Project Category: Classes

Acro is short for "acrobatics," and it uses strength and flexibility to perform gymnastic-based tricks. At AFAA, our goal is to train our dancers so that they may incorporate these skills into choreography in their dance classes, which is why students must enroll in either a Ballet or Jazz class as a co-requisite when enrolled in an Acro class.

Both of our Acro classes are taught by Ms. Laney Lee, who has been trained and is certified by Acrobatic Arts. The classes will focus on safety, flexibility, strength, beginning and finishing positions, and proper body, foot, and leg positions. Acro I will work towards will include splits, bridges, forward rolls, handstands, cartwheels, round offs and starting walkovers. Acro II will continue to fine-tune and build upon these skills as well as add more as each class demonstrates their readiness to do so.

To be sure the students possess the strength and flexibility needed to begin the skills, the first few months will focus heavily on conditioning exercises for flexibility, balance, strength, and coordination so that they will be able to safely move into learning the basic skills above the second half of the year.

In order to enroll in Acro, students must also be enrolled in either a Ballet or Jazz class, or have had completed 2 years of Jazz.

This style of dance was born in the Bronx in the late 1970s, and had gone global by the 1980s. The name came from "hip" meaning "trendy", and literally "hopping" to the rhythm of the music, which was usually rap music. Contrary to popular opinion, you CAN have Christian Hip Hop!  There has been an explosion of songs in the genres of Christian rap and Hip Hop music, and it is possible to develop choreography that is God-honoring! So we invite you to join this style of dance that truly explores feeling the beat of the music!

Because the body isolations and movements require a higher level of body awareness, we strongly encourage students to take a Jazz class as well to get that training in technique.

Since the beginning of time, God instilled in humans a desire to communicate through drawings and symbols. Not only were they used for language, but also to express feelings and emotions. In our Visual Art classes, the students will learn to express themselves through worship using various mediums, and create pieces that ultimately express the awesomeness of God they see surrounding them every day.

Doodle Bugs: These classes are specifically designed for our littlest budding artists! We will practice fine motor skills through cutting (using safety scissors!), pasting, and tracing, etc.; learn shapes, colors, and color-blending; and create seasonal and holiday projects utilizing those skills.

Arts & Crafts: Our middle elementary students will begin with an introduction to the Elements of Art, and create a series of fun projects based on those elements. Pieces will cover a variety of themes, including seasonal and holiday arts and crafts.

Visual Art I (ages 10-13): We will begin with a quick review of the Art Elements and then dive into more specific art technique. We will study several famous artists and discuss and replicate technique we observe in their pieces. Throughout the year we will utilize a variety of media and focus on seasonal and holiday-themed projects.

Visual Art II (ages 14-18): Our goal in this class is to have the students focus on more advanced artistic skills and take the art elements to the next level through fine-tuning and applying technique they will learn as they study various artists and their styles. A variety of media will be utilized, and the focus will be on seasonal and holiday-themed projects.

Acting as a form of art is a truly inspirational gift from God.  To be able to capture an audience and draw them into a story performed on stage is a most effective tool in spreading the Word of God, as well as a way to worship our Creator.  In this class students will learn all aspects of theatre and will participate in each production by auditioning and being offered one of the rolls listed below. All roles are vital,  and when you accept your role, regardless of what it is, you are committed to the show, from the first rehearsal until closing curtain of the final run. Our instructors utilize several methods to teach theatre technique, and many of them are exercises that feel like games to the students. Also, there can be quite a bit of having to sit, observe, and learn from scenes run onstage.  So if your student comes home saying, "We just play games and then sit around." they are indeed receiving instruction! :) 

Onstage Roles:

Lead role
Supporting role
Extra
Character Study

Backstage Roles:

Stage Manager
Assistant stage manager
Set construction
Prop master
Light board operator
Sound designer
Crew
Wardrobe master/mistress (makeup and hair)

Preparatory Roles:

Dramaturg
Director
Assistant Director
Character Study
Costume Designer
Light and sound design
Prop design
Set design

*Note: Students may not join the class mid-production.  Please email us at office@alamancefinearts.com to learn the next enrollment period.

Ballet/Jazz is a one-hour class, and is part of our beginner dance curriculum for ages 4-6. Students’ class time will include divided training in both ballet and jazz. The two dance forms are complementary, assisting students in developing coordination and providing a solid foundation in dance technique. By the end of the year they will learn and perform two dances; one ballet piece and one jazz number.