Our Mission

Performance opportunities are many and varied throughout the year. The Performing Arts Center is home to our annual themed dance performance presented by all students enrolled in the studio. Many students also have opprotunity to perform in our holiday show "A Dancer's Christmas". Our dancers may also perform for ‘Lunch By The River’, ‘The River Arts Festival’ and at malls and nursing homes throughout the year. Middle and Upper level students of the Academie have numerous opportunities throughout the year to study with guest instructors. We have had such Guest teachers as Jean- Paul Comelin, Charmaine Ristow, Lee-Wei Chao, Marie Arts and Allen Fields. Because of our approach to teaching, stressing strong technical skills and professional attitudes, a number of our students have gone on to pursue professional careers at nationally recognized schools and companies. A large number of our students are accepted annually, through audition, into summer dance programs that are conducted around the country and the majority of these students have done so under scholarship. These include American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, Houston Ballet, Boston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Lexington Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet and the Universal Ballet (formerly the Kirov Ballet) of Washington D.C.








Our Instrustors

To view more info click on the instructors name.

Marlene Turbin-Weldon
Jessica Kissner Foley
Juliann Engum
















Curriculum

CREATIVE MOVEMENT AND PRE-BALLET: This division is for students who will be age 3 by September 1. This class begins with basic floor work designed to develop good posture habits and body awareness. The second segment of the class deals with musicality and creativity with an emphasis on body shapes, listening skills and working as part of a group. The last segment of class deals with coordination skills of movement across the floor such as gallops, skips and turns.

CLASSICAL DANCE – BALLET: Students follow a carefully structured sequence of training stages, of the Vaganova method, designed specifically to increase technical skills, stamina and discipline in accordance with their age and physical ability. Young dancers attend classes twice weekly to develop a strong dance foundation, and continue to expand their dance vocabulary. As students gain strength, technique and flexibility, class length is increased and more difficult patterns are introduced. The most upper level students are further challenged as attention to detail is of the utmost importance. Because Ballet is the basis for all dance forms, all students are encouraged to study Ballet along with other dance forms.

POINTE: Students are introduced to pointe work in Level IV or V, depending upon age and physical development. Each student is individually evaluated, and only then will be considered for pointe classes.

JAZZ/HIP HOP: A stylistic, energetic for of dance. Its roots come from Ballet and Modern techniques and its style varies with modern times and is adaptable to current popular music. Hip Hop is upbeat, fast and funky. A studio form of street dancing, Hip Hop is a non-technical dance form.

TAP: Starting in America in the 19th century, Tap is certainly America’s most popular form of theatrical dance. Tap dance stresses timing, rhythm and sound and is for boys, girls; for children and adults.

MODERN: Instruction in Modern dance technique, composition and improvisation in an eclectic style, primarily of Limon and Graham techniques.

SPECIALTY CLASSES: Included under this heading are Variation, Character and Ballroom. These classes are offered in addition to or separate from scheduled term classes.

















Facilities

The Academie is located in a safe and largely residential area, close to shopping and schools. A ground floor location, with two professionally equipped studio spaces, the floors are sprung and surfaced with 'Rosco' and 'Timestep' theatrical dance surfaces, to reduce fatigue and prevent injuries.
Each studio is well-lighted and well ventilated by individual zone heating and air conditioning and has mirrors that stretch the length of one entire wall. Ballet barres, both stationary and portable are differing levels for different age groups. The Academie and its faculty are ever presently aware of the safety of the students, and is the only studio in Central Wisconsin that has invested in a portable 'Bravo' dance surface.











Policies

Tuition:
Students register for the season that runs from September through May. Tuition payments are broken down into three installments. Each installment payment is due in the first thirty days of each session. A $10.00 late fee will be added to accounts paid after thirty days of the beginning of the session for any account to which a tuition payment has not been made. In the event, a student needs to withdraw, a DROP FORM MUST BE COMPLETED (available at the studio) TO CLOSE THE ACCOUNT. REFUNDS ARE NOT GIVEN FOR PREPAID TUITION AND IS NON-TRANSFERABLE. There will be a non refundable charge of $25.00 for each returned check.

