Hopkinton Center for the Arts Dance Program

Join us at the HCA on Thursday, July 25 from 4 to 6:30pm to meet our new Director of Dance Jessica Wilson. 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.

Open House Meet and Greet with Jessica Wilson
Thursday, July 25, 4 to 6:30pm

• Learn more about Jessica and our HCA dance staff
• Ask questions
• Register for our 2019-2020 dance season or sign-up for a recreational dance class
• Sign-up for individual or group placement trial classes
• Discover more about Spring Recital and Nutcracker performance opportunities
   

Class Descriptions

Recreational Dance Classes

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.

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.

Upper Ballet School

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.

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.