Class Descriptions

All TDC classes are appropriate for both boys and girls. Age groups may be structured differently at your learning center depending on enrollment. All material in TDC’s curriculum is age appropriate and modest in nature.

*Mature 2.5 yr. old boys and girls can be admitted into dance and/or tumbling classes with the Director’s permission.

Creative Movement

Creative movement focuses on exploring the elements of time space, and energy (force) and creating shapes through everyday and dance specific loco-motor and non-locomotor movements to gain movement competency. The aim of this dance form is to preserve the child’s spontaneity of movement while enhancing movement vocabulary and repertoire. Activities during the creative movement class are often child-centered. The dance form is age appropriate for preschool through elementary children. Creative movement has gained further support from educational theories such as multiple intelligences, integration, and brain research. TDC offers creative movement to introduce young learners to dance and become a natural conduit to the study of ballet, modern dance, tap, and other dance forms.

Elements You Will Find in TDC’s Creative Movement Classes:

  • Rules and etiquette parameters
  • Circle, personal, and general space
  • Group vs. individual activities
  • Warm-up, identification of body parts
  • Sitting bend and stretch
  • Point and flex feet
  • Standing in demi-plie
  • Battement tendu
  • Move and freeze in personal and general space
  • Levels- high, medium and low
  • Directions: forward, side, backward
  • Runs, gallops, jumps, hops, chasse, leap, skips
  • Creative movement sentence
  • Body shapes
  • Move quickly and slowly
  • Apply energy to movement: push, pull, wiggle, vibrate
  • Non loco-motor bending stretches: curving, rotating
  • Free dance games with different types of movement
  • Run and lead dance games, mirror and partner games
  • Tempo, rhythm
  • Dimension: large and small
  • Body facing: front, side, back
  • Animal walks
  • Various props

1.5 – 2.5 Year Movement/Tot Tumbling

While many parents are quite capable of teaching their little ones a few basic tumbling skills, most also agree that their kids can benefit from participating in organized tumbling classes/movement classes. Instruction for young children typically focuses on fun and socialization, rather than on precise form, but children who are enrolled in the 1.5-2.5 Yr. Movement/Tot Tumbling classes will begin to properly perform a number of very basic gymnastics exercises, release desires to play and tumble, begin gaining flexibility and explore movement move creatively. This class usually has two instructors to help keep the little ones ‘on-task.’ Tumbling mats, suede floor beam, octagon mat, props, creative movement elements/music, and a tunnel are used in this class. This unique class meets for 30 min. each week.* 1.5yr. old students will not participate in the winter recital or the Hawks game; however, they can perform in the spring production and usually open our show! Your little one will need a costume for this event.

Pre-Ballet (Ages 3 & 4)

Pre-Ballet uses some of the same traditional dance elements found in our creative movement classes. However, the focus of pre-ballet class is to introduce the structure of a ballet class, basic ballet etiquette and terminology, basic positions of the feet, posture and basic port de bras (carriage of the arms). Emphasis is placed on providing a proper ballet foundation to prepare the young dancer for a formal class while still having fun. Pre-ballet classes are less formal than a regular ballet class and incorporate props and variation for the young attention span.

Ballet (Ages 5 & Up)

Our ballet classes build upon the foundation of pre-ballet classes and are more formal in structure. Use of the ballet barre is introduced as well as very basic center and across the floor combinations. This class includes brief  ballet history, memorization of combinations, development of body alignment, introduction of turn-out vs. parallel, turns, and increasingly difficult ballet steps. At this age, the State and National Dance Standards for Dance Education are incorporated into each lesson. Click here for a list of these standards.

Jazz dance is often paired as a combo with ballet at this age.

Gymnastics (Ages 2.5 & Up)

Tumbling or gymnastics offers boys and girls a chance to explore moving through the discipline of gymnastics. This class improves children’s flexibility, strength and body awareness. Fitness, rolling skills, bridging skills, and upright balance and locomotion are introduced with safety being the first priority. Small-scale gym equipment is used in each class including mats, a low balance beam, and an octagon-tumbler. Wedges and hula-hoops, and other gym/fitness related props/equipment add to the fun. Gymnastics is a fast paced, athletic class where girls and especially, boys can release energy through fitness-safely!

The curriculum wheel shown below is a model of gymnastics instruction that establishes a general direction for instruction (clockwise around the wheel – starting at Fitness), while allowing some freedom in actual skill selection (within each movement family “pie-slice”).

Jazz Dance (Ages 5 & Up)

Jazz dance is constantly changing and evolving and is influenced by the music popular dances of the times. TD uses classic jazz technique from Matt Mattox to train students in basics and warm-ups as well as contemporary jazz styles from choreographers around Atlanta and pop-culture. Jazz has its roots in African American, Afro-Cuban, Haitian and Hindu (East Indian) cultures of dance as well as ballet and modern dance. TD educates the student in basic jazz history and uses an eclectic approach of incorporating jazz dance elements found in choreographers Bob Fosse, Luigi, and Joe Tremaine. Technique is age appropriate and modest in nature.

Musical Theater (Ages 3-14)

TDC offers a great program for boys and girls who love to act, sing and dance.Our musical theater classes are unique because we include our talent in dance instruction AND live musical accompaniment in class and at your child’s performance. Every child will have a roll, learn songs and dance choreography that is appropriate for their age and ability level.

This class is custom tailored to your learning center to fit the needs and the age of the student body. Each musical theater class concludes with a children’s production for parents and schoolmates. TDC selects productions that convey a positive message or life skill/character building. Tatum Dance has an extensive list of productions available at our learning centers- there’s always something new each semester!