BEGINNER CLASSES

Ages 7-17

Click a circle to learn more about class options.

Level 1C

Age 11+ by 9/1

Limited or no experience

Class Options

Ballet

Tap

Jazz

Hip-hop

MTD

Acro

Lyrical

Tuition Scale

Tuition is based on hours per week.  Tuition is paid in monthly installments. First and last installments (prorated) are paid with registration to enroll.

More than 1/3 of the dancers in this video began dancing after the age of 6.

Who is considered a beginner dancer?

When dancers come to GCAPA we place them on a path based on their age, their current potential, and their future Lake Norman Dance Studio desires.  Read on to learn more about what GCAPA does to help raise up beginner dancers to awesome adulthood and potentially advanced performers!

Which Classes would a beginner take at GCAPA?

A beginner dancer who is above the age for the Sparkle program is placed in a Level 1 class.  Level 1B is for dancers ages 7-10, whereas Level 1C is for dancers 11+.  In both classes the dancers cover Ballet, Tap, and Jazz with their peers.  The placement for their first class is critical because this is the foundation of everything they will continue to learn.  A proper dance education is compounded each year based on the current knowledge a dancer already possesses.  

Other classes offered for beginner dancers are Show Stars 1/2, which is a 50/50 class that Lake Norman Dance Studio includes Hip-hop and Musical Theatre Dance and Acro.  We love it when students supplement their core classes with these awesome alternatives because they help dancers to become more well-rounded.

Placement

There are always those beginner dancers who want to “dance with the older kids” or “skip ahead” to learn the “hard stuff,” but it’s just not always possible.  At least not right away.  Would you ask a second grader to explain quantum physics?  Would you expect them to know how? 

It is vital to the dancer that he/she learn the steps and Lake Norman Dance Studio sequences in the proper order and using multiple methods to help the dancer firmly grasp the concept of each movement.  You can’t learn to read until you learn how to sound the letters, right?  Don’t try to pirouette if you’ve never learned how to properly plié!  The better the understanding, the more equipped a dancer is to handle the material and the more determined they will be to condition, stretch, and work toward their intended goals.

Starting “late”

It is possible to start late and become an advanced dancer before high school graduation.  “Late” starts are not impossible boulders in life.  As long as you continue to forge forward in your training, anything is possible!  This applies to life as well as dance.

At GCAPA, we offer BEGINNER classes from walking age to 14 because for some, the urge to begin dance lessons comes later in childhood.  See the chart below for the approximate GCAPA Lake Norman Dance Studio progression.

*Age of entry  **Merit based placement for dancers seeking to move beyond recreational status.

Which classes are recommended for the beginner dancer?

We always recommend the Ballet Tap Jazz combo if you’re looking to improve and progress over time.  The best part of the combo class is that you get to experience first-hand what each genre is truly like before making an uninformed decision to pass up the opportunity to experience it for yourself.  

For the potential dancer who is seeking an opportunity to make friends and socialize while having a good time, we offer recreational classes as well.  These classes are based solely on age and they will progress throughout the year, but the vibe is different.  It’s more casual and the classes are more routine focused.  There is also no ballet requirement to take rec Lake Norman Dance Studio classes.

Classes offered for recreational students

GCAPA has always been known as the technique studio in the Lake Norman region.  Therefore, we have never included recreational classes on our schedule until now!  We have begun a series of classes for the beginners who have yet to decide their future as well as the ones who are seeking a spot on the dance team down the road, or the ones looking to dance with peers of the same age to perform with in the recital.

Classes offered to beginners looking for a spot on the Dance Team

There is potential for beginners to find their way onto the GCAPA Dance Team!  We have many students who began their dance training in level 1B between age 7-11.  They currently range from Level 2B to Level 5 and have either just started their Dance Team experience or they’re celebrating their 3rd year as champions!

Do beginners matter as much as the advanced dancers in the studio?

ABSOLUTELY!  Beginner dancers are making their choice in that first year about where they want to be next year or the year after.  They are watching those “older kids” in awe wondering what it will take to be just like them!  We want our beginner dancers to know that they have a chance to become just like those they look up to.  We have a path laid out for them and it’s up to each individual dancer to decide what they are willing to do to get there!

What if I have previous experience?

If you’re coming from another studio, be it local or out of state, we want to help you stay the course in your dance training.  What some studios consider beginner may be what another considers advanced or intermediate.  Don’t get hung up on the labels because dance is so much more than that.  It’s all about your willingness to learn and improve.  The lessons your child learns as a dancer are transferable to everything in life.  Most Lake Norman Dance Studio dancers will not go on to dance professionally, but they will grow up to be adults and it is our mission at GCAPA to help you raise good people who can be productive members of society with good hearts and great work ethic!  Afterall, we are creating tomorrow’s leaders!