Caruthers Creative Center Dance Studio

Caruthers Creative Center
6407 Prospect
Kansas City, MO 64132
United States

ph: (816)361-6320
alt: (816)313-0052

Ballet/Tap Dance Curriculum

This page still under construction.  Your patience is appreciated! 

 

Level of Dance:               Beginner

Age Group & Gender:    Preschool 3-4

Class:                             Ballet & Tap

Instructors: Donna Johnson, Sharon Davis, Sheritha Hyler

     Note:  Must be toilet-trained     

                           

Mariah, Jr. Ballet Award

 2009 Recital

This is a one-hour class offered to preschoolers focused on creative movement.  The course teaches listening skills and following directions to prepare students for the more advance courses in ballet and tap.  Students learn fundamental ballet and tap, while developing self-esteem through their accomplishments.  We work with your child to develop motor skills through fun movements such as rhythm exercises and a combination of the following:

 Ballet

ØBarre work (helps to develop muscles used in dance, working through 1st & 2nd

 

 

     positions

 

 

Warm –up (Circle formation)

Ø  Follow directions by listening to the music: Bean Bag, Rhythm Sticks, Small Balls

ØMovement across the floor (helps develop coordination):  Marching, Skipping, Ballet Walk, Ballet Run

  •  Port de bra (1st, 2nd and 5th positions of the arms)
  • Center:  Movements/Steps

ØCourtsey, Coupe’, Echappe’, Glissade, Bourre, Step Chase’ (for those who master the above movements/steps)  

Tap

ØBarre

ØFundamental Warm-up

Single        Double             Triple Sounds

step        Shuffles        Shuffle step

Heel       Toe/heel      Step ball-change

Toe

Tap

Brush

Hop/jump

 Simple Tumbling Exercises:  Basket, forward roll, cartwheel, straddle, seal walks, crab walks, cartwheel

 

 

Miss Donna, The late Miss Betty, and Sharon have decades of experience with age preschool to teen.  Miss Donna and Miss Betty along with Tony Caruthers began lessons as very small youth and formed Caruthers Dance Studio in the early 60's learning with such "Broadway Greats" such as Frank Hatchett.  They have hosted workshops at Caruthers with legends such as Eartha Kitt and the Alvin Ailey Dancers.  Miss Sharon is a long-time alumni supporter with many years of dance experience with Caruthers.


Level of Dance:                    Advance Beginner-Intermediate

Age & Gender:                     5-7, Coed

Class:                                   Ballet & Tap

 

                               Instructor Donna Johnson

This one-hour course is ½ hour of ballet and ½ hour of tap.  Students learn dance technique in a nurturing and fun environment.  This course teaches the fundamentals of ballet and tap and incorporates more difficult movements and combinations.

 Ballet:

Ø  Barre warm-up consists of

Ø  Plies in 1st and 2nd positions of the feet

Ø  Releves in 1st and 2nd positions of the feet

Ø  Tendues (devant, alasecond, derriere)

Ø  Saute’ (small jumps)

Ø  Port de bras

Ø  The five basic positions of the arms and feet

Ø  Center

Ø  Basic steps/movements

Ø  Courtsey

Ø  Bourre’

Ø  Echappe’

Ø  Glissade

Ø  Coupe’

Ø  Passe’

Ø  Chasse’

Ø  Pas de cha

Ø  Single Pirouette & Spotting

 

Barre Warm-up & Basic Tap Movements:

Ø Single            Double       Triple/Quadruple

   Step/stomp    Shuffle       Shuffle step

   Heel (dig)      Ball change Step ball change

         Toe (dig)       Follap         Buffalo

       Tap                                 Shuf. ball ch 

       Hop/jump                        Shuffle hop

       Brush                              Shuffle toe

Ø Center- Same as above without the use of the barre

Various combinations in place or moving that put 3 or more of the above single, double, triple and quadruple steps together.

 

Both instructors including assistant, Betty Nichols have been been members of Dance Educators of America and have decades of experience working with K.C. youth.  All of them have many 1st place award winning routines in a multitude of regional and national competitions.  Mr. Jones has danced in numerous dance companies.  Donna and Betty have served as judges in the M.A.T.S. (acrobatic competitions in Liberty, MO).  They both began their dance experience from age 3 years and have led many to a professional dance career whether performing or teaching.

 


Level of Dance:              Beginner to Advance Beginner

Age Group & Gender:    8-11 Coed

Class:                               Ballet & Tap

                           

 

This one-hour course is ½ hour of ballet and ½ hour of tap.  Students learn dance technique in a nurturing and fun environment.  This course teaches the fundamentals of ballet and tap and incorporates more difficult movements and combinations.  This course differs from age group 5-7 in that students are expected to execute more difficult combinations in ballet and tap as well as more advanced fundamentals.  Students are expected to execute the various steps at a faster tempo.

Ballet

Ø Barre warm-up consists of

Ø Demi and Grand Plies in 1st and 2nd

 

 

 

 

 positions of the feet

Ø Releves in 1st and 2nd positions of the

 

 

 

 

 feet

Ø Tendues (devant, alasecond, derriere)

Ø Saute’ (small jumps)

Ø Demi battement (small leg lifts)

Ø Port de bras

Ø The five basic positions of the arms and feet

Ø Center

Ø Basic steps/movements

Ø Courtsey

Ø Bourre’

Ø Echappe’

Ø Glissade through 1st & 5th

 

Ø Coupe’

Ø Passe’

Ø Chasse’

Ø Pas de cha

Ø Step tour la bas

Ø Jete’

Ø Basic leaps across the floor

Ø Triplets across the floor (working through releve)            

Tap

Ø Barre Warm-up

ØSingle        Double     Triple/Quadruple

Step/stomp    Shuffle          Shuffle step

Heel (dig/dp) Ball change  Step b.change

Toe (dig/dp)  Follap ft/sd   Buffalo

Hop/jump Pull backs       Shuffle ball 

Brush          Shuffle            Shuffle hop

Scuff                                 Shuffle toe

                                      Shuffle toe heel

                                      Shuffle toe hop

 

 

Center- same as above without use of barre 

Various combinations that put 4 or more of the above single, double, triple and quadruple steps together.

Shuffle toe

hopCenter- Same as above without the use of the barre

Center- same as above without use of barre 

Ballet Tap Combo

offered to: 

  • Begginer Age 3-4 Coed
  • Adv. Beg. to Intermediate Age 5-7 Coed
  • Intermediate Age 8-11 Coed
  • Beg. To Adv. Beg. Age 8-11 Coed

Instructors:

Donna Johnson

Sharon Davis

Sheritha Hyler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parking on Saturdays is available on the street in front of the studio or in the parking lot on the North side of the building.  No parking on the street Mon-Fri.      

 

 

 

 

 

Caruthers Creative Center
6407 Prospect
Kansas City, MO 64132
United States

ph: (816)361-6320
alt: (816)313-0052