Gone are the days of just
Ballet... Catrobatkidz Dance offers a wide variety of modern dance styles to
boys and girls from 2 to 9 years old. The Catrobatkidz Dance Programme is
researched by Natalie Toner who has many years experience in coaching both
children and adults, and is highly qualified in dance. The Programme includes
dance styles such as Hip Hop, Rock 'n Roll, Funk, Latin, Slow dance, and yes,
some Ballet!
Almost as soon as children can walk, they love to dance.
Dance is a great way to express feelings, strengthen the body, and improve the
sense of grace and posture. And it is also a lot of fun. Dancers have to be able
to act as well as dance. Instead of words, they use body language, facial
expression and mime to tell a story or express their feelings. All these things
help to create a magical, exciting performance.
Lesson plans begin with a warm-up of gentle stretching and
strengthening exercises that prepare the body for dancing. Stretches help loosen
and lengthen the muscles so that the child can move with ease and flexibility,
while exercises like sit-ups and push-ups strengthen the muscles.
Children learn the basic steps and positions, and how to move
to music. The exercises are simple versions of those professional dancers do
every day.
If you are qualified in
dance and would like to join the Catrobatkidz team, we would like to hear from
you.
Awards Concept
At the end of each lesson your child is rewarded for their efforts
with a Catrobatkidz stamp, or sticker. At the end of the year he/she will
receive their certificate of achievement awarded at
the End of Year Awards Ceremony presentation.
Life Skills
Each week a motivational sentence is spoken to your child. These
words are designed to create awareness of various important social issues such
as: self-respect, manners, health, environment, safety etc.
Assessment
We are currently working on our assessments for Dance. Ideally we would like
to give parents feedback on how their children are progressing once a term.
Props
A variety of props are used as well as sticker boards to create physical
theatre. Stimulating theme music is used to learn routines and add excitement.
What to Wear
It is important to wear stretchy, comfortable clothes that are easy to move
in. They must also fit closely so that the teacher can see all the movements
clearly and can see if the muscles are being used properly. Hair should be
pinned neatly or tied back.
From Hip Hop to Rock 'n
Roll, Funk, Latin, Slow dance, and... Ballet... children
become addicted to exercise with Catrobatkidz while developing to their full
potential both physically and mentally.
Skill Areas
Body Awareness
Dancers must tell their story without using words. Instead they use
their bodies and movement to express themselves. Children are taught body awareness throughout the programme, with
constant reference to the various part's of one's body, their purpose and
position.
Balance
We use our balance all the time in everyday life when we walk, or run or perform
any movement, and to sit and stand correctly. But dancers need to learn how to
balance their bodies perfectly so that they can perform more difficult steps.
Locomotion
Children do lots of running, skipping and marching in the playground, but in
dance you learn to do these movements in special ways. How to run softly, find
positions in the air, and move with expression and grace. There are many kinds
of jumps children learn: fast jumps or leaps, and jumps of different heights and
shapes.
Co-ordination
Without co-ordination one cannot dance properly, so co-ordination is a skill
that is developed during every class. Added benefit is gained by using props
such as streamers and pom poms requiring further aspects of co-ordination.
Spatial Relationships
The children learn to give each other space. Sometimes dancing with other
children when movements must be small and controlled, and other times when
movements are big and exaggerated.
Rhythm & Timing
Marching and clapping in time to the rhythm of music, and learning theme dances
to specific music develops rhythm and timing.
Strength
Dancing exercises strengthen the leg and feet muscles, and the body develops
strength in order to hold positions.
Flexibility
Dancers need to be able to move their bodies in lots of different ways and these
bending and stretching exercises help the child's body become supple and
flexible.
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