Classes

For information about the dance divisions and levels, please visit the the Resources page.

Classes Offered: Ballet, Pre-Pointe, Pointe, Pilates, Stretch & Strength, Jazz, Contemporary, Modern, Leaps & Turns, Primary Ballet, Primary Jazz

Company: Embody Dance Company partners with EFAD to create a program that enriches dancers’ technique, artistry, and confidence. To learn more, click here to visit Embody Dance Company’s website.

Primary Ballet

Primary ballet is an introduction to ballet for young dancers. Elise Flagg Academy of Dance follows the American Ballet Theatre Curriculum. The class consists of stretch and strength geared toward training young dancers. Dancers learn basic barre  exercises and center work, including progressions across the floor and partner work. In addition to ballet technique, teachers focus on musicality, dynamics and artistry. EFAD focuses on developing proper technique that is age appropriate while utilizing metaphors and imagery.

Classical Ballet

Classical ballet is a type of performance dance known for its aesthetics, rigorous technique, and ethereal qualities. Ballet originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century. It later developed into a concert dance form in France. Since then, it has widespread to a highly technical form of dance based on French terminology. Classical ballet technique employs the foundational principles dance is built on such as turnout of the legs, high extensions, pointe work and partner work. Emphasis is placed on developing flexibility and strengthening legs, feet, and core essential for the ballet. Female dancers begin to learn pointe technique, in which dancers wear shoes that allow them to dance on the tips of their toes. Male dancers learn partner work and advanced jumps and turns.

Contemporary

Contemporary dance is a form of performance dance. This genre has grown to become one of the most dominant dance forms for trained dancers in the world. Contemporary originated by borrowing aspects of other genres such as classical ballet, modern and jazz techniques. Contemporary technique utilizes the control of ballet technique, the torso movement of modern technique, contact-release movement, floor work, unpredictable musicality, creative freedom and improvisation. Ballet technique is key to contemporary dance. EFAD studies modern techniques by Graham, Horton, and Cunningham during class while utilizing those methods within contemporary choreography. Contemporary dance is performed by ballet, modern, and contemporary dance companies and recently has been incorporated into more commercial projects.

Jazz

Jazz is a form of dance technique and style that originated in America during the early twentieth century. Jazz technique focuses on emphasized isolations, fast direction changes, unique body placement, stage presence, deep plié and lunges. Jazz dancers are strong, powerful and charismatic. To excel in jazz, dancers need a strong background in ballet technique. EFAD studies Giordano technique and Fosse technique throughout the year and in our summer programs. Jazz technique is seen in a musical theatre and commercial work.

Pilates

Core strengthening is essential to the dancers conditioning Elise Flagg is a certified Romanas Pilates instructor and brings years of her own personal work and training into all the classes as well as offering additional private pilates work as needed. Pilates instruction is a required class for all Elise Flagg Academy of Dance students.

Benefits:

  • Longer, leaner muscles

  • Improves postural problems 

  • Increases core strength/stability 

  • Helps prevent injury 

  • