Dance Class, Acting Class, Music Class

Spring Group Classes - January 6 - June 12, 2020

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Dance Classes

The staff at TBEPA is very careful and dedicated to choosing the correct class level for each student. If you have chosen TBEPA to be the studio for your child's dance training, you are agreeing to TRUST our decisions in class placement as this is our profession and we have every child's best interest at heart. There are many factors that a teacher uses to determine advancement of a student – flexibility, natural ability, speed at which a student picks up choreography, knowledge of dance terminology and execution of steps. Many students “know” a lot of dance steps, but don’t yet have the technique or musicality to execute them with style. TBEPA staff members base class placement on ability rather than solely on age is important. Students must have a basic knowledge of the below requirements in order to be in a particular level, however, unlike academics, dance cannot be measured entirely by age. Class placement is at the sole discretion of the TBEPA staff.

New students and parents – Please give the staff the opportunity to observe your child in various classes, so we may place them in the correct level.

Ballet

Pre Ballet (See Tutus & Taps) - (Ages 2-5) An introduction to ballet with beginning development of ballet concepts including turn out, coordination, spatial awareness and a specific focus on class etiquette. Students will begin positions of the feet, and introductory movement vocabulary. Ballet shoes, leotard, tights, skirt, or dance pants required.

Ballet Level 1 - The goal of Ballet Level 1 is to impart the fundamentals of classical ballet. Class will focus on basic ballet technique, proper body alignment, French terminology and musicality. Students will be introduced to elementary barre and center work. Ballet shoes, leotard, tights, skirt, or dance pants required.

Ballet Level 2 - Ballet 2 reinforces the basic concepts learned in Beginning Ballet and then gradually moves the students into the traditional ballet class format of barre followed by center exercises. Moving in time with the music becomes more important, as well as memorization of ballet terminology. More complex combinations are given as students progress.

Ballet Level 3 - This level of training is designed for dancers who want to advance their studies and, for girls, prepares them for pointe. The traditional ballet class format of barre followed by center exercises is used. Correct placement and turnout continue to be emphasized. Students who want to go on pointe must attend at least three dance classes a week in order to build the necessary strength. Pointe work traditionally begins at level 4.

Commercial Dance:

From So You Think You Can Dance, "Commercial dance refers to dancing done in concerts, live shows, music videos, movies, industrials, and, obviously, commercials. There are many different styles of dance that can be worked into thecommercial category, such as hip hop, jazz, locking, popping, break dancing, krumping, and more. Sometimes, you'll find ballet and ballroom thrown into the mix, although "street dance" is more common. Generally speaking, commercialdance is super sexy and super entertaining.

More and more studios are now offering commercial dance classes because it's a great skill for hopeful dancing pros. For one, unlike many other fields, the pay isn't too shabby. More importantly, commercial dance offers lots of opportunities for struttin' and hair-tossin'— which is kinda awesome." Recommended for ages 12 and up (but will allow advanced younger kids). Wear jazz dance shoes or tennis shoes.

Dance Performance 1:

This class is the next step after Dance Techniques. It will not only focus on turns, jumps, arms, posture, and facial expressions but will also begin to instruct on how to perfect and incorporate these elements into ones performance in a seamless fashion. Students in this class will represent Top Billing Entertainment in public performances throughout the year including the LA County Fair, Disneyland, Glendora Village Events, Senior Centers, and many others. Students will begin to learn how to interpret music and personalize the choreography that they are given to give a more intimate performance that the audience can connect to. Just like Dance Techniques, each student will have individual class time with the instructor and will be given precise items to improve in every class. A small dance combination will be learned in every class where the individual student’s interpretation and some improvisation will be stressed. No previous dance experienced required but Dance Techniques is recommended, please wear ballet or jazz dance shoes and fitted clothing. Students must be able to execute the following steps and know the definition BEFORE they may advance to the next level: plié, tendu, chainé turn, grand battement, changement, pas de chat, boureé, stepping arabesque, balancé/waltz, rond de jambe, grand jete, piqué turn, and pirouette.

Dance Performance 2:

This class is the next step after Dance Performance 1 as it will build and expand on everything learned in Dance Performance 1. It offers more intense and challenging ways to strengthen technique learned in the previous classes. Just as the two previous classes offered, Dance Performance 2 offers each student individual class time with the instructor and precise items to improve on in every class. Students in this class will represent Top Billing Entertainment in public performances throughout the year including the LA County Fair, Disneyland, Glendora Village Events, Senior Centers, and many others. An intermediate dance combination will be learned in every class where even more of the individual student’s interpretation and improvisation will be stressed. Previous dance experience or Dance Performance 1 required. Fitted dance or workout clothing and ballet or jazz shoes required. Students must be able to execute the following steps and know the definition BEFORE they may advance to the next level: frappé, rond de jambe en l’air, adagio, sauté arabesque, reverance, fondu, attitude, sisone, petite allegro w/beats, tour jeté, russian pas de chat, pas de waltz, and assemblé.

