LYRICAL DANCE

Lyrical dancers build on the foundation and discipline of ballet, then infuse the choreography with jazz movement to move beyond the structure and emote more. It’s usually danced to a popular song with lyrics. It’s more showy than ballet and less showy than jazz.

SARATOGA SCHOOL of DANCE is the most complete and trusted ballet school for dance lessons and classes in the Bay Area. We make learning dance fun. Our curriculum encourages age appropriate creativity, musicality, and physicality. Your child will dance and have fun with an emphasis on their foundations. !

We offer students a homework lounge and parents are welcome to view classes from the back of the room.

LYRICAL is a flowy, free-spirited, and expressive style most often set to popular songs. It is complex, dynamic yet subtle, and expressive by nature. The dance style develops coordination and musicality. Dancers express grief, longing, love and despair - it's emotionally charged - powerful - fluid and graceful. The minimalist motions flow seamlessly - the dancer holds finishing steps as long as possible - then bound into soaring leaps - the stories are emotional stories... acrobatic movements tied to a song, heartfelt, impressionist, thoughtfully choreographed to draw out what the dancers have to give. In fact, they often give more than they knew they had.

LYRICAL

 

CLASSICAL TRAINING IN THE REGION SINCE 1975

The Saratoga School of Dance’s mission focuses on excellence in dance while nurturing children and young people. Our students learn patience, persistence, attention to detail, discipline, expressiveness, and self-motivation. Saratoga School of Dance has developed a reputation as one of the area’s top training programs.

The School’s exceptional faculty, individual attention, and the success of its alumni attract dancers for lessons from around the South Bay.

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WHY TRAIN WITH SARATOGA SCHOOL OF DANCE?

Saratoga School of Dance creates a positive learning environment. Students begin as early as 18 months and as late as 80. Lessons provide a strong technical foundation – producing dancers well-rounded in strength, stamina and flexibility while fostering their love of movement and confidence. 

This class is a great class option for the first time dancer. Students learn basic class etiquette: good listening, repeating motion, and an emphasis on body alignment. Basic technique are developed for proper execution of ballet steps. We slowly teach barre work (pliés, tendues, jetés, and ronds de jambe) so students safely develop muscles for strength, rotation, and flexibility. We stretch and perform center floor work such as: body placement, foot positions, and turns; students develop port de bras (moving / posing arms), we introduce small jumps and teach a traditional révérence*. This beginner ballet class is perfect for all ages. 

This class is a continuation of Beginning Ballet. We find fun ways to consistently repeat and build onto prior technique. Port de bras, pliés, tendues, and jetés are executed at a faster tempo and in 5th position. Frappés, fondues, and grands battements are added to the barre work. Sautés and échappés are first introduced at the barre and then later executed in the center floor work. Of course, we always stretch and rotate. Simple adagio exercises are added in center work and we combine steps to travel across the room. Our students' révérence is further developed and student confidence is enhanced.  

This class continues the ballet student's development as a dancer. The focus is to refine posture, increase flexibility, gain strength, learn the vocabulary of ballet, and develop the dancer’s technique.  Students work on their barre routines, stretching, and center work (including adagio, pirouettes, petite allegro, and grande allegro). More dance elements are integrated into combinations (including port de pras, epaulment, musicality, and artistry). This environment allows young dancers to gain confidence and build self-esteem. The class may be also be suitable for experienced ballet dancers returning to ballet after a long break.

 

WHY LYRICAL AND NOT BALLET? 

Lyrical dance has been made popular by shows such as Cirque du Soleil and Dancing with the Stars. It’s very emotional style and it young dancers because they can relate to the emotional context. The style emphasizes being personal style and if you have a great teacher, the discipline and dancing foundation comes along.

If you’ve never tried lyrical dance now is a great time to start. Your dancer will love their first class. If you have questions about placement or other dance classes we offer feel free to email or call.

Contemporary dance is a style of expressive dance that combines elements of several dance genres including modern, jazz, lyrical and classical ballet. Contemporary dancers strive to connect the mind and the body through fluid dance movements.

Dance Classes for students ages three thru adult. Beginning through professional. Unsure of which dance class is right for your dancer? Let’s talk.

OUR SERVICES INCLUDE

Regular Scheduled Classes

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Semi-Private Lessons

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Private Lessons

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Extra Prep Workshops for Specific Performance

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Virtual Lessons

In response to the COVID-19 stay-at-home directives, we began offering virtual classes and workshops. If the demand continues, we will work with our remote students virtually in order to continue their development as a dancer. 

School-Break and Summer Camps

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