Consistent Attendance:
Students who attend classes on a regular basis and arrive on time (missed warm up can result in injury!) are those that experience the most from their dance education. Steady progress requires full participation in the class in which a student is registered. Students are requested to make every attempt to commit fully to their dance training. If this is not possible, lower level classes with less demanding time commitments are available. Make-up classes are available to students who have missed classes, provided that the Studio was notified in advance. The missing classes must be made up in the term of absence. Weather conditions may determine if classes will be held. Please listen to WGLX/WWRW Radio for information. Please call and inform us when your child is going to be absent. Students who miss class should ask for an appropriate class in which to make up the missed class within the term of which the class was missed. We do expect that students are picked up promptly after class is over.

Class Placement:
The Academie subscribes to the philosophy that each child develops at his or her own rate, and that children have individual needs. Therefore, students will be placed according to the level of technique they can demonstrate in any given dance discipline and on the advice of the instructor.

Inclement Weather / Class Cancellations:
Academie de la Danse will close when the Wisconsin Rapids School District does and if the weather deteriorates throughout the day, while school is in session. Please watch the local news, listen to the WGLX/WFHR radio, log onto www.academiedeladanse.com and click to “Announcements”, or www.cancellations.com for class information. If in doubt, do not hesitate to call 424-5585.

Insurance:
Academie de Ia Danse and will not be responsible for accidents and/or injuries. It is required that all students be covered by their own family’s insurance policy. If an injury occurs, it is understood that your own policy is your only source of reimbursement. The Academie will supply students with band-aids, feminine products and ice-packs when required. No aspirin or other oral drugs will be administered by our staff. Academie de Ia Danse and it’s employees cannot be responsible for your personal property. Absolutely no food or gum chewing is permitted. Bottled water is permitted and encouraged.

Proper Dance Apparel:
Proper dance attire is required for all classes; the guidelines for each class are listed below: Creative Movement: Black or pink leotard, ballet pink tights, pink leather ballet slippers, (with the bows tucked in), optional skirt. (NO pink bedroom slippers - they are dangerous!) Classical Dance: (Ballet): Black leotard (in addition-other solid colors are acceptable, NO print or striped leotards), ballet pink tights, pink leather or canvas ballet slippers, optional skirt and optional warmers on occasion. . . Jazz: Leotard-fitted crop or T-top, tights-bike pants or leggings, jazz shoes in color and style determined by the instructor based on the level and ability of the student. Tap: Leotard-fitted crop or T-top, tights-bike pants or leggings preferably in black or solid colors. Tap shoes in the style determined by the instructor based on the level and ability of the student. Optional skirt. Modern: Leotard, leggings or tights in black or other solid colors. Bare feet.

Performances:
The year-end performance is designed to give a professional level performing experience, to all students of the Academie. This quality performance is presented mid-May each year at the Performing Arts Center. Each student will receive a measurement slip with the costume sizing for each dancers’ costume. This form must be signed and include a deposit of $35.00 per costume, per class that a child is enrolled in, and must be turned in to the studio office by the date given. Any costume balances, over and above the deposit, will be posted to your account in February. All costume deposits and balances are NON-REFUNDABLE!

Late Registration:
Late registration throughout the year will be accepted, depending upon space and the student's ability. After the third week of classes, tuition will be pro-rated accordingly.










Dancers

Here is a list of some of our dancers who have or are currently with major schools and companies.

Jennifer Karius: North Carolina School of the Arts / Principal-San Francisco Ballet / Princess Grace Award

James Weidner: Milwaukee Ballet Company / Berkshire Ballet

Jeana Klevene:Lexington Ballet

Olivia Hagen: Interlochen Arts Academy

Catherine Dale: Interlochen Arts Academy / Milwaukee Ballet Company / Artisan Dance Company

Andrea Conger: Ethnic Dance Theatre / Gabrieli Choir-Budapest

Valerie Bujanowski: Mid-Illinois Ballet