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This business was

. . . established in 1966

. . . is female owned

. . . accepts cash and checks

 

 

 

 

A Welcome Letter from Miss Lynda

This is an introduction to the expectations and the concepts of dance instruction at the RimView Dance Studio. The principles that are presented are meant to develop oustanding dancers who understand the concepts that are taught.

Dance Philosophy . . .

The art of dance requires talent, knowledge, skill, and dedication. Success in my humble opinion, depends on demonstrated knowledge of dancing skills. My experience tells me that dance, though dependent on talent, inspiration, and creativity, requires discipline as well as talent to work as a significant spiritual force. The primary purpose of the RimView Dance Studio is to help my students turn talent, inspiration, creativity, and dedication into significant potential for service to the development of dance culture.

Basic Concepts . . .

Dance is the communication and the expression of information, ideas, feelings and values through smooth gesture and movement. It is the realization of the body's potential as an instrument of expression. Dance is a tradition passed down from one generation to the next through teaching. The study of dance provides students with an introduction to this tradition and an opportunity to explore the potential of bodily movement as a medium of creative expression.

Successful practice and then performance of the dance requires specific skills. In performance, unique technical and expressive demands of the dance are developed. Students are expected to learn and then to convey ideas or a narrative to an audience. They develop their personal expressive power to convey meaning through their dancing. On the whole, dance instruction involves enjoyable and fun activities to motivate dancing students to shape their body and their spirit.

Preparing students in this visual art form requires teachers to instill an appreciation to include a basis for further training and possible employment in the dance profession. The goal of teachers is to help students develop self esteem, fitness, presentation skills, self-confidence, problem solving abilities, team working skills, belief in independent ideas and most of all, discipline. These abilities lead to successful performance of the dance.

My Expectations . . .

RimView Dance Studio focuses on the idioms of jazz, tap and Celtic dance. Although only a small percentage of students will choose dance as a career, all students are taught with the highest expectations.

Beginning Students . . .

Children are encouraged to begin their studies at the age of 3-1/2 if they have a strong interest in dance and are capable of functioning in a group setting away from parents. However, studies in dance may start at any age. The following are general guidelines for the division of classes:

The Pre-School Program is an introduction to all forms of dance. The emphasis is on exploration and creativity while at the same time building the foundation for further study. Students explore locomotor movement, expressive body action, space, time/rhythm and energy through movement games and short dances.

The Junior Program students commence study of the technical aspects of the art of dance while maintaining the freedom and the exploration of movement that is explored in the pre-school years. This program focuses on the study of classical technique through barre and centre exercises as well as free movement style and character dance. It is highly recommended that a student in this program register for two hours a week.

The Jazz Program focuses on strong rhythm, improvisation and technical skill. The more up-to-date elements of jazz dance involve hip hop, funk, and lyrical styles of movement to name just a few. These styles of dance will be incorporated into class time following a strong technical warm-up and movements across the floor.

The Hip Hop Program is an upbeat, athletic style of dance that is popular with boys and girls. It's a fun way for dancers to exercise or a place to meet new friends and build confidence. Dancers will learn stylized movements, popping and locking and other basic skills. As in all classes, the RimView Dance Studio only uses current and clean music.

The Tap Program can be summed up in three words: Kids Love Tap! Tap dancers wear specialized shoes to create rhythms with their feet. The most mathematical of all dance forms, tap teaches students to use not only the organized left side of their brains but also their creative right. Tap dancers make frequent use of syncopation. Choreography typically starts on the eighth or first beatcount. Another aspect of tap dancing is improvision. This can either be done with music and follow the beats provided or without musical accompaniment, otherwise known as acapella dancing. By definition, "Hoofers" are tap dancers who dance primarily with their legs, making a louder, more grounded sound. This kind of tap dancing, also called "rhythm tap", is also a great way to improve coordination. All else aside, creating sounds with the feet is simply fun!

The Celtic or high step Irish Dance Program is a distinctive style of dancing that originated in Ireland over many centuries. Dance Masters are credited for starting the most modern form of Irish Dance back in 1750. A student will first learn the basic dance steps in a ghillie or soft-soled shoe and then progress to hard hitting, fast paced steps in a hard-soled shoe that does not incorporate a metal tap on the shoe.

The Creative Dance Program focuses on communication through movement. Dancers may learn technique and become proficient at executing patterns and steps; but unless they can express themselves through movement, their art is incomplete. In creative dance there is no right or wrong; there are no routines to learn. The goal is to reach an inner part of the student who is a composer rather than a player; an originator rather than an interpreter; a creator rather than a performer. The process begins with exploring elements that comprise the world of dance:  body, space, force and time.  Younger, pre-schooled aged children adore this part of the dance program.

An annual dance recital will be held for all students on Saturday, June 13, 2009 at the Alberta Bair Theater. Prior to the end-of-the-year performance, dancers are expected to participate in several on-stage rehearsals.

I’ll close my introduction here but students and parents students should read the attachments closely for further guidance on some of the dance and of the performance concepts that will be learned. Further details are contained in this webpage and on http://rimviewdancestudio.blogspot.com.

Dancingly Yours,

 

Miss Lynda Kaye McCleary, BFA