Youth Dance

ABOUT OUR PROGRAM

NW Dance Project has earned a well-deserved reputation for cultivating and nurturing young dancers. Our Youth Dance Program offers exceptional year-round training for youth ages 4 to 19. Dancers will experience the joy of dance taught by Portland’s finest teachers in the city’s safest and best-equipped professional dance studio.

Our innovative program offers a variety of learning opportunities for dancers from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. NW Dance Project’s philosophy focuses on technique, movement, strengthening and conditioning, versatility, and creativity to support a balanced dance training education. Our programs provide an in-depth approach to training that takes into consideration each individual dancer’s needs and progression. We love creative expression, imagination, engagement, and offer comprehensive instruction in a supportive, inclusive, and encouraging environment.

2023-24 YOUTH PROGRAM

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM

PRO TRACK PROGRAM | Level 4 - 5

Starting in the 2023-24 school year, our PRO TRACK program will include both Level 4 + 5 classes. Our PRO TRACK Program provides a comprehensive study of the techniques, discipline, and styles of dance that support a professional career. Dancers in our PRO TRACK Program will participate in an extensive schedule of classes, which increase in rigor of training to provide suitable preparation for entry into leading companies, conservatories, and colleges today.

PRO TRACK LEVEL 5 | 4 Ballet + 2 Pointe + 2 Contemporary + Young Creatives Company (Audition only)

PRO TRACK LEVEL 4 | 3 Ballet + 1 Pointe + 2 Contemporary + Young Creatives Company (Audition only)

JUNIOR TRACK | Level 1 - 3

Our JUNIOR TRACK Program preps our younger students with a well rounded and encompassing instruction in a supportive environment that will take them to the next level. As students advance through our JUNIOR TRACK Program, our curriculum balances physical development with emotional and intellectual growth. Students will train in ballet and contemporary classes that focus on technique, movement, versatility and creativity at a cost effective tuition rate.

JUNIOR TRACK LEVEL 3 | 3 Ballet + 1 Pre-pointe + 2 Contemporary

JUNIOR TRACK LEVEL 2 | 2 Ballet + 1 Contemporary

JUNIOR TRACK LEVEL 1 | 1 Ballet + 1 Contemporary

YOUNG CREATIVES COMPANY

Our Young Creatives Company focuses on nurturing the next generation of artists. Dancers will work with leading artists in the field to immerse themselves into the creative choreographic process and gain performance experience. Today's dancers are asked to improvise, reinvent steps, change musicality, and make their own artistic choices. Technique alone is not enough - dancers must also be creators.

Young Creatives rehearsals are provided at NO additional tuition cost. Students must attend all rehearsals to be considered for performances and other opportunities.

Dancers are required to audition to be considered for our Young Creatives Company. Dancers enrolled or planning to enroll in Level 4 or 5 of our full Professional Training Program curriculum are eligible and encouraged to audition.

PERFORMANCES
Winter Showcase (DEC)
Student Artist Showcase (JUN)
+ special performing opportunities and events

INDIVIDUAL CLASS STYLES

Students may also choose to train in individual styles.

Annual registration is required for participation.
Payment plan available.
No drop-ins allowed.

BALLET (Level 1 to 5) - AGE 7 to 18
Ballet starts with introducing dancers to basic ballet steps. We then train our dancers to develop strong technical and artistic foundations by focusing on alignment, placement, balance, flexibility, musicality, and strength through age-appropriate progressions.

CONTEMPORARY (Level 1 to 5) – AGE 7 to 18
Our contemporary dance classes are designed to improve technique, flexibility, stamina, and artistry. These classes fuse contemporary dance styles with jazz, ballet, and world dance influences. It emphasizes and develops proper body alignment, strength and flexibility, rhythmic and musical phrasing, and self-expression.

HIP HOP – AGE 7 to 18
Hip Hop classes introduce the classic urban styles - breaking, housing, popping, locking, and beyond. This class gives the basic tools of rhythm, isolation, coordination, and musicality to allow students to feel confident in their own style and choreography. A great encouraging and challenging class for all dance enthusiasts!

Throughout the year, our aspiring young dance artists will have performance opportunities concluding with our annual year-end Student Artist Showcase in June.

CREATIVE MOVEMENT + PRIMARY BALLET

Creative Movement + Primary Ballet classes are held over three separate sessions (fall, winter, and spring).

Fall Session | SEP 11 to DEC 17 / 2023

Winter Session | JAN 8 to MAR 24 / 2024

Spring Session | APR 1 to JUN 9 / 2024

CREATIVE MOVEMENT – AGE 4 to 5
Creative Movement classes introduce our youngest dancers to beginning ballet and jazz moves combined with creative movement activities and dance activities. Class enhances balance, coordination, strength, mind-body activities for children, and flexibility.

PRIMARY BALLET – AGE 6 to 7
Primary Ballet classes introduce our young dancers to age-appropriate, beginning ballet exercises in an energetic, creative, and nurturing weekly class structure. Students gain fine motor dexterity through activities that encompass storytelling and creating.

REGISTRATION + PLACEMENT

ANNUAL ENROLLMENT | SEP 2023 - JUN 2024

All students participating in Level 1 to 5 classes and programs are enrolling for the entire school year (SEP 11 / 2023 to JUN 9 / 2024) and are obligated to pay the full year's tuition fees, regardless of payment option:

Option 1: Pay in full at the time of registration.

Option 2: Pay a deposit at the time of registration + 7 monthly payments charged automatically SEP through MAR.
Subject to $50 payment plan fee at time of registration

SESSION ENROLLMENT | FALL + WINTER + SPRING

Our Primary Ballet and Creative Movement classes are held over three sessions (fall, winter, and spring). These classes must be paid in full at the time of registration and do not have a payment plan option.

PLACEMENT

Great consideration is taken in our class placement process. Students move up through our curriculum according to physical ability, age, maturity, and work ethic. Students should expect to complete a minimum of a year in each level before advancing. Placement and advancement are at the discretion of the teacher.

WINTER DANCE INTENSIVE - DEC 18 to DEC 21
Our Winter Dance Intensive can be used as a way to place students who would like to join our program in JAN 2024.

PLACEMENT PRIVATE
We can schedule a private placement class for new students with a NW Dance Project Faculty member to be evaluated and placed in the appropriate level. Inquire for availability and rates.

Learn more about placement options by emailing or calling 503.421.7434.

PRIVATE CLASSES

NW Dance Project also offers private and semi-private (2 or 3 students) lessons in Ballet, Contemporary, and Conditioning. Private lessons are a great way for students to supplement their dance training, receive personalized attention, and address individual needs and goals.

For more information about rates and availability, please or call 503.421.7434.