Class Descriptions:

Fiddle

Students will learn to read music as they learn fundamental instrument techniques and of course, great fiddle tunes! Canada showcases a wide range of styles and we will explore many of these including Old-Time, Métis, French Canadian, Celtic/East Coast, Bluegrass, and more.

Gotta Dance

Gotta Dance is for all 3 to 5 year olds who want to move with the music. Each week a new imaginative theme is introduced to the young dancers to enhance their concept of rhythms, movement and overall delight. The program is a great introduction to ballet, stepdancing highland and Irish dance.

Ottawa Valley Stepdance

Ottawa Valley Stepdancing is a lively and entertaining regional form of dance which first began in the early 1900's evolving from Irish and Scottish dances. It continues today thanks to schools across Ontario. Stepdance is traditionally danced to fiddle music which is also a very significant part of our rich Canadian heritage. Dancers will learn common traditional dances including clogs, jigs, & reels. Focus will be placed on timing, rhythm, presentation, and endurance.

Dancers may also work toward joining our modern competitive stepdance team (the Chad Wolfe Stepdancers).  This special program offers the opportunity for more advanced dancers to challenge themselves to learn creative contemporary routines that are a little "outside the box".

Irish Dance

Modern Irish solo dance consists of two parts: quick, light and high-leaping movements done in leather slippers (softshoes or ghillies), and pounding rhythmic steps done in tap-like shoes (hardshoes or heavies).  Modern Irish group or social dancing consists of ceili dances, which are simple movements that make patterns as the dancers interact with each other. The steps are danced to lively traditional Irish tunes, as well as more modern versions of reels, hornpipes, slip jigs, and jigs.

All students, at any age, start with basic softshoe movements and technique, and soon learn their first jig or reel.  Hardshoe dances are not attempted until softshoe technique is mastered – usually not for several months, and often not until a year after beginning lessons for very young students. In addition, all classes learn a few traditional group ( ceili ) dances.

Zumba Fitness

The only Latin-inspired dance-fitness program that blends red-hot international music, and contagious steps to form a "fitness-party" that is downright addictive. This class is a DanceFIT high-energy, aerobics dance party incorporating many different forms of dance choreography.  There’s no other fitness class like a Zumba Fitness-Party.  This cardio blast party workout will combine cardio, powerful movements and strength all in one fun class. You will shuffle, shake, heat things up in the hottest music and moves. No dance experience is required. Just move your body and follow the lead. It's easy! Try it, and it is guaranteed that you will have a blast!