Hip Hop 1:

This class is an introduction to the style of hip hop. It will cover and introduce you to the basics of the hip hop style and movement. You will learn moves you can show off on the dance floor. Build confidence and strength while learning to create your own style in modern dance movement. This class will help you become comfortable with movement, rhythm, and basic form. Jam out to some rockin’ tunes and learn how to impress your friends with your new dance moves! No previous dance experienced required. Please wear jazz or athletic shoes.

Hip Hop 2:

This class will expand on moves you’ve already learned from Hip Hop 1 and help you experience new moves, forms, and styles. This class will help you gain a better understanding of movement and the combination of different moves to create a fuller dance experience and performance. In this class we will emphasize fluidity and connection of movement. It will further explore the style of hip hop and begin to touch on formations and interaction with other dancers. Previous dance experienced is required or participation in Hip Hop 1. Please wear jazz or athletic shoes.

Hip Hop 3:

This class will expand on moves, techniques, and skills you’ve already learned from Hip Hop 2. This class will spend more time looking into more complicated movement and more bold style. It will delve further into interacting with other dancers and instruct you on group movement. The class will focus on being in sync with other performers. It will emphasize fluidity, speed, and accuracy of movement. Previous dance experience is required or participation in Hip Hop 2. Please wear jazz or athletic shoes.

Hip Hop for Kids (4-12):

Get introduced to the style of Hip Hop to prepare for those school dances, dance competitions, and eventually graduating into Hip Hop 1. Learn moves you can show off on the dance floor. Build confidence and strength while learning to create your own style. No previous dance experienced required. Please wear jazz or athletic shoes.

Hip Hop/Freestyle:

This class is an introduction to the style of improvised hip hop. It will cover and introduce you to the basics of the hip hop style and movement. You will learn moves you can show off on the dance floor and learn how to create moves with your own personal style. Build confidence and strength while learning to create your own style in contemporary dance movement. This class will help you become comfortable with movement, rhythm, and basic form. Jam out to the best new music and learn how to impress your friends with your new dance moves! No previous dance experienced required. Please wear jazz or athletic shoes.

Jazz Dance Techniques:

Explore the basic techniques and dynamic movements associated with jazz dance. Originally referring to African Style dance or tap, Jazz is a very loaded dance term. In this class we will learn the various forms that create Jazz dance as well as discover the different variations of the style and how to adapt standard techniques and movements to the those styles. This class will improve body awareness, strength, coordination, and flexibility and focus on teaching students a proper jazz warm-up, jazz progressions across the floor and a center combination. Students will be taught how to properly work on the splits, spotting, pointing the feet and body isolations. No previous dance experienced required. Fitted dance or workout clothing and jazz shoes required.

Jazz 1:

This class is meant to build off of the knowledge previously acquired in Jazz Dance Techniques. It will cover various Jazz technique, form, style, and movement. It will expand on merging classical style with the Jazz form and teach the students how to properly dance and perform in the style of Jazz. The class will also begin to instruct on adopting the mentality and movement of Jazz and displaying that into the dancer’s performance. The class will teach through movement practice and execution of group choreography. This class will improve body awareness, strength, coordination, and flexibility. No previous dance experienced required but Jazz Dance Techniques are recommended. Fitted dance or workout clothing and jazz shoes required. Students must be able to execute the following steps and know the definition BEFORE they may advance to the next level: chainé turns, battements, chassé, pas de boureé, pirouette, piqué turn, grande jeté, sautechat, and splits.

Jazz 2:

This class is meant to build off of the knowledge previously acquired in Jazz 1. It will further investigate and instruct on various Jazz technique, form, style, and movement. This class will explore more advanced moves and Jazz choreography. It will pay more attention to perfecting details regarding form and style. The students will learn through practicing moves and executing group choreography. This class will improve body awareness, strength, coordination, and flexibility. Previous dance experience is required or participation in Jazz 1. Fitted dance or workout clothing and jazz shoes required. Students must be able to execute the following steps and know the definition BEFORE they may advance to the next level: pas de boureé turns, double pirouette, leg hold, second leaps, sauté basque, battement pitch, scissor leaps, calypso, somersault kick back, pencil turn, leg spin, and a la seconde turns.

Advanced Jazz:

This class is meant to build off of the knowledge previously acquired in Jazz 2. It will further investigate and instruct on various Jazz technique, form, style, and movement. This class will explore more advanced moves and Jazz choreography for advanced and working dancers. It will pay more attention to perfecting details regarding form and style. The students will learn through practicing moves and executing group choreography. This class will improve body awareness, strength, coordination, and flexibility. Previous dance experience is required or participation in Jazz 2. Fitted dance or workout clothing and jazz shoes required.

