Early Childhood Dance Program

Introducing the Early Childhood Dance Program

Our Early Childhood Dance Program (ECD) is specially designed to provide children between three and seven years of age with a strong foundation in dance and movement. Please call the office for current tuition rates 928-314-4762.

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The basic elements of movement and dance are taught:

• Space and how we relate to it, both as an individual and as a member of a group
• The eight basic locomotor movements
• Musical rhythm, beat and time
• Opposites and directions
• Some elementary positions of ballet

Integrated with these physical concepts are the intellectual concepts of:

• Self-awareness
• Creative expression
• Imagination

Students also learn the basic of classroom behavior and manners, which remain the same throughout their dancing years:

• How to take turns
• Following another dancer or leading the way
• Waiting patiently
• Working together with others
• Having a positive attitude

All ECD teachers are adults with children of their own and have had extensive dance training, as well as instruction in the Academy’s children’s syllabus under the guidance of Academy director, Kathleen Sinclair.

How Classes are Structured

Classes in the Early Childhood Dance Program are grouped into age-specific levels for 3-7 year olds. These classes meet once a week and last 45 minutes.

Class structure for all levels is essentially the same, with the content based on appropriate developmental skills for the specific age. Each class begins with a brief sharing time and floor exercises that gently stretch and strengthen the young students. These exercises progress in difficulty as students gain flexibility and strength over the years.

Class continues with a center warm-up that includes all of the major muscle groups and is the basis for the barre work taught in ballet class at a later date. From this, students learn correct posture and the placement of the body over the legs. The exercises also teach balance, port de bras (arm movements), and include various types of jumps that are the building blocks for the allegro steps of classical ballet.

The third section of class develops the locomotor skills that form the basis for all ballet steps that travel.

The final portion of class is devoted to developing creative expression and musical awareness. Students participate in a variety of free movement exercises that teach listening skills, rhythm, emotions and relationships to energy, space, level and direction. Young dancers who are consistently exposed to this type of activity in class are generally more creative in their choreographic efforts in later years and are freer in their movement style as they develop. Besides, it’s just plain FUN!

Educators now know that training young children in the concepts of movement sequencing, patterning, and spatial relationships lays a strong foundation for the later development of reading, mathematics and other educational skills. Our ECD program works actively in all of these areas.

Register Your Child

Registration for the 2024-25 school year for new students is ongoing. We are now enrolling new students for the new school year. Classes begin August 19th, 2024.

Call:  928-314-4762

Office Hours
Monday – Friday 3:00-7:00pm

Visit us at:
3942 S. Avenue 4 1/2 East
Yuma, AZ 85365

Click here to download the 2024-25 registration forms