PRESCHOOL PROGRAM

Identity Dance, LLC Preschool Program is centered around the “Dance to Learn” Curriculum and the Recipe for Success. What you can expect in a Preschool class is children learning not only basic gross and fine motor movements, but also cognitive thinking, social and peer relations, and language development.

Pre-K to Kindergarten-These classes will require a curriculum to stimulate the children’s cognitive development, language development and social skills. Each week children will explore a dance activity designed to excel their educational development! The Preschool Program includes the Terpsichore Literacy Program to help with language and literacy development through reading and movement activities. Teachers will be required to create a “Yes” Environment where children can learn and are encouraged to express themselves artistically. No writing and only simple reading exercises are included at this stage, yet nursery rhymes, numbers, the alphabet and spelling games are encouraged! Your child will be able to continue his or her dance training at home with the Dance Exploration Family Engagement Program. This Program is included in all Preschool Program Classes!

Preschool Program Classes: Creative Dance Pre-Ballet Ballet/Jazz Combo Ballet/Tap Combo Jr Hip Hop (New!)

Preschool Program Goals– The goals of the Preschool Program are based on the Colorado Standards of Dance. We ensure that these goals are met at the end of every session by training our Educators on these principles, conducting random teacher observations, and conducting end of session quality assurance tests.

1. Students at the end of the session should be able to complete simple dance steps including but not limited to: Princess walks (tip toes), marching, skipping, leaping, kicking, twirling, spinning, jumping, balancing, etc. They should also be able to link steps together.
2. Students should be able to understand tempo changes between fast and slow, and how to change their dancing accordingly.
3. Students should have a sense of spatial awareness, how to move in space and creating different shapes within the space.
4. Students should have a simple understanding of dance vocabulary. For example, they should know the difference between marches and skips, and twirls and spins; as well as the beginning intro to the French terminology used in Ballet and all technique.
5. Students should have an understanding of new cognitive concepts learned throughout the session. For example if learned about animals, they should be able to dance, move and make noises associated with different animals. They should also be able to use these Cognitive concepts through dance to problem solve. Through the Identity Dance, LLC Terpsichore Literacy Program, children in the Preschool Program should be able to associate words with movement.
6. Students should have a sense of self expression and artistry. They should be able to express themselves freely without abandon through improvisation.
7. Students should be able to show patience, share, say please, thank you and you’re welcome.
8. Students should have a basic understanding of how class flow concepts relate to their health.
9. At the graduation, students should be able to perform simple choreography with help from the teacher.
10. Parents who are involved in the Dance Exploration Family Engagement Program should see a difference in their child develop and grow with the suggested at home “Dance to Learn!” Activities.

Benefits of our Preschool Program Classes included at no additional cost!

Terpsichore Literacy Program– Identity Dance, LLC’s Terpsichore Literacy Program was designed to encourage reading readiness in young children. The Terpsichore Literacy Program is included in every Preschool Program Class. Our Dance Educators pick one dance related book each month to read to the children. The books chosen are age and skill appropriate and are usually full of action words and vibrant characters, so children can easily find inspiration from the story to develop their movement! After the books are read and discussed, the Educator leads the children on a dance adventure inspired from the story!

Family Engagement Program– Identity Dance, LLC Family Engagement Program was developed to encourage parents and guardians to stay involved with their child’s “Dance to Learn!” progress through weekly suggested dance activities that parents could perform at home with their tiny dancers! Dance Educator’s suggest at home dance activities for parents to do each week after the child’s dance classes to help the children with their Motor Skills as well as Cognitive, Social and Language Development. This program is also great for the older adolescent who may be struggling to stay in school. The Family Engagement Program is included in every Program at no additional charge to the parents!

Identity Dance believes that learning should not only occur in a school setting. Children should understand at a young age that learning can take place anywhere, therefore by becoming involved with their child’s “Dance to Learn!” Activities at home, you are teaching that learning can happen anywhere! Activities such as reading to your child and active play, helps develop your child’s cognitive and social development. You have a huge influence on your child’s development; you can help them with at home learning activities with the Family Engagement Program to excel your child in school and until graduation!