OUR PROGRAMS
Dance classes for every age at any level.
At Canadian Dance Unit, we offer a wide range of classes from Introductory level for the beginners through to our Company level classes for the serious dancers.
In between, can be found a full selection of mini, junior, intermediate recreational classes and part time competitive classes to fill the needs of virtually any requirement.
See below for our more information on our Recreational, Full-Time Competitive and Part-Time Competitive programs.
RECREATIONAL
Here at CDU, our recreational classes emphasize creative expression and building self-confidence. We offer classes in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Acrobatics, and Contemporary.
Each class will consist of a warmup, variations and progressions. Lessons will culminate in a choreographed routine performed at our recital at the Rose Theatre in Brampton, Ontario.
Intro to Dance
Dance Class for 2 and 3 Year Olds
We believe a child's first few years in the studio are some of the most important ones, which is why our Intro to Dance program is the perfect introduction to the world of dance.
The class runs from September to June and offers the fundamentals of dance in a 30 minute class. The classes are structured around Ballet and Jazz techniques to help develop a sense of rhythm and musicality, body awareness and movement, stretching and strengthening, and posture an discipline.
At the end of the season, each dancer will participate in our in-studio performance and graduation ceremony.
FULL-TIME COMPETITIVE
Our competitive program is designed to truly challenge and inspire children who are serious about dance. This program offers intense conditioning, technical training, first class choreography and personal attention. Students gain the technique they need through concentrated training in Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Tap, Acro and lyrical. Although the focus is on giving students the ability to pursue dance as a profession, the skills learned in this program have proven to be valuable life lessons that continue to benefit the students in all career choices. Self-discipline, self-expression, responsibility, and time management are only some of the qualities that our students are guaranteed to acquire. For children ranging from ages 6-19, our Mini, Junior, Intermediate, Senior and Advanced levels are all built on ability, technique, personality and above all potential. Our competitive dancers train anywhere from 3-5 days a week, which includes 2-3 classes per day.
PART-TIME COMPETITIVE
The perfect opportunity for those who have been dancing in recreational to experience the excitement of competitive dance. Ideal for the newcomer to competitive. We offer 4 levels, junior, inter, inter adv and senior. Our dancers can compete in jazz, tap, hip hop, acro and contemporary styles. The dancer has the opportunity to compete in the styles they excel in with minimal mandatory classes. Our part time competitive dancers train anywhere from 1-3 days a week which includes 1-4 classes per day.
Offered Styles of Dance
Introductory
These programs are designed to introduce a young child to dance basics and begin to develop in them a love of dance and an appreciation for music. Classes that fall under the introductory levels include: Intro to Dance, Intro to Jazz/Tap/Acro and Pre-Primary Ballet.
Acrobatics
Acrobatic classes consist of warm-up, tricks, balance work and tumbling. Routines have traditional acrobatics with the addition of dance steps to link each of the acro elements together. Jr level classes and up, requires a jazz class as a prerequisite.
Ballet
The most elementary and important of all dance instruction, consists of barre work, centre practice, adage and allegro as well as pointe work for the major students using Cecchetti vocabulary. Qualified students are entered into Children’s and Major Examinations.
Contemporary
Contemporary is a genre of dance that combines that controlled legwork of ballet with modern movement that stresses on the torso. It also includes floorwork, improvisation and has
changes in rhythm and speed. Jazz and Ballet classes are prerequisites for this class.
Jazz
Jazz is a genre of dance that has its own movement vocabulary ranging from the isolation of certain body parts to the movement of the entire body with accents of musical rhythms. Classes include warm-up, turns and down the floor progressions.
Lyrical
Lyrical dance is a style that embodies various aspects of ballet and jazz with popular music. It focuses on purpose of expressing emotion and/or an idea. Jazz and Ballet classes are prerequisites for this class.
Hip Hop
A fun high energy dance form that has its roots in jazz. Hip hop is street dancing that was made famous in dance music videos.
Tap
Classical and Funk styles are covered with particular stress put on the quality of sound, technique and stylized movement. Jr level classes and up, requires a jazz class as a prerequisite.