Dance Genres

Ballet is an elegant form of dance, which involves grace and precision. It is characterised by light, intricate movements, which are often performed to classical music. Plimmerton School of Dance offers a range of Ballet classes for students from the age of 2. These classes are; pre-school, grade classes, open and adult. Grade classes start from the age of 5. We follow the TDI Syllabus (Theatre Dance International), where students learn set grade work and enter annual examinations. Grade work allows dancers to broaden their ballet repertoire and technique. The movements become progressively more difficult each year. Students also learn National Character, which introduces them to international dance styles. These are also assessed by an examination. There is one intermission grade called Flexibility and Turns. Students complete this grade before entering the senior grades. In the senior grades, students have two classes a week in preparation for the introduction of pointe work and the demands of the senior ballet grades. We also offer Adult Ballet classes, which focus on learning technique, routines and the enjoyment of ballet. These classes are great for retired dancers or beginners.

Jazz is a modern form of dance, which involves strong, sharp movements and lines. It adopts many ballet concepts but it is performed to modern music and is a lot more stylised. Plimmerton School of Dance offers a range of Jazz classes for students from the age of 6. These classes are; Open and Grade Classes. Grade classes start from the age of 6. We follow the American NZAMD Syllabus (New Zealand Association of Modern Dance) where students learn set grade work and enter annual examinations. In this grade work, students learn new steps and combinations, which become progressively harder each year. There are three intermission grades in the syllabus called SLS (Stretch, Leap and Spin), where students focus solely on technique and flexibility. SLS is taught before students enter the senior grades of Jazz and at the end of their Jazz grade work. Open Jazz classes are for older students who are working on style and presentation. The students learn short, stylised dances, which cover the different genres of Jazz.  Junior Boppers is a fusion of Beginners Jazz and Beginners Hip Hop and gets our 4 – 6 year olds bopping about!  We have Adult Jazz classes again!  Lots of fun and great for your fitness.

Tap is a rhythmical form of dance. The dancer uses the sounds produced by their metal tap shoes to strike the floor as a form of percussion. The movements are very sharp and often quite fast. Plimmerton School of Dance offers a range of Tap classes for students from the age of 4. These classes are; grade classes and adult classes. Grade classes start from the age of 5. We follow the TDI Syllabus (Theatre Dance International), where students learn set grade work and enter annual examinations. In this grade work, students learn new tap steps and combinations, which become progressively harder each year.  We have Adult Tap back again!  So much fun making beautiful sounds while dancing.

Hip Hop is a free, stylised form of dance which is primarily performed to Hip Hop Music. The movements are drawn from breaking, locking, popping which all emerged in the 1970s. Plimmerton School of Dance offers a range of Hip Hop classes including beginners, grade work and adult classes. Classes start from the age of 4. We follow the NZAMD Hip Hop Syllabus. This is an energetic Hip Hop Syllabus, which extends the students and gives them an exciting progression up through the levels. At the end of each year, students are assessed by examinations. Junior Boppers is a fusion of Beginners Jazz and Beginners Hip Hop and gets our 4 – 6 year olds bopping about!

Contemporary dance is an expressive form of dance, which combines elements of several dance genres including modern, jazz, lyrical and classical ballet. Contemporary dance explores freedom of movement. It consists of fluid movements, which use momentum and gravity. Contemporary is performed in bare feet and uses many different styles of music. Contemporary is offered at Plimmerton School of Dance to dancers from the age of 10. We follow the NZAMD Syllabus (New Zealand Association of Modern Dance) where students learn set grade work and enter annual examinations. In the introductory grades, the students begin by learning basic contemporary principles about momentum and gravity. As the grades progress, students learn stylised contemporary dances choreographed by a range of renowned choreographers. The students are also required to learn dance history and anatomy for their examinations, which further helps them to understand the concept of this dance genre.

Funk is an energising style of dance, which is highly influenced by the Hip Hop and Jazz genre. The movements are strong, isolated and sharp, and the music is often fast and upbeat. There is a strong element of style and performance. Plimmerton School of Dance offers three classes of funk. Junior Funk is school levels years 5 – 8,  Senior Funk is college age. The class consists of a high intensity warm-up and the students’ work on a short routine. The 45-minute class is open, so there are no exams.

Lyrical is an elegant form of dance, which draws on the technique of ballet. It consists of very soft and fluid movements and it is often performed to slow, lyrical ballads. Plimmerton School of Dance offers Open Lyrical classes to students from the age of 10. Beginners Lyrical is from age 10 and Intermediate Lyrical is for our college age dancers. Advanced Lyrical is for students who need to be extended in this style. The 45-minute class consists of a warm up, stretch and progressions across the floor.  The dancers also work on a short routine each lesson. The dancers are extended as they work on technique and learn new leaps and turns, which are not covered in grade classes.