The Lower Division Program is designed for dancers from the ages of 2 years old to 8 years old.
This program is directed by Tamara Gray, who has both a Masters Degree in Child Development as well as extensive professional Dance Company experience. We offer classes in Creative Dance, Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Hip-Hop.
The Upper Division
The Upper Division Program trains dancers from 8-18 years old in the disciplines of Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Modern and Voice.
Our extensive program boasts 7 Levels in Ballet, Jazz and Tap and 6 Levels in Hip- Hop. There is also an open level Modern class that meets once a week as well as a group Vocal class.
Our Ballet Program Director is Jackie Evans while the Jazz Department is headed by both Michelle Elkin and Terri Yates
the Tap and Hip-Hop Departments are led by Nanci Hammond. All of these fine teachers are also accomplished professionals in their own right both as performers and choreographers.
It is our contention that not only will the dancers that progress through our program emerge prepared to begin a career in the Arts should they so desire
but they will be better artists and perhaps even more importantly, better human beings.
The Teen Company
With the stated desire to provide
An opportunity for the professionally minded student more performing opportunities and as a means to challenge them artistically and developmentally with a company repertoire, The Teen Company was established in 2008 by Michelle Elkin, who serves as Company Director and The Performing Arts Center's Artistic Director, Nanci Hammond. Every year, in addition to their established repertory of work, which they learn and perform, they also have the opportunity to do new works by professional choreographers who are currently active and successful in their own professional careers. Past choreographers have included, Jason Myhre (Rihanna, Willow Smith), Mark Goodman (Mark Goodman Tap Company), Stevie Ray Anthony, Joseph Malone (Emmy Nominated Choreographer and two time American Choreography Award Winner), Lindsey Lorenz (CSUN Summer Performing Workshop) and Jane Lanier (Tony award Winning actress/choreographer). Additional choreographers who have graced our performances with their work are Jahnna Biddle, Ka-Ron Lehman Brown, Jackie Evans, Beth Iguchi, Marissa Rustowicz, Jillian Schmitz, Lauren Tillery and Terri Yates. They perform in community events around the greater Los Angeles area as well as an annual show dedicated to them in June of every year.
The Adult Program
The Adult classes at The Performing Arts Center are open to any dancer starting from 16 years old. As with all of our classes and each artist put in our care, our collective desire is to not only conduct a superb class but, by putting the student first, both challenge and nurture each artist as they seek to develop all of their potential. As we have the tremendous fortune to have a staff of working professional Dancers and Director/Choreographers, we pledge that for any artist who is serious about their craft, we will do all we can to insure that each takes the next step on their artistic journey.
Level Breakdown of Adult Program
Ballet
Ballet Basics: Very Beginning Level
designed for dancers with no previous ballet training.
Ballet I: Beginning Level
designed for dancers with some knowledge of basic ballet terms and technique.
designed for dancers with a basic understanding of ballet technique.
Ballet II: Intermediate Level
designed for dancers interested in improving their technique and expanding their ballet vocabulary as well as for more advanced dancers desiring to stay in shape.
Jazz
Jazz I: Very Beginning Level
designed for dancers with no previous jazz training.
Jazz I- II: Beginning Level
designed for dancers with some knowledge and basic understanding of jazz technique and style.
Jazz II: Beginning Intermediate, Intermediate Level
designed for dancers interested in expanding their jazz vocabulary while improving their style and technique as well as for more advanced dancers desiring to stay in shape.
Jazz II- II: Intermediate, Beginning Advanced Level
designed for dancers interested in expanding their jazz vocabulary while improving their style and technique as well as for more advanced dancers desiring to stay in shape.
Jazz III: Advanced Level
Professional Level.
Modern
Adv. Beginning, Intermediate Level
designed for dancers interested in improving their technique and expanding their modern vocabulary as well as for more advanced dancers desiring to stay in shape.
Tap
Tap Basics: Very Beginning Level
designed for dancers with no previous tap training.
Tap I: Beginning Level
designed for dancers with some knowledge and understanding of basic tap technique.
Tap II: Intermediate Level
designed for dancers interested in improving their technique and expanding their tap vocabulary as well as for more advanced dancers wanting to stay in shape.
Hip - Hop
Hip Hop I: Beginning Level
designed for dancers with no previous hip-hop training.
Hip Hop II: Adv. Beginning, Intermediate Level
designed for dancers interested in improving their technique and expanding their hip-hop vocabulary as well as for more advanced dancers desiring to stay in shape.
Additional Classes
Heels: Beginning Level
designed for dancers 16 years or older desiring to learn the basic technique of dancing in heels.
Salsa: Open Level
designed for anyone desiring to learn Latin partnering technique.
Shabba - Doo: Performance Workshops
Open Level: Learn the techniques of Lockin' and Shway from one of the originators of and creators of these styles.
The Professional Training Program
The Performing Arts Center's Professional Training Program is celebrating it's 11th year and is designed to provide young performers with the opportunity to intensify and focus their efforts, allowing them to lay a solid foundation from which to pursue a professional dance career. It is our contention that this goal is best accomplished in an environment where one has access to working professionals and is given the kind of instruction that allows them to earnestly train and develop themselves. Along with expert training, this program's intent is to teach you everything you'll be required to know when dancing professionally, regardless of the medium. Rather than akin to a student choosing a college major, please be aware that this program is designed for each artist to develop themselves into a working professional. Therefore, studying in the Professional Training Program is, by its nature, very strict! Here is a basic overview:
If accepted, you will be taking classes six days a week
including classes in ballet, jazz, modern, tap, hip-hop, strength and conditioning, singing, and acting; approximately 25 classes a week taught, with almost no exceptions, by artists currently working professionally in their chosen fields.
The initial commitment for this program is one year; although we have found that the average time a dancer spends training is two years.
The time necessary to develop into the kind of performer who is competitive in our field depends on each dancer's work ethic as well as the amount and quality of previous training.
The program costs a modest stipend of $250 per month.
We charge this fee only to help pay for the teachers whose classes you are taking. If you paid full class price, the total cost of the classes taken in this program along with the studio space you will need to practice your art, would be at least $1,250.00 each month. The cost would be higher still if these same classes were taken individually. While we as a school can always use more money, we feel that every dancer choosing this career must learn that there is no amount of money that can buy this dream. Everyone must earn it with their own sweat and hard work. Therefore, to support that idea, every dancer chosen to join the Professional Training Program is also automatically awarded a scholarship from The Performing Arts Center. Please note that our first concern and priority is to help train consummate performers. If paying this money creates an extreme financial burden to you or your family, preventing any dancer from joining this program, we are always ready to discuss other options.
Finally, it is important to us that you know that our commitment to the Professional Training Program is borne from a debt of gratitude
a responsibility we have to try and repay our own teachers. If not for the countless hours they spent training us, neither this program nor our careers would have been possible.
If you are interested in finding out more about this program, please call 818.779.0428 and leave a message for the Artistic Director, Nanci Hammond.