Laura's Stage provides a Cechetti based ballet syllabus for each level. We provide sessions for students ages 5 through adult. Our foundation as dancers begins with ballet and our curriculum is designed to teach the ballet basics plus other hand eye coordination and motor skills to each student in a fun, energetic atmosphere. At the beginner level, we start focusing on the vocabulary, proper alignment and body placement. Intermediate students will begin to incorporate the basic movements and steps into combinations, and along the way develop better material retention, accuracy, and precision. The advanced portion of our Ballet program has an intense focus on technique, variations, stamina and strength. At this level we also begin considering the dancer's overall health, dance history and future plans to continue their artistic journey.

A Cechetti based ballet technique is also followed for our Pointe lessons. The training method seeks to develop essential skills in dancers as well as strength and elasticity. An informal audition must take place prior to begining Pointe lessons at Laura's Stage. We take the dancer's safety very seriously and encourage at home strength-training programs specified by our staff for each dancer individually

Lyrical dance is a contemporary dance style that combines the grace and fluidity of ballet with the expressiveness and emotional depth of modern dance. It focuses on storytelling and evoking strong emotions through movements that are flowing, fluid, and fluidly connected. Lyrical dance often incorporates elements of jazz and ballet techniques, highlighting the dancer's ability to connect with the music and express themselves through the narrative of the music lyrics. It is a beautiful and expressive form of dance that captivates audiences with its combination of technique, emotion, and storytelling.

Jazz is one of the most popular and well known forms of dance, where students gain strength, flexibility and technical progressions such as turns, kicks and leaps. In a Jazz class the dancers also learn many fun and trendy dance steps to popular and age appropriate music of today, along with vintage styles of jazz from the last decades. This is a perfect class to start your dance training.

One of the most popular and familiar forms of stylized American Dance. Television and movies utilize the free, rhythmic and fun tones of jazz dance. In these classes we teach stylized technique along with popular hip-hop moves and trends. It also gives the dancers coordination, physical strength and promotes self-confidence.

Cultural dance refers to a form of dance that is deeply rooted in the traditions, customs, and history of a particular culture or community. It reflects the values, beliefs, and identity of that culture, serving as a means of storytelling, celebration, communication, and preservation of heritage. Cultural dances vary greatly across different regions and ethnic groups around the world, each having its own unique style, steps, music, and costumes. These dances often showcase elements of history, folklore, rituals, and social events, making them an integral part of a community's cultural expression. They not only serve as a way to pass down traditions from one generation to another but also promote cultural exchange and understanding among diverse communities. Cultural dances possess a timeless beauty and provide a glimpse into the rich tapestry of human history and diversity.

We start all of our Latin Social Dance classes at a comfortable social distance, and encourage couples to get closer as their confidence level grows.

Bachata:

Popular at Salsa and Latin Nightclubs, Bachata is distinctive for its side to side basic movement and its sharp hip motion on every fourth count of music. The music is slower than salsa music, and shares several characteristics with Merengue music since they both were developed in the Dominican Republic.

We focus on mastering chasse basic-- taking three steps in one direction (side-close-side-tap or touch) and the same pattern in the other direction. The timing, if called out sounds like "one, two, three, uh; one, two, three, uh." We also introduce the walking basic- where the dancers learn to do the same movement walking forward and back and as they spin. Nightclub dancers add a lift or hip motion on the tap/touch step and we'll explore style and personalization to make it all your own.

Merengue:

Merengue is a style of dance derived from Latin American music. It has a 2-step beat, with partners in a closed position. Of note is the left hand of the leader at eye level (higher than Salsa, for instance). With bent knees and hips moving in the same direction, the partners walk to the side or circle their partner, with very small steps. Since this style is quite custumizable, We will focus strengthening the core technique and growing your confidence through learning fun combos!

Salsa:

Salsa is an amalgamation of Cuban dances such mambo, pachanga, and rumba as well as American dances such as swing and tap. Salsa is a face paced dance where special attention is placed on timing. Dancers will learn to listen to the music and know the differences between On1 and On2 Salsa Timing. Dancers will learn to dance individually and experiment with basic turns and transitions with partners (depending on class attendance)