Budding Artist Program

Little Leapers

18 months to 3 years old + Parent/Caregiver

Little Leapers (45 min) at Studio Chassé encourages the development of the budding artist inside every young child. A parents/caregiver must participate with each little leaper. We explore movement using songs, stories, games, and props to activate imagination, increase body and spatial awareness, enhance socialization, and establish sense of joy through movement. This is a great class for siblings or for dancers who feel more comfortable with their parent/caregiver staying.

Dancers do NOT need to be potty trained to participate in this class.
This class does not participate in the showcase.
Children dance barefoot. No socks please!

Dance Discovery

Preschool (Ages 3)

Dance Discovery (45 min) at Studio Chassé encourages the development of the budding artist inside every young child. We explore movement using songs, stories, games, and props to activate imagination, increase body and spatial awareness, enhance socialization, and establish sense of joy through movement.

Dancers DO NOT need to be potty trained to participate in this class.
Children dance barefoot. If wearing tights, they must be footless or convertible. No socks please!

Bounce N Boogie

Preschool (Age 4)

Bounce N Boogie (45 min) at Studio Chassé encourages the development of the budding artist inside every young child. We explore movement using songs, stories, games, and props to activate imagination, increase body and spatial awareness, enhance socialization, and establish sense of joy through movement.

Dancers DO NOT need to be potty trained to participate in this class.
Children dance barefoot. If wearing tights, they must be footless or convertible. No socks please!

Tip-Tap-Toe

Kindergarten

Tip-Tap-Toe (45 min) at Studio Chassé encourages the development of the budding artist inside every young child. We explore movement using songs, stories, games, and props to activate imagination, increase body and spatial awareness, enhance socialization, and establish sense of joy through movement. We introduce the budding artist to beginning ballet and tap terminology. Fundamental skills are taught in a fun way to enhance creativity, development, and the love of movement.

Tap shoes are needed for this class. Here are shoe suggestions.
Children dance barefoot for the ballet portion of class. If wearing tights, they must be footless or convertible. No socks please!

Move N Groove

1st grade

Move and Groove (45 min) at Studio Chassé focuses on increased body and spatial awareness through exploring levels, tempo, shapes, energy, rhythm, and musicality. This class is ballet, tap, & jazz based. We introduce the budding artist to beginning ballet, tap, & jazz terminology. Fundamental skills are taught in a fun way to enhance creativity, development, and the love of movement.

Tap shoes are needed for this class. Here are shoe suggestions.
Children dance barefoot for the ballet portion of class. If wearing tights, they must be footless or convertible. No socks please!

Kids N Motion

2nd grade

Kids N Motion (45 min) at Studio Chassé focuses on increased body and spatial awareness through exploring levels, tempo, shapes, energy, rhythm, and musicality. This class is ballet, tap, & jazz based. We introduce the budding artist to ballet, tap, & jazz terminology. Fundamental skills are taught in a fun way to enhance creativity, development, and the love of movement.

Tap shoes are needed for this class. Here are shoe suggestions.
Children dance barefoot for the ballet portion of class. If wearing tights, they must be footless or convertible. No socks please!

Conceptual Teaching at Studio Chassé

Conceptual teaching is the unique approach to dance education that intertwines the skills of dance with the artistry of movement. In all of our classes at Studio Chassé we use conceptual teaching but the foundation begins in our Budding Artist Program - Little Leapers, Bounce N Boogie, Dance Discovery, Tip-Tap-Toe, Move N Groove, and Kids N Motion.

When it comes to teaching early childhood dance education through the conceptual approach, we like to compare it to learning the alphabet. Many children as young as two (maybe even younger) can recite the ABC song. It’s the cutest thing to hear them babble out the alphabet as their caregivers look upon them with deep pride and excitement. The truth is, if you showed that two-year-old a picture of an “A”, they wouldn’t be able to tell you it was an “A”, the sound an “A” makes, or that it’s even a part of the alphabet. They certainly wouldn’t know that when you put the letters they are singing in the song together, they create words. They are just mimicking the sounds they have heard from everyone encouraging them to sing in their adorable toddler voice. At two, they do not know the concepts that make the alphabet, the alphabet.

This is true for dance as well. We can plié and tendu all day long, but if we do not understand the concepts of what makes a plié, a plié and a tendu, a tendu well, we are just copying a shape (and possibly creating undesired habits that will be harder to break as we grow). We want our dancers to understand that we are not just bending our knees and stretching our legs. There are underlying concepts that apply to every movement in dance. This is where conceptual teaching comes in. We teach dance through the exploration and comprehension of the concepts of dance. It's the difference between copying and comprehending.

