At Betty Hill Dance, we promote a diverse dance experience! Studying many styles of dance develops a broad range of skills, creates more well-rounded performers, and keeps their enthusiasm high.
Our organized curriculum is based on a developmental series of both combination and specialty classes, beginning with pre-ballet and tumbling for preschoolers. As students progress through elementary and secondary school levels, skills in tap, ballet, jazz, hip hop, acrobatics, lyrical, pointe, and production work are added.
Debbie’s expertise in education, combined with the teacher training of most of our faculty, allows us to increase the complexity of moves as students are ready. We use their natural enthusiasm matched with our carefully constructed series of skills to build a positive experience, success, and confidence.
"From Basics to Broadway" here's what we offer:
Preschool Classes (30 minutes) are for children ages 3 and 4. Our outstanding preschool program is based on a fun, well-organized atmosphere. Although our preschoolers learn many skills to help their physical development and coordination, our primary goal is to teach them how to learn. Using age-appropriate songs and dances, we build on the preschooler's natural love of music and movement, providing a nurturing, stimulating, yet structured classroom specifically designed for this age child. The preschool class consists of a happy blend of songs and dances, pre-ballet, and tumbling.
Primary Classes (45 minutes) are designed for students in the early elementary grades. Tap is added to their class content as we begin to work on their fine-motor coordination skills. Our main goal is to develop a positive attitude toward dance and toward learning. We create a fun and exciting environment as we stretch their bodies, add to their dance skills, and increase their attention spans, building each year to create a foundation of strength, grace, and self-expression. Primary combination classes consist of ballet, tap, and tumbling. Students this age may also enroll in separate classes in acrobatics, jazz, and hip hop.
Intermediate Classes (60 minutes) are for students in the upper levels of elementary school. Here they continue to build a solid foundation in ballet and tap, with additional work in jazz. As their class work becomes more demanding, we motivate our students with an enthusiastic spirit and joy for learning. Gradually learning more technique, their confidence increases as they develop mastery over the fundamentals of many dance steps and styles. Intermediate combination classes consist of ballet, tap, and some jazz. Students this age may also enroll in separate classes in acrobatics, jazz, hip hop, lyrical dance, and pointe (if age ten).
The Junior Performing Arts Classes (75 minutes) are for students in junior high school. Jazz and production work become a more important part of their class, as does emphasis on developing a "performance personality." It is during these transitional years that dance can have a great impact in developing confidence, grace, and discipline, as well as skills that give them an increased advantage in participating in school activities such as swing choir, chorus, cheerleading, drill team, drama, marching band, and sports. Junior PA classes consist of ballet, tap, and jazz, but many of our juniors also enroll in separate classes in acrobatics, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, pointe, and classical ballet.
The Senior Performing Arts Classes (90 minutes) are designed for senior high school students. Our most advanced dancers strive to reach their potential as their confidence soars as performing artists. Our less-experienced seniors can enjoy the sophistication and excitement of our senior program as they begin or continue to develop a strong dance foundation. All of our seniors experience the excitement and magic of dance as they gain the confidence and skills that enable them to become leaders in their high school activities. Senior PA classes include ballet, tap, and jazz, with many of our seniors also enrolling in separate classes in acrobatics, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, pointe, and classical ballet.
Our "Boys Only" Classes have received an enthusiastic response by our families, as well as national attention. In fact, teachers from New York to California have told us they’ve never seen a recreational dance program for boys as successful as ours. We offer five levels for boys age 3 through 18, with instruction in tap, tumbling, jazz, and hip hop. Dance is the musical sport!
Jazz Classes have become increasingly popular with our students age 6 through 18. We offer 11 different levels of jazz, beginning with our introductory jazz classes for first graders, and progressing to advanced, technical jazz for our pre-professional seniors high students. Dancers may enroll in jazz as their only class or may add it to their combination class at a reduced rate.
Hip Hop Classes are a blend of jazz and break-dancing, including locking, popping, and floor work, as well as free-styling and improvisation. Our studios entered the hip hop scene in the mid-80’s when break-dancing first crossed over to the general population, and we’ve been hippin’ and hoppin’ ever since. Our dancers can take hip hop as their only class (or add hip hop as a second class) beginning in first grade and continuing all the way through high school.
Acrobatics combines the skills and fun of tumbling with the grace and coordination of dance. We offer acrobatics to students age 6 through 18 at beginning to advanced levels. Combination class students can enroll in our acrobatics classes at a reduced rate.
Partnering consists of stunts, lifts, and tricks performed by boy-girl partners. Our advanced acrobatic dancers learn and perform partnering moves, an unusual opportunity for young dancers. These classes are invitational, but interested students may call our main office to be put on our "interest list."
Lyrical blends the grace of ballet, the expression of modern, and the musicality of jazz into a beautiful dance style for students who want to increase their self-expression and technique. Classes are available to students who are in fourth grade or above, with classes from the introductory to advanced levels. Combination students may add a lyrical class at a reduced rate.
Pointe and Pre-Pointe Classes are available at the beginner through advanced levels to students who are in at least fourth grade and who have at least three years of combination class or ballet. Beginners start with pre-pointe, developing their ankle strength and technique. As they gain skill, they progress to pointe class. Although "being a ballerina" is the dream of many young dancers, pointe work requires ankle strength, excellent technique, and lots of practice! Interested students should contact our main office or their combination or lyrical teachers for more information.
Classical Ballet provides serious dancers with the technical training necessary to perform at an advanced or professional level. Junior and senior students who enjoy ballet, pointe, and lyrical are encouraged to enroll in this valuable class. Ballet is the foundation of all dance styles!
Dance Camp is one of our most successful programs for boys and girls age 4 through 18. Offered during the summer, our half-day and full-day camps are a week filled with dance classes, tumbling, showmanship training, microphone training, dramatics, and more! Many of our dance campers perform in our energetic and entertaining shows at the Iowa State Fair in August. We encourage all students who love to perform to attend DANCE CAMP. There's nothing like it!
Student Leaders are often used in our children's classes to increase personal attention and to give our older dancers a chance to serve as examples for younger students. An excellent opportunity to enhance both leadership and dance ability, interested students can apply for a position as student leader by calling the main office.
Our Dance Teams consist of three teams (Grades 7 to 12). Students who have a passion for dance and who want to perform can audition for Dance Team. Excellent technique and showmanship are required for success, as is a positive attitude and team spirit.
Interested students should contact Debbie.
