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Nutcracker Tap Class

Come learn a fun and engaging Tap dance routine to Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker music!

Laura Cohen

Average rating:

4.8

Number of reviews:

(79)

What's included

1 live meeting

45 mins in-class hours

Class Experience

Enjoy the beauty of the season and dance to music from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite. In this 45 minute, one-time, class we will learn basic Tap technique and put what we learn into a fun and engaging Tap routine. We will also review the different elements of the Nutcracker story. 

CLASS FLOW: 
-	We will begin the class with a warm-up
-	We will discuss the main elements of the Tap dance style: rhythm and dynamics
-	We will learn and review Tap skills to use in our dance. 
-	We will break down choreography for the dance into 4 learning sections. 
-	We will practice each section 3 times with music before moving on. By the end, we will know the whole routine! 
-	We will end class with a cool down and stretch.

All experience levels are welcome in this class. However, the teaching and choreography will be geared towards the beginning tapper. 

Encouragement is a fundamental component of my teaching style. Lots of social and emotional support will be given throughout the lesson time. I want all of my students to walk away from class feeling confident and excited about the new things they learned in class.

Learning Goals

At the end of this class, students will be able to: 

-	Name Tap movements with proper dance terminology
-	Understand and implement good posture and alignment while dancing
-	Demonstrate an understanding of proper technique for Tap (including rhythm and dynamics)
-	Perform and recall a Tap routine to stylized music
-	Move the body according to the rhythm of the music
-	Count music in basic 8 count patterns
-	Establish value in trying new things, hard work and effort

Other Details

Parental Guidance

Prep for you class! Take note of the things listed below to ensure the best learning experience: - Class will begin promptly at the designated start time. Be sure to log in a little early to avoid technical issues. In order to provide good teaching practices, the instructor will not be able to help you with individual technology concerns. - Students should set up for class in an open space. They will need room to move around without bumping into any furniture or large objects. It is also a good idea to remove toys or other clutter from the dancing area. Legos/Barbie shoes hurt to step upon and books are easy to slip on. So be sure their area is safe to move around in. - This class can be learned on a soft or hard floor surface (carpet, tile, wood, etc). However, be sure that the floor is not too slick where your child could easily fall. For tap portions of this class, a hard surface is recommended to ensure that students can hear the sounds their feet make on the floor. - Students should dress in comfortable clothing that is easy to move in. - Students are encouraged to use Tap shoes for this class. However, these are not required. Comfortable sneakers or athletic shoes would also be appropriate. - Students should pull all hair up and away from their face and secure it with a hair tie or other hair accessories. - This class will include warm up, cool down, stretching, and injury prevention. As with any exercise class, parents are encouraged to monitor student activity. Please note that you are solely responsible for your child's safety and well-being. The instructor will not be responsible for any injury in or outside of class time. - Feel free to keep water nearby for your child. Students will be given short breaks during the lesson, but feel free to take a break at any time as needed. This is your class time and it should be comfortable for you. - This list has included a lot of heavy information. Please note that encouragement and praise are the most important part of the learning process. You, as a parent, have the wonderful ability to influence your child's excitement while learning something new. Encourage your child throughout their class, and remind them that learning new things can take time/practice. I will encourage this too, but sometimes hearing if from parents can reinforce comfortable learning environments.

Supply List

Tap shoes are not required for this class. But students are encouraged to use shoes to cover their toes for this class. Comfortable sneakers or athletic shoes would also be appropriate.

External Resources

Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.

Laura Cohen

Joined August, 2020

4.8

79reviews

Profile

Teacher expertise and credentials

My name is Mrs Laura and I’ve been working as an educator and dance instructor for over 10 years. I was trained classically for over 14 years in many styles including Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Jazz and Tap. With a college degree in Sociology and Education, my unique teaching style emphasizes creating clear, concise patterns for students to learn dance steps quickly and easily. I like to explain my dance steps in ways that reinforce auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learning. This alleviates frustration and makes learning fun and exciting. I also believe the words of Aristotle who says, “Education of the mind, without education of the heart, is no education at all.” So, all of my classes are filled with lots of social and emotional support. I want all of my students to walk away from my classes excited, confident and ready to share what they have learned with others. This is what makes learning to dance so fun!