Dance Exploration’s PreBallet classes at the Castle Rock Rec Center, are a preschooler’s introduction to the art of ballet. Preschoolers are invited to dance, learn and grow in a positive, nurturing environment lead by a friendly and knowledgeable instructor. Dance Exploration uses the Dance to Learn® Curriculum, a whole child, conceptual approach to dance education. 

​

The Dance to Learn® Curriculum is a conceptual approach to dance education using a multi-sensory teaching technique designed to captivate the whole child. We begin each class introducing a new Dance Concept each week. We use a fun visual aid with bright colors that the dancers can recognize to captivate our Visual Learners. Next we practice saying the concept and interacting with the concept using auditory cues such as music or instruments for our Auditory Learners. Next we get hands on with the visual by either moving it or tracing it. We may even use a prop for our hands on, tactile learners. Next we explore the concept through movement by performing a short movement activity for our Kinesthetic Learners. 

​

After we introduce our Concept, classes begin with an imaginative, multi-sensory warm up called Dance Me a Story™. Each Warm Up includes breath and meditation, brain and body stretches, an audio recording with relaxing music, a story book and a fun prop to interact with. The warm ups are designed to allow the child to interact, imagine and play with their instructor and peers while getting focused and calm for optimal learning.

​

Next dancers explore the daily theme or concept with a standing ballet warm up that stimulates and strengthens their ballet technique and vocabulary. This play based exploration also stimulates their brain pathways as they continue the discovery of new concepts and principles through ballet movements such as pliés, tendus, piqués,bourrées,turns, balances, and more! 

​

Next the class transitions to dancing across or around the room. Students get to practice and perfect individual ballet skills during the Developing Skills part of class. Perfecting developmentally appropriate ballet technique is important before skills can be linked together. Once perfected, the dancers get to link all the movements together to tell a story! We call this the Story Dance Pathway™. This an interactive, play based obstacle course that challenges the dancers to remember each ballet movement in the sequence with the help of props and visual and auditory cues. This important skill teaches the basis of choreography as dancers are challenged to link multiple movements together.

​

Dancers in the Dance Exploration PreBallet classes grow emotionally and socially as they interact, entertain and enjoy dancing and playing with their peers each week. We can’t wait to welcome your child into the Dance Exploration Family!