Adult Ballet
Our adult ballet classes are open to all dancers 18 and older, regardless of skill level. MDC tailors each class to be challenging and informative, whether you are stepping to the barre for the first time or an adult dancer returning to ballet. Ballet can be a rewarding form of exercise for older dancers looking to maintain technique or for those looking to learn something new. Our adult classes have a go-at-your-own-pace environment that encourages dancers to work at their personal skill level.
Modern
Inspired by Martha Graham and Lester Horton, modern dance teaches dancers to develop a freedom in movement, including rolling, as well as contraction and release. Dancers explore new ways of moving in combinations, floor work, and partnering, and in various methods of improvisation.
Leaps and Turns
Leaps and Turns is dedicated to studying the art of successful turns, leaps, and tricks. Dancers learn how to better control their bodies, while also learning various advanced leap patterns and turn combinations. This class is recommended for Intermediate and Advanced dancers studying contemporary and jazz.
Pilates
Core strengthening is essential to our dancers' conditioning at MDC and is a required class for all advanced students. Many of our instructors are Romana Pilates certified.
Benefits of Pilates include - longer, leaner muscles, postural improvement, increased core strength and stability, injury prevention, functional fitness, balancing strength and flexibility, heightening body awareness, no-impact (easy on the joints), improving balance, coordination, and circulation.
Jazz
Jazz is a form of dance technique and style that originated in America during the early twentieth century. Jazz technique focuses on emphasized isolations, fast direction changes, unique body placement, stage presence, deep plie and lunges. Jazz dancers are strong, powerful, and charismatic. To excel in jazz, dancers need a strong background in ballet technique. MDC studies Giordano and Fosse technique throughout the year and in our summer programs. Jazz is seen in musical theatre and commercial work.
Contemporary
Contemporary dance is a form of performance dance that has grown to become one of the most dominant dance forms for trained dancers in the world. Contemporary originated by borrowing aspects of other genres, such as classical ballet, modern, and jazz techniques. Contemporary technique utilizes the control of ballet technique, the torso movement of modern technique, contact-release movement, floor work, unpredictable musicality, creative freedom, and improvisation. Ballet technique is key to contemporary dance. MDC studies modern techniques by Graham, Horton, and Cunningham during class while utilizing those methods within contemporary choreography. Contemporary dance is performed by ballet, modern, and contemporary dance companies and recently has been incorporated into more commercial projects.
Classical Ballet
Classical Ballet is a type of performance dance known for its aesthetics, rigorous technique, and ethereal qualities. Ballet originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century and later developed into a concert dance form in France. Since then, it has spread to a highly technical form of dance based on French terminology. Classical ballet technique employs the foundational principles on which dance is built, such as turnout of the legs, high extensions, pointe work, and partner work. Emphasis is placed on developing flexibility and strengthening legs, feet, and core. Female dancers begin to learn pointe technique, in which dancers wear shoes that allow them to dance on the tips of their toes. Male dancers learn partner work and advanced jumps and turns.
Primary Ballet and Jazz
Our primary dance classes offer an introduction to movement. Classes consist of stretch and strength exercises geared towards training young dancers. Dancers learn basic barre and center work, including progressions across the floor. In addition to technique, teachers focus on musicality, dynamics, and artistry. MDC focuses on developing proper technique that is age appropriate while utilizing metaphors and imagery.
Summer classes run 6/15 - 7/24
See our Summer Term Schedule here
See our Summer Intensive Schedule Here
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Midwest Dance Conservatory offers classes in a wide range of dance styles, including Ballet, Pre-Pointe, Pointe, Pilates, Stretch & Strengthen, Jazz, Contemporary, Modern, Leaps & Turns, Primary Ballet, Primary Jazz, Adult Ballet, and Musical Theatre, to name a few.
Private Lessons
In addition to group dance instruction, our studio offers private lessons as a personalized training experience that is individualized to the dancer's needs. The benefits of private dance lessons include instant feedback from the instructor and one-on-one attention. Private lessons are also useful for students getting ready to audition for summer intensive programs and competition performances. We offer both 30 and 60-minute time slots. Reach out at leah@midwestdanceconservatory.com to book a slot.