Young Dancers Program | The Young Dancers Program at the Conservatory is joyful, healthy, and wholesome and includes Dance for 3’s (for 3-year-old students) and three progressive levels of Pre-ballet (for 4, 5, & 6-year-olds). These classes expose students to the joy of dance through movement games, creative exercises, exploration of dance styles and an introduction to movement vocabulary. Children flourish in a positive atmosphere of self-discovery while learning a curriculum that introduces the basic concepts of ballet, promotes musicality and rhythm, and instructs foundational and fundamental dance techniques.

Ballet Program | Ballet Technique classes (for students age 7 and up) are the foundation for training at the Conservatory and focus on developing a solid ballet technique with emphasis on understanding correct body placement, proper use of turn out, coordination of the upper body (epaulement), and use of arms (port de bras). The Conservatory's unique syllabus exposes students to aspects of traditional Vaganova (Russian), Cecchetti (Italian), and American techniques. Class begins with work at the barre to build strength and coordination, followed by center exercises, culminating in a grand allegro combination or variation. Clear explanations of exercises and theory help students use the ballet vocabulary in a simple, practical way that leads to increased technical understanding, healthy physical development, and lifelong enjoyment. Students 11 and older with strong ballet technique, sufficient core and ankle strength, and a teacher's recommendation go on to study 'en pointe'. Students with strong pointe technique may study Pas de Deux, where they learn the fundamentals of Classical Ballet partnering. Advanced students of the Ballet Program (age 12 and up) may audition for the Conservatory’s pre-professional ballet company: Ridgefield Civic Ballet.

Modern Dance Program | Modern Dance (or Contemporary Dance) appeals to the creative, artistic soul in everyone because of its expressiveness and freedom of individuality. The Conservatory’s Modern Dance classes (for students 7 and up) introduce students to elements of Horton, Graham, & Limon techniques and focus on movement from the inside out, encouraging use of breath, energy, and connection. A warm up of breath and energy work, followed by exercises that emphasize extension, release, weight, momentum, and force, culminate in long movement phrases and improvisation exercises that playfully explore movement possibilities. The goal is to develop strong, versatile dancers that can intelligently handle any dance style. Advanced students of the Modern Dance Program (age 12 and up) may audition for the Conservatory’s Contemporary Dance Ensemble.

Jazz Dance Program | Jazz is a dance form that appeals to everyone because of its energy, variety, and vitality. Jazz Dance classes (which students can begin at age 7) explore contemporary and classic jazz dance, rooted in the vernacular (social dance) forms, that draws inspiration from a wide range of music including jazz, swing, blues, pop, soul and funk. As the official home of the internationally recognized Jazz Dance Technique & Syllabus by creator/author James Robey, Conservatory jazz classes begin with a warm-up to develop strength, flexibility, correct alignment and coordination, followed by progressions across the floor, and culminates in extended dance combinations. The movement explores a range of styles in both lyrical and percussive disciplines with a focus on jazz elements such as isolations, swing, and rhythm. The goal is to develop dancers who are expressive, dynamic, musical and passionate. Advanced students of the Jazz Dance Program (age 12 and up) may audition for the Conservatory’s Contemporary Dance Ensemble.

Tap Dance Program | Tap Dance is a timeless art that combines dance and percussion. Tap dancers in musicals, movies, television, commercials, and concerts inspire us with their infectious rhythms. Tap Dance classes (for students 7 and up) explore the two traditions of rhythm tap (hoofing) and Broadway tap. Class begins with warm up exercises in the center that increase control, coordination, and rhythm, followed by across the floor exercises that teach dynamics, shading, phrasing, and musicality, concluding with extended rhythmic phrases and improvisation exercises. The goal is to develop tap dancers that are equally strong musicians, dancers, and performers.

Contemporary Dance Ensemble | The Contemporary Dance Ensemble is a pre-professional company, founded in 2001, made up of advanced modern and jazz students at the Conservatory. Admission into the company is by audition only. Past performances include the Jazz Dance World Congress in Chicago, opening for the Parsons Dance Company, DanceFest 2005, 2006, & 2007 at the Rich Forum in Stamford, Dance Invitational 2006 with Battleworks Dance Company at Purchase College, Dance Invitational 2007 with Buglisi Dance Theatre, Not Another Nutcracker at the Ridgefield Playhouse, Connecticut Dance Alliance State Festival at the Bushnell Theater in Hartford, at the Arts Hall in New Haven, and various outreach performances.

