain with the students for a lifetime. Rhythm, coordination, and listening skills are developed in a playful, warm, and nurturing atmosphere.

Pre Ballet
Pre Ballet expands on the elements and practices of Creative Movement. While dance elements are further developed, imagery, musicality, creative thinking, spatial awareness and team work continue to be emphasized in a safe, fun, nurturing environment. This class is appropriate for students enrolled in Kindergarten.

Tap Dance Beginner and Intermediate
Classes consists of both center and across the floor training. Students learn shuffles, flaps, time steps, buffalo, hops, drawbacks, cramp rolls, and basic turns. As they progress students learn more tap-rhythms and combinations as they are exposed to riffs, pullbacks, time steps, and intermediate turns.

Hip Hop 1 and Hip Hop 2
Join our fun, exciting, and energetic classes that focus on the today’s most popular dance moves. Develop coordination, body awareness, build self-esteem and promote confidence while having a blast. 

Jazz 1 and Jazz 2
This is a fun, high energy class explores the expressive styles of classic jazz. Students will develop a foundation of the basic jazz movements including isolations, flat backs, laterals, floor progression, jumps, turns, and stylized movement. This class will encourage students to bring their individuality and unique personality to the class.

Beginner Teen Ballet
Teen Ballet is designed to develop the dancer’s technique. The focus of this class will be to correct posture, increase flexibility, gain strength and learn the vocabulary of ballet. This environment allows young dancers to gain confidence and build self-esteem.Beginner Teen Contemporary
This class focuses on loosening tensed muscles, building strength through fluid movement, and exploring artistic expression. Easy to follow contemporary combinations will include lateral bends, contractions and expansions, simple floor rolls, swings, and other elements of contemporary dance. Class includes floor work, movement across the floor, and choreography.

> To register for any of these classes, click here.

Adult Programs

Adult Ballet Floor Barre
For adult dancers and non-dancers alike. Stretch and strengthen, have fun, and channel your inner dancer with this class created by Cathy Fallon. Cathy, a former Principal ballet dancer, is Pilates Mat certified, holds a B.S in Kinesthetic Education and Dance, and is an AmSAT certified teacher of the Alexander Technique mind/body awareness technique. Let Cathy guide you to increased core strength, proper alignment, and ease of movement. Explore in a safe judgment free studio!

Adult Ballet
If your are looking to pick up ballet again, want to try ballet classes for the first time, or you've looking for a new way to approach health and wellness, this is a perfect class. Have fun working out and learning a classical art form. The HCA faculty does a wonderful job helping each student get the best class they can in order to improve strength and flexibility. We can help you adapt movements as needed (and push you to the next level when you’re ready!).

Adult Contemporary Conditioning
This class focuses on loosening tensed muscles, building strength through fluid movement, and exploring artistic expression. Easy to follow contemporary combinations will include lateral bends, contractions and expansions, simple floor rolls, swings, and other elements of contemporary dance. Class includes floor work, movement across the floor, and choreography.

> To register for any of these classes, click here.

Primary Ballet School

Ballet 1 and Ballet 2
Inspiring and imaginative classes designed to be a foundation for basic dance principles and the proper French ballet terminology. An emphasis s placed on musicality and creativity while basic coordination skills and the fundamentals of classical ballet are explored through the use of props and imagery. Individual expression and improvisation is encouraged in a safe and welcoming atmosphere.

Ballet 3
Students will work on skills in a structured class format to include barre work, center, and elements across the floor. Emphasis is placed on form, musicality, coordination, expression, and working together as a corps. A portion of class remains dedicated to creative dance and individual expression. Many performing opportunities are available for students at this level.

Ballet 4
Classes lay the groundwork for the material covered in the Upper Ballet School. Students begin the study of turns and ladies begin conditioning exercise and prepare for pre-pointe work. Students at this level have many performing opportunities and may participate in supplementary workshops like the Student Choreographers Workshop.

> To register for any of these classes, click here.

Upper Ballet School

Classes for the intermediate and advanced dancers are offered six days each week, and students can work with Director, Jessica Wilson, to customize an individual schedule. Some students, for example, may enroll three days each week while others may opt to attend five days. Miss Jessica is known for her ability to guide and nurture all students. You can view some testimonials here http://www.metrowestballet.com/mwbhomepage/testimonials.html. If you would like to set up a meeting with Jessica to discuss a schedule that suits you, please email jessica@hopartscenter.org.

Placement in this advanced program by Artistic Dance Director Jessica Wilson is required. Please email Director Jessica Wilson at jessica@hopartscenter.org if you are interested in Intermediate and/or Advanced classes.