When we teach conceptually, we break down codified skills to their core. By exploring the concepts that create a skill, our students begin to comprehend the components that make the skill. It's the accumulation of the understanding of these concepts of dance and how they relate to our movement that helps us discover all the amazing ways our bodies can move. In turn, our students grow to understand the essence of movement and mechanics of dance, and sets a strong foundation ready to thrive in any style of dance

When we understand and incorporate these concepts in our dancing, the connection between our mind and body grows. Our movement develops clear intent and becomes more expressive. Our vocabulary expands, problem solving skills improve and self-confidence soars!

Frequently asked questions about our Budding Artists Program

Does my child need to be potty trained to register for Little Leapers, Dance Discovery, or Bounce N Boogie?

No, they do NOT need to be potty trained in order to register for our youngest three classes. Pull-ups are preferred.

Why do your classes dance with bare feet rather than ballet shoes?

Although those little ballet slippers and tap shoes are quite adorable, they are costly, and children outgrow shoes quickly. But there is much more to it than saving money!

You might be surprised to learn that there's scientific evidence that barefooted is better. Going barefoot strengthens feet and improves body alignment. Young children feel a natural affinity for the ground that can be enhanced by removing all the barriers between it and the feet. It’s important to the development of the nervous system and to optimal brain development as well! Our feet are the most nerve-rich parts of the human body, which means they contribute to the building of neurological pathways in the brain. Covering them in shoes, therefore, means we're eliminating all kinds of opportunities for children's brains to grow new neural connections.

My child is advanced for their age, can they dance with the older children or make up a class with their older sibling?

To create an ideal learning environment for all children, age groups are taught separately to ensure proper instruction at each stage of development, just like academic schools. With less of a range of developmental stages in the classroom, the teacher is able to focus on the needs of each individual student no matter their skill set. This is a system put forth in our strategic classroom management plan that allows our time together to be used more effectively. Please do not put our staff in the position of offering preferential treatment by placing your child in a class no intended for them. We strive to treat all families equally and request respect in our decision making as we have your child’s best interest at the forefront of those decisions. Thank you for helping us create a learning environment where all children have the opportunity to thrive.

Why is my dancer just standing/sitting and watching?

How a child participates in class depends on their unique style of learning. Everyone processes information differently. Every dance class looks different because the dynamics of the children ns learning styles differ. Your child may be a visual learner. A visual learner will watch the teacher and classmates carefully to process the information being taught. Your child may be an auditory learner. An auditory learner listens carefully to process information. Visual and auditory learners may not move as much as kinesthetic learners. These learners process information by moving and doing. To avoid distraction in class and for the safety of those that are attentive with their listening and watching skills, we may ask the dancer to stand or sit to the side. Rest assured they will be invited to move with the class often and they are still learning. In fact, the visual and auditory learners often take what they see and hear and reenact the entire dance class at home with their families. All learning styles are celebrated and accepted at Studio Chassé.

What should we do if we are late to class?

No worries! Oftentimes rushing to get to class on time can cause a child to become anxious or upset. Please reassure your child that they will not be in trouble and it's ok to sometimes be late. Just have your child place their shoes in the hallway cubbies, wash their hands/use the restroom, then enter the studio quietly.

Why do I need to participate in Little Leapers class with my little one?

We are thrilled that you are introducing your child to the wonderful art of dance! This class experience is carefully created for your developing child. Our goal is to instill a love of music and movement together with the person they love and trust the most, YOU! By experiencing dance class together your child will grow in confidence and independence with you and your support guiding their way. You, as your child’s biggest fan, will learn the importance of movement in their development, share in their successes and cherish these moments for a lifetime. We want dance to become part of your everyday life, not just a weekly activity. This is a team effort, and we applaud you for joining your budding artist on this magical journey. Thank you for helping us create an unforgettable learning experience for your child! Let’s boogie!

Why does it look like we are playing rather than dancing?

According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children, children learn through play. “Play” in dance class is exploring all the amazing ways our bodies can move, developing movement skills, and expressing our individual creativity. Incorporating props, stories, and student-centered explorations is essential for the developing child. These experiences create a strong foundation based on a clear understanding of the essence of movement and the basics of dance. This foundation will not only prepare dancers for their future technical training in any dance genre but will also set them up for academic success.

When will my child learn "real" dance?

A dance education offers a unique experience that you won’t find in any other early childhood activity. As an artist, we must develop our creativity and ability to story tell and express emotion. As an athlete, we must develop the stamina, coordination, and strength to perform dance skills. In addition, dance educators have a responsibility to honor the young child by offering a developmentally appropriate curriculum.

In our Little Leapers, Dance Discovery, Bounce N Boogie, Tip-Tap-Toe, Move N Groove, and Kids N Motion, we are growing our foundational skills that support the development of your child. We are exploring our conceptual skills that support the artist within your child while developing our codified dance skills that support the athlete within your child. Only when these three skills are developed together, can one truly learn dance. It’s a beautiful interwoven process that is 100% “real” dance and we look forward to celebrating your child’s progress with you each and every week.