Jumps & Turns - Dance Techniques:

Work on beginning to understand the mechanics of turns, jumps, arms, posture, and facial expressions to creating an overall better individual dance technique with a ballet base. This class focuses on improving the details of dance to make performer that gives an overall better performance. Each student will have individual class time with the instructor and will be given precise items to improve in every class. No previous dance experienced required, please wear ballet or jazz dance shoes and fitted clothing.

Lyrical Dance:

Lyrical/contemporary is a fluid form of dance done to popular ballads and slower contemporary music. The dancer is taught to interpret his or her movement with feeling, motion and style. They will learn to tell a story or create the picture of the song. This style combines the fluid beauty of ballet with the more sharp moves in jazz. A Ballet or Jazz class is recommended along with lyrical/contemporary to build in technique.

Master Stretching:

This class is for anyone who would like to increase their flexibility and range of motion. You will learn how to safely stretch your legs, hips, shoulders, and back while building the muscle and balance needed to use your flexibility.

Stand straighter, look leaner, and have faster muscle recovery from your workouts. Stretching has the potential to decrease injury by preparing muscles for work before activity and increases blood and nutrient supply to muscles, thereby possibly decreasing muscle soreness. Stretching can also calm the mind, provide a mental break, and give your body a chance to recharge.

Modern Dance:

Modern dance is a free form movement and is a wonderful venue to explore your own creative style. There are many techniques and styles in modern dance. Top Billing is experienced in many styles. Modern class is performed bare foot or in dance claws.

Musical Theater Performance:

Explore the basic techniques, dynamic movements, and styles associated with modern musical theater based in jazz, ballet, and commercial dance. This class is designed to teach the dance, singing, and acting fundamentals of various styles through the practice of specific movement, vocabulary, and choreographed movement patterns as well as to familiarize students with classic musical theater dance repertoire. This class will improve body awareness, strength, coordination, and flexibility. No previous dance experienced required. Fitted dance or workout clothing and ballet or jazz shoes required. Students will learn scenes and routines from popular musical theater productions.

Partner Dance (Tricks and Spins):

"Shall we Dance?" Learn the basic steps and communication skills between partner dancers. Physically this class helps develop a strong core, upper body strength, and tones the legs. The class will learn a variety of tricks and spins from all kinds of partner dance styles including Musical Theater, Salsa, Waltz, Tango, and Swing. We recommend students invite a partner to class. Lead dancers or performers in any Top Billing musical are highly encouraged to attend. Knee pads and dance shoes recommended.

Tap 1:

This class is an introduction to the art form of tap dance. Building off of what students have learned in Intro to Dance we will go into more depth on the techniques and style of tap dance. We will work on forming basic sounds and building our repertoire of beginning moves. This class is geared toward developing strong technique and an ability to make clean sounds. This is to prepare the student to move onto Tap 1 and 2 where these skills will be a necessity. Beginning tap is a prerequisite for tapping in our summer shows. Tap shoes required. Students must be able to execute the following steps and know the definition BEFORE they may advance to the next level: flap, shuffle, buffalo, maxi ford, and military step.

Tap 2:

This will be a more in depth education on the techniques of tap and formation of sound. Building off of what students have learned in Beginning Tap we will begin to study more complex moves and focus on executing those moves cleaning. In this course we will begin to increase the speed at which we tap and practice these skills in beginning combinations and routines. Tap shoes required. Students must be able to execute the following steps and know the definition BEFORE they may advance to the next level: shuffle hop, flap heel, flap ball change, shuffle ball change, cramp roll, waltz clog, running flaps, flap heel turn, back essence, shim sham, time steps, Alexander, maxi ford turns, cramp roll turns, rolling shuffles, and bombershay.

Tap 3:

This class is designed to be a study of abilities and moves in tap dance for skill levels that are transitioning from the Intermediate level to the Advanced. This class will have a higher emphasis on style, speed, and accuracy of sound. We will practice these abilities in through more intense routines that focus on group accuracy, interactions with other tappers, and contributing to the overall a group tap number as an individual. Tap shoes required. Students must be able to execute the following steps and know the definition BEFORE they may advance to the next level: toe stands, wings, pull backs, split pull backs, paddle rolls, drawbacks, slurps, shuffle wings, riffs, toe stand turns, shuffle toe stands, and grab offs.

Tiny Top Dance Fundamentals (Ages 2-5):

We teach the fundamentals of Ballet, Jazz, and Musical Theater at a pace where the students will feel comfortable and enjoy their time learning. Parents are welcomed to participate as well! A class where our "littles" explore their body musically and physically.