Intermediate and Advanced
Intermediate marks the start of pointe* classes for ladies as well as increased study of pirouettes, adagio, and allegro. Training for advanced students continues its focus on alignment and proper technique while preparing students for pre-professional and professional training options through. Both Intermediate and Advanced students are introduced to the world of classical ballet repertory as well as contemporary movement and improvisation through a weekly contemporary class. Intermediate and advanced students are also exposed to historical dance, character dance, modern, jazz, Pilates, and Alexander Technique by weekly classes, workshops, or master classes.

*Students will be placed en pointe when the faculty deems the student ready. Health and safety are a priority with a goal to help students dance injury free for a life time. Students must be training a minimum of three days each week to be placed en pointe.

> For more information click here, or email Artistic Dance Director Jessica Wilson.

INSTRUCTORS

Jessica Wilson (Dance Director/Ballet, Pointe, Repertory, Variations, Jazz)

Jessica Wilson began her dance training through the Royal Academy of Dancing with Mary Tolland and received coaching from Herida May for R.A.D. exams. She also studied intensely with well known teacher Jacqueline Cronsberg, graduated from Walnut Hill School in Natick, Massachusetts, and later attended State University New York (SUNY) at Purchase where she majored in dance and psychology and minored in philosophy.

Jessica began her teaching career in 1993 when she joined the faculty of Ballet Workshop New England. She was appointed Associate Director of the school in 2003. She has also held the position of Ballet Mistress with the Massachusetts Youth Ballet since the company originated in 1995. There, she worked closely with Sandra Jennings, Repetiteur for the George Balanchine Trust. In 2003, Jessica was appointed Artistic Associate of the company.

In an effort to bring quality classical ballet training west of Boston and to the Worcester area, Jessica founded MetroWest Ballet. She has also taught at Boston Ballet School's Young Dancers Summer Program and Performing Arts Center of Worcester Summer Program. 
 

Cathy Fallon (Ballet, Conditioning, Adult Ballet and Pilates)

Cathy Fallon began dancing in Marblehead, MA. with Midge and Bill Haggett. She trained with Melissa Hayden, at Skidmore College, with Laurence Rhodes, Christina Bernal and Maggie Black while at Garden State Ballet, and with Todd Bolender, Jonathan Watts, and Una Kai at Kansas City Ballet. She performed in ballets of George Balanchine, Lew ChristensenTodd Bolender, Peter Anastos, and Paul Mejia. In 1982 she was principal dancer at the Santa Fe Opera. She studied with Twyla Tharp and company, understudied Mark Morris’ The Hard Nut, and performed with Laura Dean, Martita Goshen, Robin Becker, and Joann Fregalette Jansen. She learned Pilates Technique from Joseph Pilates’ protegé Kathy Grant. She taught for Young Audiences in New York City public schools. She has taught at various schools in the Metro West area and was Director of Studio Ballet of Hudson from 2006-2012. She holds a B.S. in Kinesthetic Education and Dance from State University of New York, and is an AmSAT certified teacher of the Alexander Technique mind/body awareness technique. She incorporates the Alexander Technique and Pilates into her teaching to give students the necessary tools for core strength, proper alignment, and ease of movement.

Dress Code for Dance Classes

Creative Dance

Leotard and tights (any color), ballet slippers or ballet flats. Hair pulled off the face and secured. 

 Pre Ballet
Girls: white cap sleeve leotard with attached skirt, pink tights, pink technique shoes with elastic, ballet sweater (optional), hair must be pulled off the face
Boys: white, crewneck shirt, Black bike shorts. white socks, black technique shoes

Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop
Comfortable clothing that you can move in. No jeans. Footwear:  Tap - tap shoes (any color). Hip Hop - sneakers or bare feet. Jazz - jazz shoe or ballet flat. 

Beginning Teens
Classic ballet attire, leggings, sweats, or any comfortable clothing you can move in is appropriate and acceptable for beginning teen classes

Ballet 1 - Ballet 4
Girls: black tank style leotard, pink tights, pink full sole technique shoes, hair should be pulled into a bun
Boys: white, crewneck shirt, Black bike shorts or dance pants. white socks, white technique shoes

Intermediate and Advanced
Girls: black leotard (any classical style), black bullet pointe skirt for pointe classes, pink tights, pink split sole technique shoes, pointe shoes if appropriate, hair should be pulled into a bun, students will also be given the option to wear any color leotard or skirt they choose on Saturdays
Boys: white, crewneck shirt, Black bike shorts or dance pants. white socks, white technique shoes

Adults
Classic ballet attire, leggings, sweats, or any comfortable clothing you can move in is appropriate and acceptable for adult classes