Dance Classes at Five Towns College

The Musical Theatre Concentration currently contains twelve dance classes that each run for one semester:
  • Ballet Techniques
  • Ballet Technique II
  • Jazz Dancing I
  • Jazz Dancing II
  • Tap Dancing I
  • Tap Dancing II
  • Theatrical Dancing
  • Advanced Theatrical Dancing
  • Contemporary Dancing
  • Dance Topics
  • Dance Production and Choreography
  • Dance History

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The following is the breakdown of the course order and a short description of each course:

Freshman Year:

Ballet I – Ballet basics
Concentration on terminology, technique and alignment. Barre work, center work and choreography/variations.

Jazz I – Introduction to Jazz dancing
Covers fundamentals: isolations, weight shifting, flexibility, strength and musicality. Class consists of vigorous center warm up, movement across the floor and choreography.

Dance History
The study of the foundations of dance as a cultural form and its development as a performing art from medieval times through modern day. Topics covered include the development of ballet, the rich cultural history of both tap and jazz dancing, the creation of modern dance, as well as the influences of ethnic dance on concert works and current contemporary creations will be examined.

Sophomore Year

Tap I -Tap basics
Cover fundamentals of tap dancing used in Broadway and Rhythm style such as shuffles, flaps, time steps and the shim sham. Class consists of center warm up, rhythm work, across the floor and choreography.

Jazz II – Builds on the foundations of jazz dancing taught in Jazz I
Incorporates speed, greater range of motion, advanced leaps and turns, increased difficulty in choreography. Class consists of vigorous center warm up, movement across the floor and choreography.

Dance Topics – Class, subject matter and teacher will change on a rotating basis
Topics to include, but not limited to, Latin Ballroom Dance, Afro-Caribbean Dance, Hip-Hop Dance, Break Dance, or other current dance movements.

Junior Year

Theatrical Dancing- Introduction to Musical Theatre style dancing
Builds on technique from Ballet as well as Jazz I and II. Focus on choreography- specifically dancing while using props. Class consists of vigorous center warm up, movement across the floor and choreography.

Tap II- Builds on techniques covered in Tap I
Covers more advanced rhythms and steps such as pullbacks, wings and toe stands as well as increasing speed and sound clarity. Class consists of center warm up, rhythm work, across the floor and choreography.

Ballet II – Builds on techniques covered in Ballet I
Covers more advanced terminology and technique while working on improving control, flexibility and strength. Focus on artistry.

Senior Year

Contemporary- Builds on techniques covered in Ballet I as well as Jazz I and Jazz II
Focus on linking dance and emotion to tell a story, improvisation and creation of movement. Class consists of vigorous center warm up, improvisation techniques and choreography.

Advanced Theatrical Dancing – Advanced Musical Theatre style dancing
Class will dive into the styles on works of specific Broadway choreographers such as Fosse, Robbins, Blankenbuehler. Class consists of vigorous center warm up, movement across the floor and choreography.

Dance Production and Choreography
Building on the creation of movement from Contemporary, students will learn and practice different choreographic elements and techniques. Class will culminate in students creating and showing their own works.

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VIDEO: DANCE program with Professor Hali Bekofsky

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If you have any questions about these courses, please contact:

Professor Hali Bekofsky
Head of Dance
Five Towns College Theatre Division
hali.bekofsky@ftc.edu