Junior Dance Ensemble | The Junior Dance Ensemble provides a select group of dancers ages 10 to 13 the chance to learn new choreography and develop performance skills as well as learning to give back to the community by participating in events like the Holiday Stroll parade, performing in Charlie Brown's Tree,  fundraising for Sri Ram Orphanage in India, and performing at DanceFest at the Palace Theatre in Stamford, Connecticut.

Ridgefield Civic Ballet | Ridgefield Civic Ballet is a pre-professional company in residence at the Conservatory. Acceptance is by audition only and open to all dancers, regardless of whether they are Conservatory students. The Ridgefield Civic Ballet performs annually in the Nutcracker at the Ridgefield Playhouse and several outreach performances. Past performances include for the American Ballet Theatre Studio Company in New York City, at DanceSpace in New York City, and at area hospitals and community centers.

Rhythm Tap Ensemble | Rhythm tap focuses on the musical side of tap dance and is drawn from the tradition of jazz music, but utilizes a variety of musical forms. The Rhythm Tap Ensemble provides a select group of advanced tap dance students opportunities to perform and grow both musically and technically.

The Nutcracker | The Conservatory’s production of The Nutcracker is a holiday tradition in the Ridgefield community. Students who are at least 7 years old may audition. Performed annually at the Ridgefield Playhouse, participants enjoy exquisite choreography, custom designed costumes, and performing for sold out audiences in Ridgefield’s beautiful playhouse theatre.

Spring Concert | All students (ages 5 years old and up) have the opportunity to perform in the Conservatory’s annual Spring Concert. Each level and discipline presents a piece demonstrating the skills they have acquired throughout the preceding year. This gives students an opportunity to gain valuable on-stage experience in a friendly and highly supportive environment.

Summer Programs 2012 | The Conservatory offers an excellent line up of summer dance classes, workshops and intensives:

Summer Dance | Summer Dance classes provide dancers, ages 12 to adult, the opportunity to continue their training and improve their technique over the warm summer months.

June 19 through July 26

Ballet

Tuesday and Thursday

4:30pm - 6:00pm

Jazz

Thursday

6:00pm - 7:30pm

Modern

Tuesday

6:00pm - 7:30pm

Conditioning For Dancers

Tuesday

7:30pm - 8:30pm

Summer Dance Sprites | Summer Dance Sprites offers young children an opportunity to explore dance in a creative, nurturing, and lively environment. Summer Dance Sprites meets twice a week helping little ones to grow a love for dance that will last a lifetime.

June 19 through July 12

Tuesdays & Thursdays 10:30am - 11:15am (ages 3 & 4)
Tuesdays & Thursdays 11:15am - 12:00 (ages 5 to 6)

Junior Dance Workshop | Junior Dance Workshop provides young dancers, ages 7 to 10, with two weeks of daily classes in ballet, jazz, and modern. Dancers improve quickly from the focus of daily classes in a positive environment. Junior Dance Workshop culminates in a performance for invited guests and does not require an audition.

July 23 through August 3
9:00am - 11:30am
Ages 7 to 10

Summer Dance Workshop | Summer Dance Workshop provides intermediate dancers with two weeks of classes in ballet, jazz and modern. Dancers take 3 classes daily and enjoy the training of an intensive program in a non-competitive environment. Summer Dance Workshop culminates in a performance for invited guests. Summer Dance Workshop does not require an audition.

July 23 through August 3
12:00pm - 4:00pm
Ages 11 to 16

Ridgefield Summer Intensive 2012 | Ridgefield Summer Intensive 2012 immerses young dancers in a two-week dance experience with exceptional training and dynamic faculty. Classes in ballet, pointe, pas de deux, contemporary jazz, modern, and repertory will be taught by distinguished guest teachers. Ridgefield Summer Intensive 2012 culminates in a performance for invited guests. Faculty includes Tony Jones (Faculty at Palucca School of Dance in Dresden, Germany and former Pacific Northwest Ballet soloist), Michael Trusnovec (Paul Taylor Dance Company), Andrew Palermo (dre.dance and B'way veteran), and James Robey (RCD Director, James Robey Dance).

Ridgefield Summer Intensive 2011
August 6 through August 17
Monday through Friday, 9:30am - 4:00pm
Ages 12 to Adult
Placement into program is by audition only.