Triple Threat Training for ages 4-12 (Into to Dance, Group Voice, Acting for the Stage):

A two hour, three class package that covers the three main areas of musical theatre that your child needs to be a star! We start out with dance to warm up our bodies and get our creative and intellectual juices flowing. The children will study the classical techniques of ballet, the more specific movements of jazz, the modern style of hip hop, and the unique art of tap. Then we move on to a group voice class where the students will have the opportunity to prepare songs that can be used in performances, auditions, and much more. The songs will receive constructed critique and recommendations to improve on use of proper and healthy vocal technique and to build on the child’s ability to interpret and perform musical literature. Last but not least we will move into our acting portion where the kids will delve even deeper into the performance aspect of the stage. They will learn to interpret scripts, build personal characters, and advance their performance skills/stage presence. This is a unique package not only because it trains students in all three aspects of musical theatre, but also because it incorporates all of them at once. So the students don’t just learn to dance. They learn how to act through their movement, dance while they sing, and sing as if they were reciting a monologue. (Though it is recommended you’re your child is enrolled in all three courses classes can be enrolled in separately.)

Tumbling:

This class will reinforce the the basics of all gymnastic skills. This will in turn, improve your form in more advanced tumbling as well as work on flexibility. Students will learn forward and backward rolls, cartwheels, round offs, handstands, bridge kick overs and front walk overs, bridge kickovers, perfect walkovers, start back handsprings, and start linking together round off back handsprings. Advance students work on multiple back handsprings, teaching back tucks, aerials, punch fronts and combination passes. Wear tennis shoes and fitted dance attire.

Tutus and Taps (Ages 2-5):

The basics of tap and ballet for little dancers in a fun and safe environment. 30 minutes spent on each discipline. Tutus provided at every class. Must wear dance attire and ballet and tap shoes.

Acting

Acting 1:

We will be working on the fundamentals of acting, acting exercises, acting improvisations, and introduce the element of working with a scene partner. We will focus on American Theatre (Comedic and Dramatic Plays), and incorporate the style of theatre to the relationship between the characters in a scene.

Auditions Techniques & Monologues:

is a class geared toward preparing the students for various audition experiences and performances. Many people do not realize that there are many types of audition environments, judging panels, and venues that one is not always prepared for. The process is more than just material selection and this class will prepare its students for just that. We will focus on song and monologue selection, venue etiquette, performing for the judges, and crisis preparedness. This class is also a way to further ones acting skills through monologue analysis and build one’s ability to create a character and give a performance on the spot, no matter the circumstances.

Audition Techniques & Monologues for Kids (Ages 4-12):

On Camera Acting for Kids (Ages 4-12):

On Camera Acting:

Through the use of television and commercial copy, students are introduced to basic camera technique and terminology. By incorporating the skills developed in voice, movement and acting classes into a variety of commercial situations students work one-on-one with the camera. Students are also introduced to scenework for the camera by learning the rudiments of camera awareness and blocking. Through the use of short scenes, the course covers techniques for hitting marks and the differences between close-up, medium and long shots, and over-the-shoulder shots. Students can expand their technical knowledge of acting for the camera with an emphasis on continuity and the importance of matching the action between master shots, close-ups and re-takes. Focus is also placed on creating camera magnetism by encouraging spontaneous behavior and developing the actor’s ability to find the character in him/herself. If you wish to collect your on-camera performances, please bring a 16gb SD card (SanDisk Extreme Class 10 or better) with you to every class.

Improv. Acting:

Explore the elements of improv in our introductory course. You will learn some of the core fundamentals and principles of improv, focusing on various games and exercises that encourage trust, communication, agreement (“yes and”); active listening, character, status, and making your scene partner look good. Explore the methods used to sustain a scene beyond the first few lines. Delve into character and relationship work, "heightening," making bold choices, and using offers to enhance your scene.

Screen Writing (Coming Soon):

This course is an introduction to screenwriting format, craft, and technique, with an emphasis on the fundamentals of storytelling. You will learn the fundamentals of storytelling applicable to a variety of writing forms. You will learn how to plot a story, develop characters, and execute your work in the screenwriting format. If you work at it, you will have a polished, well-honed screen play. Students workshop multiple revisions of a short narrative script. The goal is to complete a polished script suitable for screenwriting competitions and production.

Music Classes

Group Voice Class

Students will have the opportunity to prepare songs that can be used in performances, auditions, and much more. The songs will receive constructed critique and recommendations to improve on use of proper and healthy vocal technique and to build on the singer’s ability to interpret and perform musical literature.

Group Ukulele Class

In these proven, fun group classes and you will learn ukulele care, tuning, strumming patterns, chords, music terminology and the skills needed to play many of your favorite songs!

Group Guitar Class

In these proven, fun group classes and you will learn guitar care, tuning, strumming patterns, chords, music terminology and the skills needed to play many of your favorite songs!

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