Colorado School of Elite Athletes

Dance at CSEA

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At Colorado School of Elite Athletes, our Dance Program is designed to nurture passion, discipline, and creativity while providing the technical foundation young dancers need to excel both in the studio and beyond. We believe that dance is not just an art form—it’s a powerful tool for developing confidence, athletic ability, and self-expression.

What Makes Our Dance Program Unique

1. Elite-Level Training

Students receive daily instruction from experienced dance professionals who specialize in various styles, including ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, and lyrical. Our coaches emphasize proper technique, strength, flexibility, and artistry, helping each dancer reach their full potential.

2. Focused Skill Development

Our structured program balances core technical skills with creative choreography, ensuring that every dancer builds a strong foundation. Whether students are beginners or advanced performers, we provide personalized guidance to help them grow.

3. Integrated Athletics & Academics

As part of the CSEA philosophy, our dancers benefit from a balanced schedule that supports both academic success and athletic excellence. Students dedicate 90-120 minutes daily to athletics, allowing time to focus on their craft without sacrificing their education.

4. Performance & Competitive Opportunities

While skill development is our primary focus, we partner with local dance studios and competitive programs to offer dancers opportunities to showcase their abilities in competitions, performances, and community events.

5. Character & Leadership Development

Our program teaches more than just dance. Through commitment, teamwork, and discipline, students learn valuable life skills like resilience, time management, leadership, and confidence.

Dance Styles Offered:

Ballet

Building strength, grace, and technical precision.

Jazz & Contemporary

Encouraging versatility, rhythm, and expressive movement.

Hip-Hop

Developing coordination, energy, and style.

Lyrical

Fostering emotional expression and fluidity.

Why Dance at CSEA?

Daily elite training from passionate coaches.

Small class sizes for personalized attention.

Seamless integration with a rigorous academic program.

A supportive community that encourages both personal and athletic growth.

Discover how our Dance Program shapes confident, capable athletes and artists. Join our interest list today to learn more about enrollment and program details!
Pre-K (Ages 4-5)

Focus: Basic body awareness, rhythm, coordination, and fun!

All Styles:

  • Understanding basic positions (first position, arms, feet)
  • Simple stretches & flexibility exercises
  • Following musical cues & rhythm
  • Balance & spatial awareness
  • Basic movement patterns (marching, skipping, jumping)
Kindergarten (Age 5-6)

Focus: Building foundational technique & discipline.

Ballet:

  • First, second, third positions (feet & arms)
  • Basic pliés, tendus, relevés
  • Simple turns (half-turns, spotting intro)
  • Balance on one foot

Jazz:

  • Jazz walks & step-touches
  • Simple kicks & leaps
  • Basic isolations (head, shoulders, hips)

Contemporary/Lyrical:

  • Expressive arm movements
  • Intro to floor work (rolling, stretching)
  • Basic weight shifts & fluid transitions

Hip-Hop:

  • Basic grooves & bounce
  • Intro to rhythm patterns
  • Simple freeze poses
1st Grade (Age 6-7)

Focus: Refining basic technique & introducing more structure.

Ballet:

  • Positions 1-5 (feet & arms)
  • Demi-pliés & full pliés
  • Simple combinations across the floor
  • Intro to tendu, dégagé, and port de bras

Jazz:

  • Step-ball-change, grapevine
  • Jazz squares, pivot turns
  • Chassés & leap prep

Contemporary/Lyrical:

  • Fluid arm & body coordination
  • Weight shifts, floor patterns
  • Intro to emotional expression

Hip-Hop:

  • More complex grooves
  • Level changes & body isolations
  • Intro to basic combo sequences
2nd Grade (Age 7-8)

Focus: Developing control, strength, & basic choreography retention.

Ballet:

  • Rond de jambe, fondu
  • Simple turns (chainé intro)
  • Begin proper posture & turnout awareness
  • Controlled balance holds

Jazz:

  • Single jazz turns
  • Leaps across the floor (straight legs)
  • Combo steps & transitions

Contemporary/Lyrical:

  • Floor work: slides, rolls
  • Simple improvisation exercises
  • Movement connected to music phrasing

Hip-Hop:

  • Popping & locking intro
  • Traveling hip-hop moves
  • Simple freezes or holds
3rd Grade (Age 8-9)

Focus: Increasing technical difficulty & choreography complexity.

Ballet:

  • Clean pliés, tendus, jetés
  • Chainé & pique turns
  • Arabesque & passé positions
  • Begin intro to spotting

Jazz:

  • Double turns prep
  • Strong leaps (straight & side)
  • Quick footwork combos

Contemporary/Lyrical:

  • Control in floor transitions
  • Clear emotional connection
  • Weight-bearing movements

Hip-Hop:

  • Intro to footwork sequences
  • Increased tempo & musicality
  • Level variations (high/low)
4th Grade (Age 9-10)

Focus: Strength, stamina, style refinement, and choreography memory.

Ballet:

  • Plié & tendu combinations
  • Mastery of chainé, pique turns
  • Intro to turns in passé
  • Strong posture, fluid port de bras

Jazz:

  • Double turns (controlled)
  • High leaps, split jumps
  • Quick direction changes

Contemporary/Lyrical:

  • Clean weight transfers & directional shifts
  • Intro to floor acro (e.g., shoulder rolls)
  • Fluid storytelling through movement

Hip-Hop:

  • Fast, intricate footwork
  • Syncopation & layering
  • Simple tricks (knee spins, shoulder freezes)
5th Grade (Age 10-11)

Focus: Preparing for pre-competitive level skills & performance readiness.

Ballet:

  • Clean alignment in all basic steps
  • Prep for pirouettes & basic turns en dehors
  • Proper use of turnout & extensions
  • Balance in arabesque & passé

Jazz:

  • Multiple turn sequences (double + spotting)
  • High leaps, switch leaps intro
  • Floor choreography & strong arm positions

Contemporary/Lyrical:

  • Advanced floor work transitions
  • Personal expression & emotional connection
  • Clean improvisation sequences

Hip-Hop:

  • Advanced footwork patterns (e.g., kick steps, shuffle variations)
  • Freezes, stalls, beginner tricks
  • Complex combos with sharp precision
Summary:

The program is designed to:

  • Build age-appropriate technique step by step
  • Foster flexibility, strength, musicality, and emotional expression
  • Prepare dancers for higher-level competitive teams or continued training