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Save the date!

Interested in joining Menlo Dance Enrichment? Auditions for the 23/24 season are Saturday, August 19, 2023, from 11:00-4:00 pm in the Upper School CADC, room CA106.

Audition Schedule:

  • 11:00 Check In
  • 11:15 Welcome + Warmups
  • 11:30 Class 1
  • 12:15 Class 2
  • 1:00 LUNCH BREAK
  • 2:00 Auditions Begin
  • 4:00 Auditions End

What to Expect:

  • Be prepared to learn multiple styles of dance.
  • No cuts for Dance Enrichment Program; however, dancers must audition to be a part of Knight Life, Knight Dancers, or Midknights.
  • Come with an open mind and a positive attitude!

All dancers participating in the audition must complete this form by August 18. Please come prepared to dance in proper attire and footwear for the full day. For more information on our after-school program, please refer to this FAQs sheet. We look forward to moving with you! Check us out on Instagram @menlodance.

Dance Concert Video Highlights

Highlights from our 2023 Dance Concert A Knight at the Movies featuring choreography and music inspired by the movies we love!

Here’s a look at highlights from A Blast From the Past—Menlo’s beloved all-school Dance Concert in 2022.  The first dance concert to be performed in the Spieker Center for the Arts.

About Our Dance Program

Express yourself more freely, build confidence, and stimulate your mind while strengthening your body and exploring a mix of movement styles and choreography.

Courses

  • Dance 1: Just Dance

    This course can be taken as a year-long course or as a semester-long course in FALL or SPRING. 

    Designed for any level dancer, students will gain a solid foundation and appreciation for the love of dance! Throughout the year we will study multiple styles including jazz, contemporary, musical theatre, hip hop, and even TikTok dances. The focus of the course will be on the development of a technical foundation, understanding rhythm and musicality, strength and flexibility, choreography retention, and most importantly how to have FUN while moving your body! Class structure will include a warm-up designed around proper body alignment, across the floor movement, and choreography sequences focusing on applying proper technique and artistry. Students will collaborate with others and create their own choreography. Enrolled students will be expected to perform and participate in the Dance Concert. Watch a video overview of this course here.

  • Freshman Dance (FAX)

    FRESHMEN ONLY - A BLOCK FRESHMAN ARTS EXPERIENCE (FAX) - FALL OR SPRING

    Designed for any level dancer, students will gain a solid foundation and appreciation for the love of dance! Throughout the year we will study multiple styles including jazz, contemporary, musical theatre, hip hop, and even TikTok dances. The focus of the course will be on the development of a technical foundation, understanding rhythm and musicality, strength and flexibility, choreography retention, and most importantly how to have FUN while moving your body! Class structure will include a warm-up designed around proper body alignment, across-the-floor movement, and choreography sequences focusing on applying proper technique and artistry. Students will collaborate with others and create their own choreography. Enrolled students will be expected to perform and participate in the Dance Concert. 

  • Dance 2: Technique and Performance

    This course can be taken as a year-long course or a semester-long course in FALL ONLY.

    Building upon the foundations of Dance I, students will further develop their technique and dive deeper into dance as an art form. Styles of dance that will be studied include jazz, contemporary, world styles, musical theatre, ballet, and hip hop. Classes will include warming up, stretching, movement sequences across the floor, and learning choreography. Students will build skills to develop their artistic expression through improvisation and creating and analyzing choreography. Enrolled students will be expected to perform and participate in the Dance Concert. TA opportunities are available for experienced dancers with teacher’s approval. 

    Prerequisites for this course include Dance I or permission from the teacher and high level of dance training. 

  • Tap Dance (1S or 2S)

    This is a semester-long course.

    All levels are welcome! In this semester-long course, students will learn different elements of tap including technique, movement, musical rhythm, tempo, and phrasing. The course will focus on the historical context required to develop the skills needed to practice and perform this popular dance form. Class structure will include warming up, stretching, and learning choreography, with a focus on developing performance qualities. Students will be introduced to terminology, important historical events, people who contributed to tap, and its lasting impact on pop culture. Tap shoes will be provided to those who need them. Enrolled students will be expected to perform and participate in either the Holiday Assembly or the Dance Concert. 

Menlo Dance Enrichment

All Dance Enrichment students will explore and rehearse multiple styles of dance alongside three audition-based dance groups—Knight Life, Knight Dancers, and MidKnights. Knight Life specializes in Hip-Hop based styles, with a focus on performance and connection to music. Knights and MidKnights are designed for dancers with a strong foundation in dance and tend to train additionally outside of school. Incoming Freshmen can contact Angela Curotto-Pierson with any questions. Follow us on Instagram! @menlodance