Parkwood Dance Academy (Park Orchards)
Parkwood Dance Academy in Park Orchards, provides an opportunity to enjoy the experience of creating art; through repetition, experimentation, risk-taking and pushing personal boundaries.
Parkwood Dance Academy has classes for one year olds to adults, beginners to advanced.
We have a 100% success rate ensuring our dancers are accepted into their first preference tertiary dance courses (both fulltime and university standard).
Parkwood Dance Academy conducts classes in 4 purpose-built dance studios at Domeney Recreation Centre. Their teachers are experienced professionals who attend regular industry workshops to remain current in their dance styles and to update their teaching skills.
Dance Classes
Ballet (3 Years +)
Classical ballet is characterised by a standard vocabulary of steps, poses and graceful movements including pointed feet, rising, jumping, stretching and tumbling. The class starts with exercises at the barre followed by work in the centre. Classical ballet is an integral element of being a good dancer, and helps immensely with flexibility, coordination and control for other style of dance such as jazz, tap and contemporary.
Jazz (3 Years +)
Jazz dance typically involves strong, syncopated and isolated movement, which gives this style of dance its edge and excitement. The various styles of jazz have grown from the emphasis on individual style and improvisation. Each teacher, dancer and choreographer brings a unique style in the mix. A typical jazz class will involve an extensive warm-up focusing on stretching and strengthening, corner work to increase technical ability and then a dance, to combine technique and styles.
Hip Hop (8 yrs+)
Hip Hop uses many components and techniques of dance found in Urban Dance. These include popping, locking, breaking and isolations. Hip hop offers a fun-filled, high energy approach to dance that is popular with the modern dance industry. Hip Hop will be included in our usual Jazz class times.
Contemporary (11 yrs+)
Contemporary borrows from the jazz, ballet, funk, social dance styles and many modern dance styles of the 20th century. Contemporary dance encourages natural and spontaneous movement and personal interpretation. It focuses on self-expression, awareness of space and body movement, use of body weight, efficiency of muscle use and safe body alignment. Classes start with a comprehensive warm-up and gradually build up more elaborate dance routines.
Tap Dance (5 yrs+)
Tap dance typically involves strong, syncopated beats and is an exciting form of dance in which dancers wear special shoes equipped with metal plates. Tap dancers use their feet like drums to create rhythmic patterns and timely beats. Tapping also involves using your arms and upper bodies to blend movement of ballet or jazz into a dance.
Beginning with a warm-up to stretch the muscles of the legs and feet, we then practice a series of basic steps, adding more difficult combinations as the students become proficient. Tap requires a great deal of physical and mental fitness and its great for building muscle control as well as aerobic capacity for kids and adults and then a dance, to combine technique and styles.
Pointe (Invitation only)
Dancing en pointe is a major goal in a ballerina's dance life. Dancing on your toes requires tremendous strength of the legs and feet. Dancers must be formally evaluated to determine if they are physically ready to meet the demands of pointe work; they will be checked for correct body position and alignment, sufficient turnout, strength and balance and mastery of basic ballet techniques.
In order to maintain proper technique and flexibility needed for pointe work, it is imperative to practice ballet formally at least 3 times per week.
Adult Beginner Classes
Our Adult classes give you the opportunity to learn the technique of the art form, as well as facilitate a deeper knowledge of the mechanics of dance, explore what inspires us as individuals and encourage a healthy focus in dance (and life). As adults we carry not only the daily stress of our lives but also insecurities.
Our classes provide a casual, enjoyable and safe place for adult students to explore their physical and cognitive abilities through dance. We have jazz, ballet, tap and Body Conditioning classes available.
Active Core (14 years+ to Adults)
A flowing fusion on Pilates, Yoga, Dance Specific exercises, Imagery and Meditation to help you connect Mind to Body. We pride ourselves on creating a safe place for you to learn and explore.
These classes are the perfect foundation to build body awareness, technique and tone. It is suitable for all levels of experience and you can work at your own pace. All you need to bring is yourself, some comfortable clothing you can move freely in and a water bottle. (Yoga mats optional)
DanceAbility classes for students with Special Needs
For 40 years we have offered weekly classes alongside mainstream classes. These are often the only form of regular, constructive movement for these students. It as an emotional outlet for these students and it is time away from their family and carers. We offer many music genres and a variety of props, as well as featuring in our end of year concert (optional) which is a highlight for everyone.
These classes are designed to encourage the links between Creativity. Movement and Intellect.
Location
52 Knees Road, Park Orchards 3114 Map
✆ 0425 749 261
Email Enquiry
Web Links
→ parkwooddanceacademy.com
→ Parkwood Dance Academy on Facebook
