1358 Cape St. Claire Road, Annapolis, MD
240-476-6145
Class Descriptions
We are an award-winning dance studio with a commitment to age-appropriate dance education.
Classes are offered in a wide variety of styles suitable for dancers of all ages and levels of experience. Curious what style of class may be best for your child? Contact us today; we'd love to speak with you.
All dress code descriptions are explained below and purchases can be made on our online dance store website or at the studio.
HAPPY
FAMILIES
"Warm and welcoming environment for children of all ages. The staff is highly professional and extremely passionate about cultivating young minds. We would highly recommend DDA! You won't be sorry"
-SAM M.
Mommy & Me!
Age 18 months - 3
This class requires the participation of a parent, nanny, or or guardian during class. In this class we will explore movement forms, use balance, exploration, rhythm, partner dance, and creative dance. Using props and musical instruments, we will engage budding dancers in movement and music activities. This class will not perform in the June recital.
MOMMY & ME! DRESS CODE
Comfortable clothes that you can move in during class. Many young dancers choose to wear a leotard with a dance tutu, tights and leather Ballet shoes. We recommend purchasing dance attire from our studio dance store.
Twinkle Toes
Age 2.5 - 3
This class introduces children to the preparatory movements for classical ballet. Children will learn beginning ballet technique, spatial awareness, motor skills, dance vocabulary, and creative movement.
TWINKLE TOES DRESS CODE
Girls: Any color leotard, pink tights, and pink leather ballet shoes. Hair in a bun. Dance skirts are optional.
Boys: White t-shirt and black dance pants, black leather shoes.
Pre-Ballet / Tap
Age 3-4
This class introduces children to the preparatory movements for classical ballet and tap. Children will learn beginning ballet & tap technique, spatial awareness, motor skills, dance vocabulary, and creative movement.
PRE-BALLET/TAP DRESS CODE
Girls: Any color leotard, pink tights, pink leather ballet shoes, and black tap shoes. Hair in a bun. Dance skirts are optional.
Boys: White t-shirt and black dance pants, black leather shoes, and black tap shoes.
Pre-Acro Dance
Age 3-5
We offer recreational and accelerated acro classes using the Acrobatic Arts Syllabus. These acrobatics classes range from 45 minutes per week to 1 hour per week. Acro classes include flexibility, strength, cross-training, basic dance technique, tumbling, and contortionist movement training.
PRE-ACRO DANCE DRESS CODE
Girls: DDA biketard, footless tights, no shoes
Boys: White t-shirt, black shorts, no shoes
Ballet / Tap
Age 5-6
This class introduces children to basic classical ballet, tap movement, and vocabulary.
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We recommend Revolution brand shoes that we sell at the studio and in our online dance store.
BALLET/TAP DRESS CODE
Girls: Any color leotard, tan tights, pink leather ballet shoes, and black tap shoes. Hair in a bun. Dance skirts are optional.
Boys: White t-shirt and black dance pants, black leather ballet shoes, and black tap shoes.
Ballet / Tap / Jazz / Acro
Age 6-8
This class introduces children to basic classical ballet, tap, jazz, stretch, creative movement, motor skills, tumbling, and vocabulary.
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We recommend Revolution brand shoes that we sell at the studio and in our online dance store.
BALLET/TAP/JAZZ/ACRO DRESS CODE
Girls: Any color leotard, tan tights, pink leather ballet shoes, black tap shoes, and tan leather jazz shoes. Hair in a bun. Dance skirts are optional.
Boys: White t-shirt and black dance pants, black leather ballet shoes, black tap shoes, and black leather jazz shoes.
Jazz / Tap Beginner
Age 6-10
These classes expand on jazz and tap skills introduced in earlier tap and jazz introductory classes.
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We recommend Revolution brand shoes that we sell at the studio and in our online dance store.
JAZZ/TAP DRESS CODE
Girls: Any color leotard, tan tights, black tap shoes, and tan leather jazz shoes. Hair in a bun. Dance skirts are optional.
Boys: White t-shirt and black dance pants, black tap shoes, and black leather jazz shoes.
Ballet / Jazz
Age 7-10
These classes expand on jazz and ballet skills introduced in earlier ballet and jazz introductory classes.
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We recommend Revolution brand shoes that we sell at the studio and in our online dance store.
BALLET/JAZZ DRESS CODE
Girls: Any color leotard, tan tights, pink leather ballet shoes and tan leather jazz shoes. Hair in a bun. Dance skirts are optional.
