Core Curriculum
These classes are designed to provide an outlet for students who would like to begin or continue their passion for dance.. The teachers and staff at Rennae’s School of Dance strives to provide students with high quality dance training allowing young dancers to reach their fullest potential. These classes provide flexible scheduling and open opportunities to dance for girls and boys ages 6 through high school.

Our signature Combo Class Program allows dancers to attend one class a week incorporating the fundamental teachings of three different genres: Ballet, Tap and Jazz or Musical Comedy (depending on age of class). We also offer one subject classes where students may specialize in one particular genre. Students are placed in classes based on their experience and are continually evaluated by our faculty to insure proper placement.

The length of class time increases as the dancer progresses in age, interest, vocabulary and ability. In an environment that builds self-esteem and confidence, parents are assured their child will develop necessary life tools that extend far beyond the classroom.

Intensive Study
Intensive study is simply the title we use to identify students with that passion that is above and beyond the norm. These classes are designed to inspire, motivate and challenge the more serious dancer with our faculty specializing in the techniques that best serve each dance discipline while examining and occasionally experimenting with new techniques and styles.

Students who wish to study more intensively are usually unique in their maturity; dancers will demonstrate a respect for their art, their teachers and each other. By promoting excellence, passion and risk taking, this unique program provides a solid foundation for any young person, whether their future includes a career as a dance artist or not. Our intensive level classes are currently nourishing the souls of nearly 50 young artists from all over the Omaha, Elkhorn, Fremont areas and beyond. For the student who not only wants to dance, but has to dance.

Through invitational auditions and/or class evaluations, our instructors will provide a personal education agenda for each young artist selected for the Intensive Study Program.
With robust technical training, dancers will study ballet, jazz, tap, and musical theatre with the option of classes in clogging, hip hop, acrobatics, pointe and group voice and acting. Students will also have the chance to participate in master classes and workshop sessions with popular guest teachers as the schedule permits

Intensive – Primary ages 7-10*
Designed with a youthful spirit in mind this program is the cross roads between the Core division and the Intensive program. Young dancers that demonstrate a natural sense of rhythm, athleticism, grace, technical abilities and potential are placed in this program to train in a more professional classroom setting. In a caring, yet structured environment the main focus is foundational ballet as well as proper training in jazz, tap and musical theatre. Students recommended study is 4 – 6 hours weekly.

Intensive – Junior ages 10-13*
Dancers that excel technically with the passion, dedication and desire to peruse serious dance training are selected through auditions and/or class evaluations. Intensive ballet along with jazz, tap and musical theatre classes provide an unparalleled foundation for these young dance artists. Students should aim for 6 – 10 hours of study weekly.

Intensive – Senior ages 13 & over*
Students considering dance at the college and professional level build towards immersion in the technical and performance training required by today’s leading universities, choreographers, theatrical venues and companies. Students in this program develop the versatility to perform a range of work and learn the practices and principles needed for success as a dance artist. Students study 8-12 hours weekly.

*Ages may vary and are at the discrepancy of the instructor

Having a dual purpose, the goal of the Intensive Study classes is to offer aspiring dance artists an incredible scope of dance, theatre and performance training while providing audiences of all ages inspirational works guaranteed to move the mind body and soul. What began as a successful competition team, now referred to as Intensive Study has evolved into a true pre-professional program replacing the emphasis on competitions with dance as a performing art, as we believe that the self worth of a dancer or any person for that matter is not measured by a medal or trophy. That being said, on occasion we will do a competition here and there, but only if deemed as professionally run with technique and theatrical qualities upheld.

Class Placement for Core and Intensive Classes
We believe that for a program to provide the best atmosphere for developing dance skills students must be properly placed in all dance subjects studied. In order to achieve this, we will not be influenced by parents or dancers individual desires in assignment of classes or choreography. Class and choreography placement is assigned based on the RSD professional faculty’s evaluations of the dancer’s abilities, potential, desire and attendance. Placement is based on each dancers individual needs in each required dance subject. As a result students have the opportunity to progress at his or her own individual rate.

The school faculty regularly discusses the students’ progress and/or placement, as it is our policy to maintain appropriate opportunities to every child. Placement decisions are derived from many years of teaching experience. Often a child is placed in a particular group or class where he or she will feel confident, in order to promote the development of self-esteem. Some dancers who are placed in a higher level become discouraged, only to lose their passion for dance. Others respond to the challenge of being in a class with dancers who are more proficient by pushing themselves to work harder.

This may or may not coincide with the academic evaluation your child may receive at school and may vary from year to year. Placement is highly individual and the factors that go into the decision are complex. Please see the school’s director if you have questions or concerns about your child’s placement.

Curriculum

Preschool Dance 1 | Age 3 – 4 1/2
Benefits – Designed for our youngest students, these classes offer development in coordination, musical awareness, and listening skills while helping students implement their natural creativity in a stress free environment.

