Dance

Girls dancing together in formation There are many options for students interested in pursuing dance at Newton Country Day. We believe that all students should have the opportunity to develop healthy bodies, communication, teamwork, discipline, expression, grace, and courage through dance. Acting on that belief, all students in the Middle School participate in the dance program and stage two major performances each year. In the Upper School, students may participate in Dance Technique––designed for beginners or those returning to dance––or Dance Collaborative––for those with previously developed dance technique. Advanced senior Dance Collaborative students are encouraged to work collaboratively with faculty to choreograph their own works. Non-curricular opportunities also exist for students interested exploring dance for the first time or developing skills in pointe. The Upper School dance program stages two major productions each year.

Middle School

All Middle School students participate in the dance program. By the end of Grade 8, girls will understand and perform the basic fundamentals of ballet and modern dance techniques. They will be able to perform in a variety of time signatures and understand the relationship between rhythm and musicality. They will be able to understand and recall phrases as well as enter into creative dance projects with an understanding that dance is a universal language and integral to cultures around the world.

Dance Technique

This course is primarily designed for 9th grade students, as it builds upon the basic skills acquired in the Middle School dance program. Even for students entering the Upper School with advanced technique––often acquired through an extra-curricular dance program––this course offers an opportunity to refine and perfect the fundamentals of ballet and modern dance. While students may choose to also participate in Dance Committees, this course provides a more regular, robust, and academic approach to dance that best prepares students for their continued study. The course culminates with a major performance each semester.

Dance Collaborative

This course is primarily designed for girls in Grade 10, 11, and 12 who have successfully completed Dance Technique. This course is team-taught by our dance faculty, providing a highly individualized program of study to meet the diverse range of skills present in our Upper School students. While students are encouraged to participate in Dance Committees, the Dance Collaborative course provides a regular, robust, and academic approach to dance that focuses on building technical skills over time. Students are encouraged to enroll in Dance Collaborative each year, as the course is redesigned regularly to meet the needs of students as they progress through our program. The course culminates with a major performance each semester.

Dance Committees

Danse Esprit

Danse Esprit

Danse Esprit meets once and is primarily designed to encourage new dancers to explore the medium and skilled dancers to further incorporate dance into their schedules. While building strong technique is at the foundation of this committee, it is not an ideal substitution for our curricular dance programs. This committee strives to be a fun, welcoming environment for anyone interested in exploring dance. The committee performs annually.

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