CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
SPECIAL TOPICS
STRETCH & STRENGTH | ages 12-18: SS1
This is a great class for dancers of all styles and levels.
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BEGINNING MAJORETTES | ages 12-18: J7
Please note this class takes place at Bandaloop Oakland - 1601 18th Street, Oakland, CA 94607.
Majorette dancing in the United States takes on two forms that are related, but vary based on region. In some places, namely the Midwest and the South, traditional majorette dancing takes place in front of or alongside a marching band, and involves mainly baton twirling and clean, crisp jazz technique. You often see majorettes alongside cheerleaders at high school and college sporting events.
In areas with a high concentration of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), majorettes take on a whole different form. HBCU majorettes sometimes include baton twirling, but also incorporate a wider variety of dance styles, from West African, hip hop, step, bucking, and jazz.
HBCU majorette dancing includes choreography that is done in the stands of sporting events, called “stand counts”, as well as “struts”, which are choreographed entrances. Styles of HBCU majorette dancing include J-setting, made popular by the Jackson State University Prancing J-Settes, which is a high-stepping, high energy style which utilizes call and response between dancers; and more lyrical styles as seen from Southern University’s Dancing Dolls, who are known for their fluidity and port de bras.
Both types of majorette dancing is taught in studios, with baton twirling being the main component for the more traditional majorette style, and j-setting, bucking, and West African jazz being the focus for HBCU style majorette dance.
MODERN
Modern dance explores the concepts of space, time, and energy. Incorporating classical technique, modern dance requires strength paired with freedom of movement and creativity. Modern Dance is where the Shawl-Anderson story began as the primary form practiced, performed and taught by Frank Shawl & Victor Anderson.
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Dresscode:
Students can wear dedicated indoor-only ballet shoes, socks, or be barefoot for this class (varies by teacher). Leotards, tank tops, tights, and exercise pants or leggings are all options. Hair should be pulled away from face and all jewelry should be removed. Students can wear dedicated indoor-only Jazz shoes, socks, or be barefoot for these classes (dependent upon class/teacher preferences).
CREATIVE MOVEMENT MODERN | ages 3-5:
Designed for children ages 3 to 5 as their first introduction to dance. Students work on locomotor steps, starting and stopping safely, and getting used to being in a class environment. Students will be introduced to the language, etiquette, music, and stories of both modern dance and ballet.
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CREATIVE MOVEMENT MODERN | ages 5-7:
These age-appropriate creative dance classes involve stories and imagery to inspire and facilitate movement. Students participate in improvisation as well as structured exercises that build basic modern dance vocabulary through warm-ups, traveling patterns, and short dances. Students engage in creative problem-solving as a group, individually, and with partners.
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MODERN FOR BOYS | ages 5-7 & 7-11:
While this class focuses on male identified students, all gender identities are welcome in this class.These age-appropriate creative dance classes involve stories and imagery to inspire and facilitate movement. Students participate in improvisation as well as structured exercises that build basic modern dance vocabulary through warm-ups, traveling patterns, and short dances. Students engage in creative problem-solving as a group, individually, and with partners.
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BEGINNING MODERN DANCE | ages 8-11 & 12-14:
Students learn and engage with modern technique through warm-ups, traveling patterns, and short dances. Building on foundations from earlier classes, students engage in improvisation and creative problem-solving as a group, individually, and with partners. This class is for 8-11 year olds and will use themes and music specific to this age group and the interests of the students in the class. Open level classes welcome students with any level of dance training. Teachers assess each group of students and teach a differentiated curriculum each class, offering numerous options for exercises and combinations based on students' experience levels.
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BEGINNING TEEN MODERN | ages 12-18:
Beginning Teen Modern is a class for both middle school and high school age students who want to explore modern dance for the first time. With humor and fun music playlists, students learn basic warm ups in the center, traveling work, and short dances. The class focuses on vocabulary, learning how to see and pick up movement phrases, safe alignment, and more.
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BEGINNING/INTERMEDIATE TEEN MODERN | ages 12-18:
Please note: this class takes place at Shotgun Studios off University (Monday), and Shawl Anderson Dance Center (Wednesday).
This bridging class offers a space for students with one year or more of modern dance experience who are ready to dive into more vocabulary, skill building, and longer combinations. (This is not an absolute beginner class.) Class will include both set warm ups and phrases as well as improvisation, skill work, technique, and short combinations. This is a gentle immersion into Intermediate modern dance and will challenge the students to think beyond what they know about modern dance.
