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Most of our Middle School classes are organised to be composite levels (e.g. Jazz Grade 3-4, Jazz Grade 5-6), with the exception of some Ballet levels (more on this in the future) and all Prep classes, who are exclusive to that age group.
For a couple of years now, being guided by the natural fluctuation of students, we've had all High School students (High School Jazz, High School Hip Hop,...) dancing together in the same group (again, except Ballet). This is the result of ongoing observation and revision of students' needs, changes in dynamics, developmental stages and learning processes, with a pinch of trial and error, of course.
We believe in the power of solid foundations and clear understanding of technique and movement that is age appropriate, hence why we feel there is a lot to gain from being in the same class for two consecutive years. Students will learn new steps and, of course, new dances and different performances both years, but with the consistency of working on the same techniques, allowing them to refine and strengthen their foundations, specially in that second year, without the stress of everything being a step up.
The benefits of composite classes:
- Lower composite children within a grade can aspire to emulate upper composite children in their work.
- Upper composite children can enjoy leadership and mentoring opportunities that lift their self-esteem.
- Composites are more flexible; allow children to work at their own pace, offer a wider range of friendship opportunities, and encourage more co-operation and tolerance.
- Composite classes offer opportunities for children to become proficient at problem-solving skills and independent learning.
In the case of High School students, it is a big jump having students in the same room whose ages range from 13 to 17 and, developmentally, these are very different ages. However, they have a strong interest in common, DANCE, which they all want to practice with no pressure and just for fun.
We are humbled to witness the sense of camaraderie that continues to grow in the room, seeing those barriers that exist at school slowly disappear. Students are also able to see and understand that the age factor starts to dissolve and that you get as much as you put in during dance class. Younger high schoolers that have had more years of dance experience see that they are working at the exact same level as older peers and that their progress sometimes is even faster. Older high schoolers enjoy seeing the fruits of years of commitment or, on the opposite end, get inspired when starting something new by seeing multiple levels in the room.
Of course, all of this is possible for us because we are not an outcome-focused dance school and ultimately, we want you to be a happy student with a hobby that brings you joy and connects you to people, while learning quality dance technique.
We understand this is not what everybody wants out of dance education and organising levels like this wouldn't be efficient for other dance studios or schools.
This is just WHAT WE DO.
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