RISE Dance Pathways
A clear roadmap for every dancer – from their first class to personalized training and performance opportunities.
RISE Dance Pathways show how students grow through age-appropriate training, beginning with foundational classes for young dancers and expanding into personalized class options as students develop their interests, strengths, and goals.
Foundation Pathway
Age 3: Creative Movement
Movement • Music • Coordination • Creativity
At age 3, our goal isn’t technical dance training – it’s helping children discover the joy of movement while developing confidence, coordination, listening skills, and body awareness.
Through imaginative activities, music, and creative exploration, students learn how to participate in a classroom setting, follow directions, interact with peers, and express themselves through movement.
Creative Movement serves as the first step in every dancer’s journey and lays the foundation for future success in dance and performing arts.
Age 4: Pre-Ballet
Introduction to Ballet • Tap • Jazz • Classroom Structure
At age 4, dancers are ready for more structured instruction while still benefiting from variety and exploration.
Pre-Ballet introduces students to the foundations of ballet, tap, and jazz while reinforcing classroom skills, musicality, coordination, and independence. Students begin learning basic dance terminology, movement patterns, and age-appropriate technique.
This class bridges the gap between creative exploration and formal dance training, preparing students for the Combo curriculum that follows.
Ages 5-6: Combo 1 Ballet + Tap
Building Rhythm, Musicality & Coordination
As dancers become more physically coordinated, tap becomes an important training tool.
Tap develops rhythm, timing, musicality, balance, and foot coordination in ways that complement ballet training. Students continue building strong ballet fundamentals while learning to connect movement with music and develop greater body control.
At this stage, our focus is helping dancers become confident learners while developing the foundational skills that support all future dance styles.
Ages 6-7: Combo 2 Ballet + Jazz
Introducing Performance & Expression
Beginning at age 6, jazz is introduced alongside ballet as dancers become developmentally ready for more expressive movement and performance-focused training.
Jazz helps students develop flexibility, strength, musicality, coordination, and confidence while encouraging personality and artistic expression. Ballet continues providing the technical foundation that supports all styles of dance.
By combining ballet and jazz, dancers begin developing both the technique and performance skills needed for future training opportunities.
Ages 7-8: Combo 3 Ballet + Tap & Jazz
Building Versatility & Preparing for Future Opportunities
Combo 3 serves as the final stage of our foundational curriculum before dancers begin exploring specialized training opportunities.
By combining ballet, tap, and jazz, students continue developing technique, rhythm, musicality, coordination, flexibility, artistry, and performance quality across multiple dance styles. This well-rounded approach helps dancers become more versatile performers while exposing them to the skills and movement qualities unique to each style.
At this stage, students are developing the confidence and technical foundation needed for future training while also discovering which styles they enjoy most. Combo 3 prepares dancers for the elective classes and specialized pathways that become available beginning at age 8.
Personalized Dance Pathways
After dancers complete their foundational training from Creative Movement through Combo 3, they can explore specialized classes and training opportunities based on their interests and goals.
The three pathways offered at RISE include Ballet, Musical Theatre, and Drill Team.
Ballet
For dancers interested in classical ballet, pointe preparation, artistry, technique, and ballet performance opportunities.
Recommended Progression:
- Ballet I
- Ballet II
- Ballet III
- Ballet IV
- Ballet V
Great supplemental classes:
Lyrical, Jazz
Opportunities:
Eligible students may audition for The Nutcracker, RISE Ballet Company, and other select ballet performances.
Musical Theatre
For dancers and performers interested in Broadway-style movement, storytelling, stage presence, and musical theatre productions.
Recommended Classes:
- Musical Theatre Dance
- Broadway Beats Tap
- Jazz
- Lyrical
Strongly recommended:
Ballet for technique, control, flexibility, and choreography retention.
Best for students who want to improve:
Auditions, stage presence, musicality, confidence, choreography pickup.
Drill Team
For dancers interested in jazz technique, turns, leaps, flexibility, precision, performance quality, and future drill team preparation.
Recommended Classes:
- Jazz
- Lyrical
- Hip Hop
Strongly recommended:
Ballet for technique, control, strength, and clean turns/leaps.
Best for students who want to build:
Flexibility, sharpness, showmanship, synchronization, stamina.
Dancers Are Encouraged to Explore
Many RISE dancers participate in multiple styles and pathways throughout their training. A ballet student may also take lyrical or musical theatre dance, while a hip hop student may participate in jazz or drill team preparation classes.
Dancers enrolled in multiple weekly hours receive discounted tuition rates through our progressive tuition discount structure. Many students choose to supplement their primary pathway with additional styles to build versatility and accelerate growth.
Our goal is to help students become confident, versatile performers while discovering the styles they love most.