The Formal Dancers Division (ages 7-18) is offered to school-age dancers with previous dance training or to those just becoming acquainted with the art of dance. The Formal Division offers a flexible schedule to those that do not wish to dance more than one day per week or would like to customize their schedules for a more rigorous training schedule.  All students receive the opportunity to perform in SHUDA’s annual Spring Performances. Core classes to choose from are ballet and jazz. Specialty classes include hip-hop, tap, pointe, contemporary, musical theatre and acro. Dancer placement is at the sole discretion of the Artistic Faculty.  

Formal Dancers Division Class Descriptions

Acro (Acrobatics): a combination of artistic gymnastics and tumbling. It is choreography and gymnastics combined to tell a story. Dancers are recommended to take a ballet or jazz class while studying acro.

Advanced Combo (by instructor recommend only) Classes focus on preparing dancers to transition into Formal Dancer’s Division.

Ballet:  Classes focus on the Cecchetti (Italian) technique. Advanced dancers will begin to study the Vaganova (Russian) technique.

Contemporary:  This style utilizes both the strong and controlled legwork of ballet, jazz and modern dance's stress on the torso, and also employs contract-release, floor work, fall and recovery, and improvisation.. Dancers must have completed jazz or ballet at the orange level for level 1, yellow/green level for level 2, blue/purple level for level 3. By instructor permission only.

Hip Hop: Dancers will examine breaking, popping and locking, and fusion breaking down steps and technique while bringing the student's own style and personality to the movement.  Classes will use basic body isolations taught in other technique classes.

Jazz:  Classes expose dancers to classical jazz, contemporary jazz, and lyrical dance.  Students will learn to dance with the rhythm of the music as well as against it.

Musical Theatre:  Classes will focus on the diverse history of Broadway musicals.  Musical Theatre dancers rely on ballet, tap and jazz knowledge. Musical Theatre dancers depend on acting skills and place a high focus on musical interpretation. Dancers must have completed jazz or ballet at the orange level for level 1, yellow/green level for level 2, blue/purple level for level 3. By instructor permission only.

Pointe/Pre-Pointe: Pre-Pointe is required for all those enrolled in Pointe. By instructor permission only.

Tap:  All tap classes will begin with basic hoofing and progress to exploring a variety of tap styles.

Formal Dancers Division Class Placement

Level I-II :geared toward the beginning dancer. (Red/Orange, Competitive 1)

Level III-IV : geared toward the intermediate dancer and focuses on building good technique, strength, and flexibility.  (Yellow/Green, Competitive 2)

Level V-VI : geared toward the advanced dancer and focuses on high level skills in technique and elective classes. Pre-Pointe/Pointe are an option at this level by teacher permission only. (Blue/Purple, Competitive 3)

Acro Levels: Acro students must be enrolled in either jazz or ballet class. New Acro students must be tested by the instructor for placement.