Boys: White t-shirt and black dance pants, black leather ballet shoes, and black leather jazz shoes.
Acro Dance Beginner
Age 6-8
We offer recreational and accelerated acro classes using the Acrobatic Arts Syllabus. These acrobatics classes range from 45 minutes per week to 1 hour per week. Students in recreational and accelerated acro classes learn choreography pieces for the year-end recital in their technique class. Students may participate in exams pending recommendation by our certified instructor. Acro classes include flexibility, strength, cross-training, basic dance technique, tumbling, and contortionist movement training.
ACRO DANCE DRESS CODE
Girls: DDA biketard, footless tights, no shoes
Boys: White t-shirt, black shorts, no shoes
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We recommend Revolution brand shoes that we sell at the studio and in our online dance store.
Classical Ballet (Beg Ballet I, Ballet Int I)
60 to 75 minute classical ballet class with an emphasis on beginning ballet terminology, alignment, stretch, proper technique, and development of core muscles.
CLASSICAL BALLET DRESS CODE
Girls: Black tank or spaghetti strap leotard, pink footed rights, pink leather or canvas split sole ballet shoes. Hair in ballet bun. Short dance skirts or black ballet shorts are optional.
Boys: White t-shirt, black dance pants or tights, black leather ballet shoes.
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We recommend Revolution brand shoes that we sell at the studio and in our online dance store.
Classical Ballet (Ballet Int II, Ballet Int III)
75 minute classical ballet class with an emphasis on intermediate ballet terminology, alignment, stretch, ankle/foot strengthening exercises and a development of core muscles.
CLASSICAL BALLET DRESS CODE
Girls: Black spaghetti strap, camisole, or pinch front leotard, pink footed rights, pink leather split sole ballet shoes. Hair in ballet bun. Short dance skirts are optional.
Boys: White t-shirt, black dance pants or tights, black leather or canvas ballet shoes.
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We recommend Revolution brand shoes that we sell at the studio and in our online dance store.
Pre-Pointe
Pre requisite: teacher evaluation & successful completion of Ballet II/III
This class is by teacher evaluation only. Students will utilize previously learned ballet technique beginning in ballet shoes and working towards pointe shoes. Each class includes barre exercises, center floor work, and across the floor combinations. These exercises focus on strengthening the feet and ankles.
POINTE DRESS CODE
Black spaghetti strap, camisole, or pinch front leotard, pink footed rights, pink leather split sole ballet shoes. Hair in ballet bun. Short dance skirts are optional. We will schedule a pointe shoe fitting at Dance Supplies Etc with the ballet teacher, dancer, and parent to assist dancers with selecting their first pair of pointe shoes when it is time to transition.
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We recommend Revolution brand shoes that we sell at the studio and in our online dance store.
Pointe
Pre requisite: teacher evaluation & successful completion of pre-pointe
This class is by teacher evaluation only. Students will utilize previously learned ballet technique while working pointe shoes. Each class includes barre exercises, center floor work, and across the floor combinations. These exercises focus on strengthening the feet and ankles.
POINTE DRESS CODE
Black spaghetti strap, camisole, or pinch front leotard, pink footed rights, pink leather split sole ballet shoes. Hair in ballet bun. Short dance skirts are optional. We will schedule a pointe shoe fitting at Dance Supplies Etc with the ballet teacher, dancer, and parent to assist dancers with selecting their first pair of pointe shoes.
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We recommend Revolution brand shoes that we sell at the studio and in our online dance store.
Tap Int / Tap Youth
Pre-requisite: teacher evaluation & successful completion of jazz/tap beg. or tap int.
45 minute class that will focus on technical development, dance vocabulary, proper alignment, and basic articulation of choreography.
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TAP DRESS CODE
Girls: Any solid-color leotard, tan footed tights, and black tap shoes. Hair in a ponytail or bun.
Boys: White t-shirt and black dance pants, black tap shoes.
Tap Adv
Pre-requisite: teacher evaluation & successful completion of tap youth
60 minute class that will focus on technical development, dance vocabulary, proper alignment, and basic articulation of choreography.
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TAP DRESS CODE
Girls: Any solid-color leotard, tan footed tights, and black tap shoes. Hair in a ponytail or bun.
Boys: White t-shirt and black dance pants, black tap shoes.
Contemporary
Advanced; Pre-requisite: completion of lyrical youth
Contemporary dance is a style of expressive dance that combines elements of several dance genres including modern, jazz, lyrical and classical ballet. Contemporary dancers strive to connect the mind and the body through fluid dance movements.
