Northern Plains Dance Academy offers classes in a broad range of techniques. Students can take technique classes and electives on a quarterly basis. NPDA also offers drop-in open classes; just purchase a class card and come when you want! Learn more about our offerings...

• Class Schedule
• Class Descriptions
• Class Cards
• Important Dates

Studio 1

Studio 2

Studio 3

Technique Classes

Creative Movement: Creative Movement is an introduction to movement. Through rhythm, games, music and imagination students learn basic ballet positions, coordination and musicality. Students must be toilet trained and be able to communicate with others. Students enrolled in Creative Movement must attend one, one-hour class per week, meeting either Tuesday or Saturday.

Pre-Ballet: Pre-Ballet is a class designed to introduce students to the foundation of ballet. Students learn basic ballet technique, basic ballet vocabulary, rhythm and musicality through games and center floor work. Students will learn the positions of the feet and port de bras and become prepared for the more structured training of Ballet 1. Students enrolled in Pre-Ballet must attend one, one-hour class per week, meeting either Tuesday or Saturday.

Ballet 1: Ballet 1 is more structured and longer than the Pre-Ballet class to help the students with quicker advancement. Ballet 1 is a class designed for students who have completed a pre-ballet class and are ready to further develop his/her barre work and center floor work. Students enrolled in Ballet 1 must attend one, one-hour ballet class per week meeting either Tuesday or Thursday.

Ballet 2: The Ballet 2 class is for those dance students who have a more serious interest in furthering their knowledge of ballet technique and have completed Ballet I. This class will focus on building the foundation of classical ballet through barre work and center floor work. This class is to prepare students for petite allegro, spotting, while focusing on balance, use of port de bras and beginning to spend a longer time center floor. Students enrolled in Ballet 2 must attend two, one hour and fifteen minute long classes per week, meeting both Tuesday and Thursday, to accommodate all of the work in technique, including barre, center barre, and allegros.

Ballet 3: Ballet 3 is a class designed for students with previous ballet training in Ballet 1 and Ballet 2. Students will continue to learn vocabulary, musicality, and rhythm and begin the technique to turn or pirouette. Focus will be emphasized at the barre so as students progress center floor strength will be easily achieved. Students enrolled in Ballet 3 may decide to take Pre-Pointe to further strengthen their technique for pointe work. Student enrolled in Ballet 3 may participate in the pointe class if they have been on pointe for more than a year or by invitation of the instructor. Students enrolled in Ballet 3 must attend two, one and a half hour classes per week, meeting Monday, Thursday, and Friday.

Ballet 4: Ballet 4 is a class designed for students with previous ballet training in Ballet 1, Ballet 2, and Ballet 3. Students will continue to learn vocabulary, musicality, and rhythm and begin the technique to turn or pirouette. Focus will be emphasized at the barre so as students progress center floor strength will be easily achieved. Student enrolled in Ballet 4 may participate in the pointe class if they have been on pointe for more than a year or by invitation of the instructor. Students enrolled in Ballet 4 must attend three, one and a half hour classes per week, meeting Monday, Thursday, and Friday.

Men's Ballet: Men's Ballet is designed for all of our male dancers. Whether you are just starting out or are starting again after a few years, men’s technique will focus on basic ballet technique specifically for the male dancer. Students enrolled in Men's Technique are required to attend one, one-hour class per week meeting on Friday.

Men's Technique: Men's Technique is for all of our male dancers who wish to take their dancing to the next level. Learn all the tricks of the trade from one of our advanced male students. Students enrolled in Men's Technique must attend one, one-hour class per week meeting on Saturday.

Jazz 1: This Beginning Jazz class is tailor-made for those young kids who like to move to the music on the radio. This class is upbeat and fun and filled with lots of movement. Students enrolled in Jazz 1 must attend one, one-hour class per week meeting either Monday or Thursday.

