Classes

Pre school classes

We are very excited to be able to offer the fabulous READY SET DANCE program to our Wairarapa Pre school students. To find out more about the magic of this class check out the You tube Channel. The class is an hour long and includes dance, singing, tap, rhythm, hip hop and much more. The class is very suitable for both boys and girls. Register now to secure a space in these classes. You will be sent a confirmation on registration. The uniform is available at the studio office. Register now to secure a place in 2025.

READY SET BALLET is a delightfully fun way to introduce your young dancer to the world of Ballet. It is a half hour lesson with exciting props music and story lines to awaken their imagination. Dancers are taught the basics of good ballet technique while having fun developing their confidence, coordination and creativity. This class can be taken as a separate subject or goes very well with the READY SET DANCE level two or The Transition class. Feel free to discuss the best option for your child.

Jazz

Founded by Mary Evers – originally known as the Dupree Syllabus. The Syllabus was launched in New Zealand for Examinations and became a huge success. AJDA offers a strong support network to teachers sharing knowledge and experiences in teaching and choreography.

As Sharon is a previous C0-Director of the syllabus the studio is always up to date with any developments in the dance scenes and our students have access to many workshops and training opportunities.

The syllabus incorporates the styles of Funk, Lyrical and Musical Theatre, focusing strongly on strength, technique, flexibility and performance.

Ballet

The studio offers classical ballet classes for students from 8 years old, as the younger Jazz level classes offer much of the basic ballet work and technique. At 8yrs the knowledge gained from the Jazz class transfers very well into this more formal class work. The Australian Teachers of Dance (ATOD) syllabus work is used in the studio. It has a strong technical base but also allows a dancer to develop artistry and performance.

Hip Hop

Hip hop uses a variety of moves and styles to the latest music and beats. Hip Hop is typically very physical. Our classes blend a jazz based warm up with routines and combinations which include the latest trending moves depending on the choreography and music being used. At the studio we feel 10yrs is an appropriate age to start this style. We are very strict about the content of our music and the styles of moves that are taught at each age appropriate level.

Tap

At JDDC we proudly teach the American Jazz dance affiliation tap syllabus.

The syllabus has three Introductory grades which are included in Introductory jazz level classes 4 & 5 and Elementary level one. These basic levels allow a student to learn the basics and apply them in simple choreography.

After that Tap class becomes a separate grade. The work is very relaxed and demands a strong sense of musicality and rhythm awareness. The grades cover not only the modern styles but introduce all the classic tap moves as well.

Contemporary

These classes are a great way to express and use the body in a semi classical way without the rigours of ballet restrictions. They require strong flexible minds and bodies to embrace the style and expression of movement.

The classes extend the full use of the body in challenging ways and encourage an open mind to choreographic challenges and experiences. They are open to students from 10 years who have completed previous Ballet or Jazz training.

Broadway Jazz/Musical theatre class

These popular classes explore all the musicals and the fun aspects of performance and choreography.

Using numbers from film and stage shows as a vehicle for the term work this class is extremely suitable for not only the technically able but is great fun for those who love to move, dance and perform.

These classes go on to perform a live Musical Production during the year. These are large shows that are very popular within our studio.