INTERMEDIATE TEEN MODERN | ages 12-18:
Intermediate Teen Modern is for students in approximately 7th-12th grades who have taken at least one year of Beginning Teen Modern. Students learn warm ups, traveling work, and short combinations. Intermediate Teen Modern students explore level changes, floorwork, and inversions. Students at this level can learn and apply corrections, reverse combinations, manage direction changes and quick shifts of weight, and can speak up in class with clarifying questions to support their continued learning. Classwork includes both set material + exercises as well as improvisational explorations related to class themes and vocabulary.
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ADVANCED TEEN MODERN | ages 12-18:
Advanced Teen Modern is for students in approximately 10th-12th grades who have taken one-two years of Intermediate Teen Modern. Students learn warm ups, traveling work, and longer combinations which build over several classes. Advanced Teen Modern students explore dynamic changes, turns, jumps, balances, and fluidly moving in and out of the floor. Students at this level can learn and apply corrections, reverse combinations, manage direction changes and quick shifts of weight, and can speak up in class with clarifying questions to support their continued learning. Students actively lead their learning in class and have solid attendance to build material from class to class and focus on strong memorization and embodiment of material so they can then further work on focus, moving as an ensemble, and performance qualities. Classwork includes both set material + exercises as well as improvisational explorations related to class themes and vocabulary. Advanced Teen Modern classes typically have one guest teacher/master class a semester as well.
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YOUTHCO ALL LEVELS | ages 12-14:
YouthCo is the modern/contemporary performing group for middle school students (7th and 8th grade, approximately 12-14 years old). Students will meet once a week to work with local artists on choreography, improvisation, and performance. Students will perform approximately two times a semester as well as see a performance together (field trip) once a semester. YouthCo students should be participating in one technique class a week in addition to the rehearsals. No audition is required to sign up. This group is open to middle school age students of all levels. Learn more here.
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SHAWL-ANDERSON YOUTH ENSEMBLE | ages 14-18:
The Shawl-Anderson Youth Ensemble (SAYE) is a pre-professional modern dance program for ages 14-18. This program is for the dedicated modern dance student who has completed the intermediate or advanced level at SADC or a comparable program, and is interested in learning and performing new choreography. As a participant in SAYE, students have the opportunity to train intensively and participate in creative processes with several professional artists from the Bay Area and beyond throughout the year, learning 3-6 dances during the course of the year. Students are selected based on level and age, via auditions, and the group is limited to 10 to 12 students each year. The SAYE will perform 4-6 times throughout the school year. Past engagements included SADC-produced events in the building, at Longfellow Middle School, at Mills College, and at Laney College; in addition, community events have included the Bay Area High School Dance Festival, CDEA Festival, and Motion Pacific in Santa Cruz.
BALLET
Ballet at Shawl-Anderson emphasizes proper technique, strength, musicality and expression through movement. Our program is designed to support the beginning dancer at any age to the advanced teen; if a child or teen is excited about ballet, we are excited to teach them. Shawl-Anderson Dance Center and its teaching staff aim to move beyond any stereotypes related to ballet and to teach children in a manner that is engaging, challenging and age-appropriate. Our staff attends to the physical, intellectual and emotional development of each young dancer based on current wisdom around care for the body and the mind through dance practice.
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Students can wear dedicated indoor-only ballet shoes, or socks for this class. Please read the full dress code requirements here.
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CREATIVE MOVEMENT BALLET | ages 3-5:
Designed for children ages 3 to 5 as their first introduction to dance, this class serves the pre-ballet and creative movement students. Students work on locomotor steps, starting and stopping safely, and getting used to being in a class environment. Students will be introduced to the language, etiquette, music, and stories of ballet.
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CREATIVE MOVEMENT BALLET | ages 5-7:
A first introduction to ballet for students ages 5 to 7. Our pre-ballet classes incorporate creative dance elements where students work on locomotor steps, starting and stopping safely, and getting used to being in a class environment. Pre-ballet classes introduce students to the language, etiquette, music, and stories of classical ballet in a developmentally appropriate way. Students will not focus on the rigors of ballet technique until after the age of 7 when their body is safely ready for more formal training.
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BALLET LEVEL I | ages 8-12:
For students who have completed pre-ballet ages 5-8, or are ages 8-11 and new to ballet. Students learn the foundations of classical ballet technique and vocabulary using both the barre and center. This class emphasizes the value of proper alignment, strength, grace and musicality in dancing.
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TEEN LEVEL I | AGES 12-18:
This class is for the teen student who is interested in learning ballet among peers who are new to the form. Students will learn the foundations of classical technique, incorporate deeper thinking about the fundamentals, and move at an engaging pace.
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BALLET LEVEL II | ages 10-18:
Students will build on previously learned technique in Ballet I, continuing to build on their strength, skills, and vocabulary while developing personal expression through movement. Students in Level II should take twice a week, which helps the dancer maintain and progress at a more rigorous pace.
