Dance at
DMA
DMA's curriculum develops skilled dancers and community leaders (ages 3-18) through a holistic approach that blends technical training with social responsibility. We offer exclusive opportunities, industry workshops, and community service initiatives, fostering empathy and leadership alongside artistic excellence.
DMA Class Divisions
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Premeire Division
Ages 3-5
Dance Styles: Premiere Dance (foundational dance skills)
The Premiere Division is a program specifically designed for preschool learners, in an environment suited to their current abilities. Our research-based program will use dance vocabulary to develop students’ gross motor skills, physical coordination, musicality, and emotional maturity, all while laying the groundwork for fundamental dance technique. Dancers will use their creativity and imagination in every class to support their physical, cognitive, and emotional growth!
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Fundamental Division
K-2 GRADE
Dance Styles: Jazz/Pom, Lyrical, Tap, Ballet, Hip Hop (introductory levels).
The Fundamental Division is for early elementary-aged children who are proficient in basic physical coordination and are now ready to learn dance-specific technique and musical concepts. The learning environment emphasizes curiosity, exploration, and personal responsibility.
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Intermediate Division
3-5 GRADE
Dance Styles: Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Hip Hop, Lyrical/Contemporary, Pom/Acro, Aerial dance.
The Intermediate Division is for older elementary students who are ready to receive nuanced instruction in any type of dance technique as well as complex musical concepts. The learning environment at this level encourages a student’s increased effort and thoughtful risk-taking.
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Prelude Division
6TH-8TH GRADE
Dance Styles: Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Pointe, Hip Hop, Modern/Contemporary, Aerial Dance, Pom/Acro, Supplemental Skills.
The Prelude Division is intentionally structured to not only solidify the technical foundations of a dancer's training and initiate the exploration of their individual artistic voices, but also to foster the emergence of community-minded leaders who leverage their unique talents to become strong, independent, and technically sound dancers.
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Advanced Division
9TH-12TH GRADE
Dance Styles: Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Pointe, Hip Hop, Modern/Contemporary, Aerial Dance, Pom/Acro, Supplemental Skills.
The Advanced Division is designed for all high school dancers, providing unparalleled access and opportunity thanks to DMA's extensive and strategic partnerships. Beyond the focused instruction in dance conditioning and athleticism, this level is dedicated to cultivating the unique artistry of each dancer. Students will develop into goal-oriented, adaptable, and versatile individuals, prepared to navigate the multitude of pathways these partnerships make available.
DMA DANCE STYLES
Premiere Dance
The Premiere Division is a program specifically designed for preschool learners, in an environment suited to their current abilities. Our research-based program will use dance vocabulary to develop students’ gross motor skills, physical coordination, musicality, and emotional maturity, all while laying the groundwork for fundamental dance technique. Dancers will use their creativity and imagination in every class to support their physical, cognitive, and emotional growth!
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Male dancers: Black or dark blue dance, athletic, or sweat pants, and solid T-shirt in white or a pale color.
Adventures in Movement: Light blue dance dress with attached skirt (Wear Moi brand), tights and shoes that match dancer's complexion. Tights and shoes need to be the same color/shade. Hair must be pulled off face, and long hair must be in a ponytail.
Foundations: Lavender dance dress with attached skirt (Wear Moi brand), tights and shoes that match dancer's complexion. Tights and shoes need to be the same color/shade. Hair must be pulled off face, and long hair must be in a ponytail.
No large, dangling, or loose jewelry allowed. Hair must be off of the face. Some classes require hair worn in a bun. No denim.
No street shoes should be worn in class. Conversely, dancers should not wear dance shoes outdoors.
*please contact us if you need to adapt the dress code for your child's sensory needs.
Ballet/Pointe
The training journey with DMA Ballet Company, in collaboration with Chicago Repertory Ballet, is a comprehensive and transformative experience that guides dancers from their early years through high school and into pre-professional programs. This partnership not only connects students with professionals from CRB, but also creates a seamless transition that allows for continuous growth and refinement in their skills and artistry. At each step of the way, dancers are supported and challenged, pushing them to reach new heights and achieve their full potential in the world of ballet.
