BYPC Dance: Preschool Classes

BYPC’s LEAP ‘N LEARN PRESCHOOL DANCE

Using the Leap ‘n Learn curriculum, BYPC’s preschool dance program is designed to provide boys and girls between the ages of three and seven with a strong foundation in dance and movement. These classes meet once a week for 45 to 60 minutes, depending on age. All levels are essentially similarly structured, with the content based on age- appropriate developmental skills. Classes focus on pre-ballet and creative movement concepts.

In the internationally acclaimed Leap ’n Learn Preschool Dance Program, we focus on increasing each child’s cognitive, physical and emotional development. It is a well known fact within neuropsychology and developmental psychology that the time between 0-7 years is the critical period of development when children are most responsive to new skills. They learn through experience and have a natural need for movement and pretend play. With Leap ’N Learn, each class is designed, structured and presented in a fun and child-friendly way, increasing a child’s love of movement and learning. This curriculum has been proven to be an excellent prerequisite for future education in dance and sports by creating a strong foundation in the understanding and awareness of music, movement, and creative problem solving.

3-Year-Old Program
The 3 Year Old Program is an introduction to the class environment, body movement, pretend play, and spatial awareness through creative movement and pre-ballet using the Leap ’N Learn Curriculum. Classes are 45 minutes and meet once a week. Dancers must be three years old by October 1st of the new term and potty trained.

4-Year-Old Program
This program focuses on pre-ballet, creative movement concepts, and pretend play using the Leap ’N Learn Curriculum. Students are introduced to basic French terminology of ballet terms. Classes are designed to meet the cognitive, physical, and emotional developmental needs of children in the 4 year old age range. Classes are 1 hour and meet once a week. Dancers must be 4 years old by October 1st of the new term.

5-Year-Old Program
This program focuses on primary level ballet, creative movement concepts, and pretend play with greater complexity using the Leap ’N Learn Curriculum. Students continue to learn French terminology of ballet terms. Exercises to increase musical awareness, balance, agility, and gross motor development continue to be practiced. Classes are 1 hour and meet once a week. Dancers must be 5 years old by October 1st of the new term.

6 & 7 Year-Old Program
This program focuses on primary level ballet, creative movement concepts and imagination with greater complexity using the Leap ’N Learn Curriculum. This class is the beginning of the transition program into the study of classical ballet. Students are now asked to perform many of the exercises in ‘turn-out’ and to combine steps to form a ‘dance combination’. Each class will focus on dance terminology, musical awareness, balance, agility, and gross motor development. Creative movement concepts and pretend play continue to be woven into exercises throughout the class. Classes are 1 hour and meet once a week. Dancers must be 6 years old by October 1st of the new term.

View dance classes for 6 & 7 year olds on our main dance page.