Jazz 2: The Jazz 2 class provides students with the tools they need to advance into more difficult choreography. Heavy emphasis is placed on dancing to the music, so that students learn to express themselves better in their dance movements. Students enrolled in Jazz 2 must attend one, one-hour and fifteen minute classes per week meeting either Monday or Thursday.

Jazz 3: Students enrolled in Jazz 3 must have mastered the basic jazz technique introduced in Jazz 1 and Jazz 2. These students are best suited for joining the Senior Company, which is our advanced student company. Students enrolled in Jazz 3 must attend one, one and a half hour class per week, meeting on Monday.

Tap 1: Tap 1 is an introduction to tap dancing. Through rhythm, games, music and imagination students learn basic tap steps, coordination and musicality. Students must be toilet trained and able to communicate with others. Tap 1 is for those kids who like to make noise and shuffle their feet. This is fun, loud, and great for kids with a lot of energy! Students enrolled in Tap 1 must attend one, one-hour class per week, meeting on Monday.

Tap 2: Tap 2 is the next step in tap training. Students must have completed the basic tap technique introduced in Tap 1 so that they may continue their education with more complicated tap rhythms. Students enrolled in Tap 2 must attend one, one-hour and fifteen minute class per week, meeting on Monday.

Hip Hop 1: Hip Hop 1 is geared towards those youngsters who like to "dance to the music." This class is especially good for those kids who have a gymnastics background and are ready to try some dance steps. Students enrolled in Hip Hop 1 must attend one, one-hour class per week, meeting on Tuesday.

Hip Hop 2: Hip Hop 2 is an athletic class filled with the newest dance steps. Building on the steps learned in Hip Hop1, students will add even more break dancing while continuing to build on their hip-hop skills. Students enrolled in Hip Hop 2 must attend one, one-hour and fifteen minute class per week, meeting on Tuesday.

Hip Hop 3: Hip Hop 3 is open only to those students who have completed the Hip Hop 1 & 2. Old School and new school street styles are combined with break dancing to further challenge students. Students enrolled in Hip Hop 3 must attend one, one-hour and fifteen minute class per week, meeting on Tuesday.

Hip Hop 4: Hip Hop 4 is open only to those students who have completed the Hip Hop 1, 2 & 3. Old School and new school street styles are combined with basic break dancing to further challenge students. Students enrolled in Hip Hop 4 must attend one, one-hour and fifteen minute class per week, meeting on Wednesday.

Jungle 3: This class is considered an introduction to this style of dance. The techniques needed to accomplish the look of Jungle are both Modern and African, ways of moving not found in any other class that we offer. Even in this beginning/intermediate level class students can expect to be pushed to their limits and come out smiling. Broaden and increase your versatility while challenging yourself. Students enrolled in Jungle 3 must attend one, one-hour class per week meeting on Tuesday.

Jungle 4: Jungle 4 is an intermediate/advanced level class that takes the techniques started in Jungle 3 and pushes them to an even more challenging level. Students enrolled in Jungle 4 must attend one, one and a half hour class per week, meeting on Wednesday.

Electives

Lyrical Jazz: Lyrical Jazz maintains the percussive, rhythmic characteristics that define Jazz, but it incorporates elements of Ballet and Modern Dance to give it a smooth, lengthened look. The choreographic expression of the performer, with respect to content and projection, interprets the lyrics and/or quality of the music. Lyrical dance creates awareness of body strength, control, and power. Students enrolled in Lyrical Jazz will attend one, one-hour class per week, meeting on Monday.

Pre-Pointe: Help strengthen your ankles and toes to prevent and injuries that may occur while on Pointe. Must be enrolled in Ballet 3 or Ballet 4 to participate. It is mandatory that students enrolled in Pre-Pointe register for the Ballet3/4 class held on Thursday. Students enrolled in Pre-Pointe will attend one, one-hour class a week meeting on Thursday.