Pointe work, an advanced ballet technique, allows dancers to perform on the tips of their toes in specialized shoes. It demands significant strength, balance, and years of foundational training. This challenging yet graceful art form elevates a dancer's line and creates an ethereal, weightless quality, representing a pinnacle of ballet artistry.
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Hair - Long hair must be in a bun and hair must be out of eyes.
Option 1 - Camisole leotard (in the color specified by the class division, see below), footed or convertible tights and ballet slippers that are the same color and shade, and which are appropriate for the dancer's complexion. A ballet skirt the same color as the leotard or black.
Option 2 - White fitted or athletic T-shirt, black form-fitting pants or tights, black ballet slippers.
Option 3 - Solid gray unitard, black socks, black ballet slippers.
Pointe shoes - For performances only: convertible tights and pointe shoes that are the same color and shade are required! But it is not required for you to paint your pointe shoes for dance class or rehearsal.
Colors of Ballet Leotards by Division (See Option 1 above for tights information) -
Ballet Fundamentals: Light blue camisole leotard (Dance in Motion, SL03)
Intermediate Ballet/Intermediate Conservatory: Burgundy camisole leotard (Dance in Motion, SL03)
Prelude Ballet: Plum camisole leotard (Weissman brand)
Blended class levels: Black camisole leotard (Weissman brand) (Ex: Dancers in an Intermediate C/Prelude A class would wear black leotard.)
Advanced Ballet - Any solid color leotard and any solid color tights and shoes, but the shoes and tights must be the same color and shade.
Contemporary/Lyrical/Modern
The Trifecta Youth Company at DMA, in partnership with Trifecta Dance Collective, offers a comprehensive training program from elementary to high school and into professional training. Students are taught the fundamentals of modern dance, building strength, flexibility, coordination, and musicality. As they progress, they explore more complex choreography and develop technical proficiency and artistic maturity. The curriculum includes classes in contemporary dance, modern, improvisation, conditioning, nutrition, dance history, and injury prevention.
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All Divisions:
Option 1 - Any color leotard, any color form-fitting shorts. Leggings are an option but they must be solid black. Hair in a ponytail or bun and out of eyes.
Option 2 - White shirt, black pants, and black shoes. Long hair pulled off of face and out of eyes.
Shoes and tights:
Canvas half-shoes that are appropriate for dancer's complexion (and same color shade as tights) and stirrup (or convertible) tights.
Tap
This curriculum provides students with the chance to learn tap dancing in a challenging and progressive environment. The classes will cover various styles and techniques, such as Broadway techniques, tap history, Hoofing, and Rhythmic styles. Classes will focus on building strength, coordination, and musicality to create a strong foundation for future growth.
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All Divisions:
Option 1 - Any color leotard, any color form-fitting shorts. Leggings are an option but they must be solid black. Hair in a ponytail or bun and out of eyes.
Option 2 - White shirt, black pants, and black shoes. Long hair pulled off of face and out of eyes.
Shoes and tights:
Black tap shoes, and tights that are appropriate color for dancer's complexion.
Jazz
The DMA jazz technique program is carefully designed to prioritize the development of core strength and precise isolations while exposing to a diverse range of jazz dance styles including Broadway, Contemporary style, Jazz Funk, and Classical Jazz. This exposure enables students to explore and appreciate different genres of dance, broadening their skills and understanding of the art form.
As students progress through the program, the curriculum is structured to gradually challenge and expand their technical abilities, ensuring they develop a strong foundation in jazz dance technique.
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All Divisions:
Option 1 - Any color leotard, any color form-fitting shorts. Leggings are an option but they must be solid black. Hair in a ponytail or bun and out of eyes.
Option 2 - White shirt, black pants, and black shoes. Long hair pulled off of face and out of eyes.
Shoes and tights:
Fundamentals and Intermediate - Slip-on jazz shoes that are appropriate for dancer's complexion (and same color shade as tights) footed or convertible tights.
Prelude and Advanced - Canvas half-shoes that are appropriate for dancer's complexion (and same color shade as tights) and stirrup (or convertible) tights.