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BALLET LEVEL III | ages 12-18:
Level III Ballet is a transitional class, heading into the more common ballet class format which is 90 minutes in length. Students spend approximately 45 minutes working at the barre, and then progress to center work, traveling across the space, and refining jumping skills (petit allegro). Students take 2 times a week and work on retaining movement from class to class, applying corrections, transitioning smoothly from movement to movement, and endurance to dance 90 minutes per class.
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BALLET LEVEL IV | ages 12-18:
This Ballet Level IV is a 90-minute class for students with intermediate or higher level skills in ballet and several years of training. Class will include a robust ballet barre 45-60 minutes in length and then center work to practice dancing and increasing our ballet vocabulary with more challenging steps and sequences. Marcia's style is founded in traditional ballet practice, but informed by contemporary technique and expression.
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BALLET LEVEL V | ages 12-18:
Ballet V students are intermediate/advanced dancers with several years of training experience and have completed Level IV at SADC or another school. Students have a strong base of vocabulary, know the ballet class format and progression of exercises, and are committed to regularly training 2 or more times a week. Students in Ballet V expand their vocabulary with new steps at the barre as well as turns and jumps. Students are focused, mature and take in corrections/suggestions to strengthen and expand their knowledge. Students speak up with clarifying questions to guide their own learning. Ballet V also includes strength work coming from Pilates and Yoga. Ballet V classes include classical ballet work as well as contemporary combinations and music selections.
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BALLET LEVEL V/VI | ages 12-18:
This once-a-week Ballet V/VI class offering is for students in level V+ seeking one more class a week, or for students from other programs wanting an additional class per week. Due to meeting once a week, the focus of the class is on engagement, training, and quickly seeing and embodying class material. It is a process-oriented class for mature and motivated advanced teens.
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BALLET PERFORMANCE GROUP | ages 12-18:
The Ballet Performance Group (BPG) is for intermediate to advanced teen ballet dancers, levels IV-VI. Students must be enrolled in 2+ ballet classes a week in order to participate in BPG. The group meets once a week on Mondays from 6-7:30pm to learn and collaborate on projects. The focus is on contemporary ballet and performance. Students will perform locally in approximately two performances a semester. The group will also go together to see a live ballet performance once a semester at Cal Performances, ODC Theater, or Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Crystaldawn Bell leads the Ballet Performance Group. No audition is required to join BPG. BPG students will dance in soft shoes, not pointe shoes.​
JAZZ
Jazz dance is a form that is known for its strong dynamic dancing, distinct vocabulary, and stylized movement. Jazz at Shawl-Anderson is based on contemporary movement with classical jazz foundations. Students build a strong technical foundation due to the form’s roots in ballet while cultivating the expressive emotional style. Jazz provides excellent training for aspiring musical theater performers due to its performative and dynamic focus.
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Dresscode:
Students can wear dedicated indoor-only Jazz shoes, socks, or be barefoot for this class (varies by teacher). Leotards, tank tops, tights, and exercise pants or leggings are all options. Hair should be pulled away from face and all jewelry should be removed. Students can wear dedicated indoor-only Jazz shoes, socks, or be barefoot for these classes (dependent upon class/teacher preferences).
"LITTLE STEPPERS" BEGINNING JAZZ | ages 5-7:
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! Come show us your stuff in “Little Steppers” Beginning Jazz class! In beginning jazz your kiddos will learn locomotor movement, that will help them later on in their adolescent & young adult dance careers. Children will engage in activities in class that help them understand how to properly use their hips, arms, legs, and torso as one, learning dance movements such as the grapevine, step-ball changes, and jazz walks. Most importantly children in this class will learn confidence in themselves & how to bring their true selves to the stage!
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BEGINNING JAZZ | ages 8-11:
Beginning Jazz gives the little ones an introduction to jazz in a simplified way that is fun and informative. Kids in this class can expect to learn how to move in the beautiful bodies they are in while also learning some core basics of jazz.! Students will learn their foundations in Jazz dance such as jazz walks and jazz hands as well as other important movements that will be necessary for higher level jazz classes.
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BEGINNING TEEN JAZZ | ages 12-18:
Beginning Teen Jazz is a class for both middle school and high school age students who want to explore jazz dance for the first time. With humor and fun music playlists, students learn basic warm ups in the center, traveling work, and short dances. The class focuses on vocabulary, learning how to see and pick up movement phrases, safe alignment, and more. The jazz dance form covers a wide range of styles and flavors - from movement seen in musical theater productions to music videos to concert jazz dance.