Pointe: Start or continue work on pointe building the basic knowledge and strength necessary to make pointe work easier and beautiful. The Pre-Pointe class is a prerequisite. Must be in Ballet 3 or Ballet 4 to participate. It is mandatory that students enrolled in Pre-Pointe register for the Ballet 3/4 classes held on Friday. Students enrolled in Pointe will attend one, one-hour class a week meeting on Friday.

Student Company: Students are placed into the appropriate Company based on an audition to take place in August. This group of performers will be called upon throughout the year to perform in the community and promote NPDA. All student company members are required to register for and attend all the meetings of two technique classes per quarter. In addition to the two technique classes, those dancers on Sr. Company must also attend one open class per week. Attendance at all scheduled class times for each of the student’s technique classes is mandatory.

Pre-Professional Division: Pre-Professional Division is a class designed for students who wish to participate in the Northern Plains Ballet productions throughout the year and gain valuable performance experience working with professional dancers and choreographers. Students registered for the Pre-Professional Division must be available for the scheduled rehearsal times during the production period. Rehearsals will be scheduled during these times and a student may or may not be asked to attend on any particular day. Registration for this class will take place in Quarter 1 for NP'’s Fall Production, and in Quarter 2 for NPB's Holiday Production and in Quarter 3 for NPB's Spring Production.

Open Classes

Ballet: This hour and fifteen minutes class meets once a week and is perfect for both our adult dancers and those who would like a different kind of workout. Learn vocabulary and steps in a laid-back atmosphere while toning your body.

Ballroom & Swing: This class is the answer for those of you who are wondering how to make those wedding dances less awkward. We will cover the basic steps for swing, the waltz, fox trot, and we may throw in a little salsa. Both couples and individuals are welcome.

Belly Dancing: An exotic addition to our class schedule. Belly dancing will tone your body with movements that focus on your abs, hips, and arms and will give you flexibility and grace. De-stress and awaken energy throughout your entire body.

Pilates: This class emphasizes abdominal core strength necessary for everyday tasks. This smart workout will engage your muscles quickly and leave you feeling energized. Taught by a PCC Certified Instructor.

Tap: The hour-long class is perfect for either the adult tapper or for the student who would like to take some extra classes. Through rhythm and music students learn basic tap steps, coordination, and musicality.

Yoga: Yoga is for those who want to receive the lengthening and strengthening benefits of Hatha Yoga while incorporating power moves to increase metabolism. Instructor is certified by both the American Fitness Professionals and Associates in Las Vegas and Yoga Adventure with Deborah Koehn on the Big Island of Hawaii.

CLASS CARDS

Class cards are now available at the front desk for all open classes. Present class cards to the instructor at the beginning of each class. Punch cards are only good on classes that are classified as "open classes." Punch cards cost the following: 6 punches: Buy 5 get 1 free ($8.33 per class) = $50.00 12 punches: Buy 11 get 1 free ($9.16 per class) = $110.00 15 punches: Buy 15 get 1 free ($9.33 per class) = $140.00 All punch cards will expire 24 weeks after the purchase date.

IMPORTANT DATES

Friday, August 17, 2007: Quarter 1 Tuition Due
Monday, August 20, 2007 - Friday, November 16, 2007: Quarter 1
Sunday, September 2, 2007: Placement Audition for Romeo and Juliet
Monday, October 8, 2007 - Friday, October 12, 2007: No Classes (Romeo and Juliet Production Week)
Sunday, October 28, 2007: Placement Audition for Joy
Monday, November 19, 2007 - Friday, March 7, 2008: Quarter 2
Monday, December 2, 2007 - Friday, December 7, 2007: No Classes (Joy Production Week)
Sunday, January 6, 2008: Placement Audition for Choreographer's Showcase
Monday, February 18, 2008 - Friday, February 22, 2008: No Classes (Choreographer's Showcase Production Week)
Monday, March 10, 2008 - Friday, May 30, 2008: Quarter 3