Hip Hop
The DMA Hip Hop program, in collaboration with Infinity Collective, provides a progressive journey for students from elementary school through high school and beyond, seamlessly integrating into pre-professional programs to nurture growth and refinement at every stage. In elementary school, students will learn basic movements, rhythms, and foundational hip hop dance techniques, developing a sense of musicality. Moving into middle school, students will explore more complex choreography, styles, and techniques in the hip hop genre to enhance their skills and creativity. By high school, students who have continued their training will have a strong foundation in various hip hop styles, such as popping, locking, and breaking, with opportunities to showcase their talents through performances, competitions, and advanced training in hip hop dance.
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All divisions/levels: Comfort-fit top, loose or fitted bottoms that cover the knees. No denim. Hip-hop sneakers must have white soles (black soles leaves streaks on the floor) and need to be dedicated dance shoes, no street shoes are to be used in the studio. Hair pulled off the face.
Pom
The partnership between DMA Poms Company and GBS Titans is a progressive journey that spans from elementary to high school, seamlessly transitioning into high school poms while promoting growth and improvement at every stage. The curriculum provides an emphasis on technique, precision, and performance skills to ensure a solid foundation for high school poms team auditions.
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All Divisions:
Option 1 - Any color leotard, any color form-fitting shorts. Leggings are an option but they must be solid black. Hair in a ponytail or bun and out of eyes.
Option 2 - White shirt, black pants, and black shoes. Long hair pulled off of face and out of eyes.
Shoes and tights:
Fundamentals and Intermediate - Slip-on jazz shoes that are appropriate for dancer's complexion (and same color shade as tights) footed or convertible tights.
Prelude and Advanced - Canvas half-shoes that are appropriate for dancer's complexion (and same color shade as tights) and stirrup (or convertible) tights.
Acro
DMA is Acrobatic Arts Certified and implements this curriculum within our programming. The curriculum includes instruction on anatomy, technique, and progressions. This program has been meticulously developed with feedback from over 100 experts in relevant fields, making it one of the most extensively researched programs in the industry.
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All Levels: Any color leotard, any color form-fitting shorts, stirrup or convertible tights, no shoes (barefoot) and hair in a ponytail.
Aerial Dance
The program combines the elegance of dance with the strength and flexibility of aerial silks training, designed specifically for the DMA population. Students advance through the training by incorporating texture, artistry, and expression into their skills.
In addition to aerial silks training, students also have the opportunity to develop their skills on the Lyra apparatus, further enhancing their strength, flexibility, and artistry.
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All Levels: Any color leotard, any color form-fitting shorts, no tights, no shoes (barefoot) and hair in a ponytail.
Supplemental Skills
At DMA, we value the importance of honing technical skills in dance education, which is why we offer a variety of supplemental classes to help students excel in their training. These classes are designed to complement the core curriculum by providing additional opportunities for students to deepen their understanding and proficiency in areas such as Leaps/Turns/Tricks, Conditioning and Floorwork, Ballet Variations, and Pointe Prep.
These supplemental classes not only enhance students' technical abilities but also provide a supportive and nurturing environment for them to grow and develop as dancers. By offering these classes, we aim to empower our students to reach their full potential and achieve success in their dance training.
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All Divisions:
Option 1 - Any color leotard, any color form-fitting shorts. Leggings are an option but they must be solid black. Hair in a ponytail or bun and out of eyes.
Option 2 - White shirt, black pants, and black shoes. Long hair pulled off of face and out of eyes.
Shoes and tights:
Fundamentals and Intermediate - Slip-on jazz shoes that are appropriate for dancer's complexion (and same color shade as tights) footed or convertible tights.
Prelude and Advanced - Canvas half-shoes that are appropriate for dancer's complexion (and same color shade as tights) and stirrup (or convertible) tights.
Performance Companies at DMA
Our performance companies promote maximum growth, both technically and artistically, for each member. The structure allows dancers freedom to design a program that is tailored to their individual desires, allowing them to thrive and flourish in the areas they choose to explore.