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We recommend Revolution Contemporary Sock that we sell at the studio and in our online dance store.
CONTEMPORARY DRESS CODE
Girls: Any solid-color leotard, footies or transitional tights, and pirouettes. Hair in a ponytail or bun. Dance skirts optional.
Boys: White t-shirt and black dance pants or tights
Jazz Int / Jazz Youth
Pre-requisite: teacher evaluation and completion of jazz/tap beg or tap int
45-minute class focusing specifically on jazz technique. Class will include level appropriate isolations, floor combinations, stretching, leaps and turns, choreography, and core strengthening.
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JAZZ DRESS CODE
Girls: Any solid-color leotard, tan footed tights, and tan leather jazz shoes. Hair in a ponytail or bun.
Boys: White t-shirt and black dance pants, and black jazz shoes
Jazz Adv
Pre-requisite: teacher evaluation and completion of jazz youth
60-minute class focusing specifically on jazz technique. Class will include level appropriate isolations, floor combinations, stretching, leaps and turns, choreography, and core strengthening.
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We recommend Revolution Canvas Jazz Shoe that we sell at the studio and in our online dance store.
JAZZ DRESS CODE
Girls: Any solid-color leotard, tan footed tights, and tan leather jazz shoes. Hair in a ponytail or bun.
Boys: White t-shirt and black dance pants, and black jazz shoes
Lyrical Beg / Lyrical Int / Lyrical Youth
Based on technique level
45-minute class is a blend of classical ballet technique and jazz dance. It is designed to enhance musicality, strength, control, and interpretive movement abilities.
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LYRICAL DRESS CODE
Girls: Any solid-color leotard, footies or transitional tights, and tan leather jazz shoes. Hair in a ponytail or bun. Dance skirts optional.
Boys: White t-shirt and black dance pants or tights.
Irish Beginner, Irish Youth, Pre-Hard Shoe, Hard Shoe, Irish Intermediate/Advanced
Based on technique level & teacher evaluation
This class offers Irish traditional dancing, music, and culture. Students will gain coordination, rhythm, and strength by learning traditional steps and Irish dance basics. Individual instruction will guide students toward improvisational techniques and help them develop a personal style that is evident of the tradition.
IRISH DRESS CODE
Girls: Comfortable clothes that you can move in during class. Ghillies are the Irish dance shoes.
Boys: White t-shirt and black dance pants, black jazz shoes
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Recommended Shoes: Ghillies and Hard Shoe (Teacher recommendation - after completing Pre-Hard Shoe Class). We have a relationship with a regional vendor, Irish Seams who comes out to our studio in August/September each season to size and sell Irish dance shoes required for all Irish classes at DDA.
Acro I & II
Age 8+, placement based on teacher evaluation
This class teaches flexibility, balance, strength, muscle control, discipline, and concentration. Students will learn movements such as forward and backward rolls, cartwheels, handstands, and back bends. Acrobatic elements from ballet and jazz will be incorporated to help create a well-rounded acro experience.
ACRO DANCE DRESS CODE
Girls: DDA biketard, footless tights, no shoes
Boys: White t-shirt, black shorts, no shoes
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We recommend Revolution brand shoes that we sell at the studio and in our online dance store.
Leaps & Turns
Age 12+, Advanced level
This class is for the more upper-level Jazz student wishing to strengthen the skills needed to perform advanced leaps and turns. Class emphasis includes proper body placement in turning positions and leaps, gaining and controlling flexibility and becoming more proficient in multiple turns.
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We recommend Revolution brand shoes that we sell at the studio and in our online dance store.
LEAPS & TURNS DRESS CODE
Girls: Any solid-color leotard, tan footed tights, and tan leather/canvas jazz shoes. Hair in a ponytail.
Boys: White t-shirt and black dance pants or tights
Musical Theatre Jazz
Age 12+, Advanced level
Dancers will learn theatrical dancing that combines the songs of Broadway Musicals with movements of classical Jazz styles. Dancers will need both tan jazz shoes and tan character shoes for this class.
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We recommend Revolution brand shoes that we sell at the studio and in our online dance store.
MUSICAL THEATER JAZZ DRESS CODE
Girls: Any solid-color leotard, tan footed tights, tan jazz shoes, and tan character shoes.
Boys: White t-shirt, black dance pants, black jazz shoes
Private Lessons
Students are able to work 1:1 with a teacher work on technique and choreography for special performances and the annual recital. Arranged by special appointment with teachers. You may sign up for privates using this link below.