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INTERMEDIATE TEEN JAZZ | ages 12-18:
Please note: this class takes place at Shawl Anderson Dance Center (Mondays), and Shotgun Studios off University (Wednesday).
Intermediate Teen Jazz is for students in approximately 7th-12th grades who have taken at least one year of Beginning Teen Jazz (or for students who come in with several years of training in Jazz dance). Students learn warm ups, traveling work, and short combinations. Intermediate Teen Jazz students will explore the complex history of jazz with regards to its roots in African-American culture as well as new vocabulary, level changes, floorwork, leaps, and turns. Students at this level can learn and apply corrections, reverse combinations, manage direction changes and quick shifts of weight, and can speak up in class with clarifying questions to support their continued learning.
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ADVANCED TEEN JAZZ | ages 12-18:
Advanced Teen Jazz is for students in approximately 10th-12th grades who have taken one-two years of Intermediate Teen Jazz. Students learn warm ups, traveling work, and longer combinations which build over several classes. Advanced Teen Jazz students explore dynamic changes, turns, jumps, balances, and fluidly moving in and out of the floor. Students at this level can learn and apply corrections, reverse combinations, manage direction changes and quick shifts of weight, and can speak up in class with clarifying questions to support their continued learning. Students actively lead their learning in class and have solid attendance to build material from class to class and focus on strong memorization and embodiment of material so they can then further work on focus, moving as an ensemble, and performance qualities. Advanced Teen Jazz classes typically have one guest teacher/master class a semester as well.
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JAZZ PERFORMANCE GROUP | ages 14-18:
Jazz Performance Group (JPG) is for the advanced teen jazz dancer. Students must be enrolled in advanced jazz technique classes as well through SADC (or receive approval based on their jazz classes at their high school). Students will learn 1-3 dances each semester and perform locally two times a semester. Elena Martins directs the Jazz Performance Group. No audition is required to join JPG. JPG meets one evening a week. Learn more here. ​
HIP-HOP
Hip Hop classes at Shawl-Anderson build on the foundations of understanding Hip Hop culture, history and the various forms and styles of Hip Hop dance. Dancers learn to create and collaborate with classmates while exploring their own expressive voice through Hip Hop movement.​
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Dresscode:
Students must wear dedicated indoor-only, closed-toed shoes for this class.A diverse array of clothing is allowed in Hip-Hop in keeping with this dance form and its, “Come as you are,” mentality. Sweat pants, yoga pants, jeans, shorts, and other various clothing options are allowed in class but if you cannot squat or bend forward at the hip in your clothing bottoms, they are not appropriate for class. T-shirts or tank tops that cover the navel and do not fall off the shoulders. Students must wear dedicated indoor-only, closed-toed shoes for this class. Knee pads without plastic are strongly recommended.
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"FRESH FEET" BEGINNING HIP-HOP | ages 5-7:
Bring your fresh kicks and get ready to groove! “Fresh Feet” is a beginning hip-hop course that allows students to experiment with movement while learning their foundations in hip-hop from warm-up, to choreography to cypher circles. Your little ones get to experience intuitive movement through freestyling and sharing each other's unique movements with one another. Our hip-hop teachers also bring their own individual style of teaching with them which makes class even more of a party! We look forward to seeing your fresh grooves and your fresh feet!
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BEGINNING HIP-HOP | ages 8-11:
Bring your fresh kicks and get ready to groove! “Fresh Feet” is a beginning hip-hop course that allows students to experiment with movement while learning their foundations in hip-hop from warm-up, to choreography to cypher circles. Your little ones get to experience intuitive movement through freestyling and sharing each other's unique movements with one another. Our hip-hop teachers also bring their own individual style of teaching with them which makes class even more of a party! We look forward to seeing your fresh grooves and your fresh feet!
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BEGINNING TEEN HIP-HOP | ages 12-18:
Teens in this beginning hip-hop class will develop a clear historic knowledge of the 5 fundamentals of Hip-Hop culture, the main players in Hip-Hop along with foundational locomotor movements that build up to full combination work focusing on Choreography/Industry based Hip-Hop. Each day students will be guided through a warm-up, Movement drills, & combinations as well as there being elements of improv and freestyle used throughout the class.
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INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED TEEN HIP-HOP | ages 12-18:
Teens in this intermediate/advanced hip-hop class will develop a clear historic knowledge of the 5 fundamentals of Hip-Hop culture, the main players in Hip-Hop along with more challenging forms of locomotor movements and isolations that build up to full combination work focusing on Choreography/Industry based Hip-Hop as well as Foundational Hip-Hop forms like Popping, Locking & Breaking. Students will also learn about movement energy and qualities each day while being guided through a warm-up, movement drills, & combinations as well as there being elements of improv and freestyle used throughout the class.