Method – Song, dance and basic tumbling are used to help engage the students’ attention and imagination. Students perform one dance routine in our annual recital.
Taught once a week for ¾ hour.

Preschool Dance 2 | Age 4 – 5 1/2
Benefits – helps children determine and reach realistic goals so they may be able to excel to their fullest potential. Through this program, the young dancer will gain a sense of joy and accomplishment. Sharing this positive experience with their peers, students also begin to understand teamwork that positively benefits and influences their everyday lives.

Method – Using age appropriate activity resources and music, these classes offer a continuation of the students natural creative development. Students will add tap basics and will perform one dance routine in our annual recital
Taught once a week for 1 hour.

Combo Class Age 5 – 7
As one of the oldest and most highly successful programs, children learn the correct disciplines of the ballet barre, ballet positions, body alignment and center floor work. Students gain the ability to develop a sense of rhythm and musicality through the basics of tap dance. As the finishing touch, young dancers are also introduced to the exhilarating world of Musical Comedy or Jazz Dance. Combo 1 students will perform two dance routines at our annual recital.
Taught once a week for 1 hour.

Combo Class Age 8 – 11
This class consists of a combined focus in Tap, Jazz and Musical Theatre for a class period of 1 hour. Curriculum taught in combination classes varies with the degree of difficulty of the class as well as the ages and other factors determined by the instructors.
(Beginning at age 8 Ballet is taught as a separate class focusing solely on that subject)

Individual Subject Classes:
Tap: works the ears, as well as the feet. Rhythm skills are essential to building a solid dance education. Lessons are based on an upbeat and fun approach to rhythm and dance. We cover all styles of tap ranging from the tried and true tap of our countries’ greats such as Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers to the Swing style of the 1940′s, the ever popular precision of the Rockettes as well as the more relaxed street tap styles.

Jazz: builds coordination of all parts of the body. Students work on isolations, syncopation and progression of steps, while learning to express themselves through dance.

Ballet: is the foundation for all dance movement, and will enhance and improve a student’s progress in all other dance styles. Ballet challenges students’ minds, with learning and memorizing patterns and sequences, as well as challenging students’ bodies by building correct body posture, fluidity of movement and body awareness. Ballet training is necessary for correct back alignment, arm carriage, proper hip and foot placement and positions of the head. Ballet is included in the combination class for ages 7 and under. Beginner & Intermediate Ballet class is available as a separate class to children 8 and over and is a 1 hour class. Ballet/Pre-Pointe classes are recommended for students 10 and over. Intermediate and advanced level Ballet and Pointe classes are an hour and a half. Students taking the int/adv ballet are not required to go on pointe.

Clogging: A true favorite, if you like rhythm, sound and fun you’ll love clogging. It is a fun, energetic form of dance for ages 5 to adult. Beginner and intermediate recreational clogging classes are 45 minutes, intermediate through advanced levels are 1 hour.

Heartland Hoedowners: Placement on the Heartland Hoedowners teams is by invitation only.

The study of at least two additional forms of dance is required for all Heartland Hoedowner team members

Lyrical: Is a technique strongly based on ballet where students learn to interpret and express the emotional intent of a song or piece of music through dance. Lyrical is available to students with two or more years of Ballet experience. Lyrical classes run one hour.

Acrobatics: Focuses on strength, flexibility, balance and tumbling skills providing skills in basic gymnastic tumbling while enhancing flexibility, balance, and coordination. Students work at their own progressive developmental pace. Acrobatic skills are very helpful for anyone with aspirations of dancing competitively at this studio, as we do a lot of partnering, i.e., drops, lifts and stunts in our production routines.

Dance Team Technique: Working dance skills, precision and routines in the manor that is commonly used in Dance, Drill and Pom teams. An excellent precursor for students interested in auditioning for their High School Dance Teams

Hip-Hop: Is a popular urban youth culture style of dance that provides a funkier edge to the basic styles of dance.

Musical Theatre: incorporates theatre dance styles (Broadway Shows, Touring Companies, Musical Theatre, and Community Theatre) and occasionally singing into performance. Students learn to build a repertoire from different Broadway Shows and to learn different styles which will enhance their performance skills.

Boys Only Class: This class will be divided into boys age 6 -8 and 9 -12, in an effort to create an athletic dance style; they will learn Hip Hop and Tumbling skills.

PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES
Parents, friends and relatives of all students enrolled in the Rennae’s School of Dance will enjoy watching their dancers in our professional annual recital held each June at Omaha Central High School Performing Arts Auditorium.

We offer clogging performance teams for the students once they reach a certain level. This gives students the opportunity to perform for the community in various events, sometimes very small gatherings and other times nationally televised shows. New this year we are going to offer a Musical Theater Class which will include a taste of voice training as well as acting. This is in conjunction with our good friends at the Elkhorn Valley Community Theatre.