MENLO SCHOOL • SINCE 1915

Students perform during the 2023 Dance Concert in the Spieker Center

Upper School Creative Arts

Dance

Just Dance!

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

Menlo’s Dance program offers several course options for dancers of all levels during the academic day that be applied to the School’s creative arts graduation requirement (see courses below). Additionally, we offer an after-school dance enrichment program for those who are passionate about dance.

Upper School students perform in the 2023 Dance Concert

 

Performers in Menlo's Dance Enrichment Program perform at the Valpo Bowl.

After-School 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. To be in these groups, you must be currently enrolled or have completed one of the dance curriculum courses. Full participation in this program can be applied to Menlo’s PE credit. Reach out to Angela Curotto-Pierson with any questions.

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Upper School Dance Course Offerings

Grade: 101112

Advanced Dance

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

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. We will also study various choreographic tools and techniques to create your Dance Concert piece. Students will be expected to perform and participate in the annual Dance Concert in March 2025.

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

Grade: 9101112

Dance

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

Throughout the course, we will broaden our understanding of dance by studying multiple styles including jazz, contemporary, musical theatre, hip-hop, and tap. 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 have multiple opportunities to choreograph where we will explore ideas of self-expression through movement while also collaborating with peers. We will also study various choreographic tools and techniques to create your Dance Concert piece. Students will be expected to perform and participate in the annual Dance Concert in March 2025.

Grade: 9

Freshman Dance (FAX)

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

Designed for any level dancer, students will gain an appreciation for the love of dance! Throughout the semester we will broaden our understanding of dance by studying multiple styles including jazz, contemporary, musical theatre, and hip-hop. 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 have multiple opportunities to choreograph where we will explore ideas of self-expression through movement while also collaborating with peers.

Dance Concert Video Highlights


2024 Dance Concert: Innovate

2023 Dance Concert: A Knight at the Movies

2022 Dance Concert: Blast from the Past

 

 

 

 

Content from previous site pages, can be copied into new design as needed

Menlo Dance Concert 2023
A Knight at the Movies

March 10 & 11 at 7:00 pm
March 12 at 3:00 pm

Join us as we celebrate A Knight at the Movies featuring
choreography and music inspired by the movies we love!

View the program

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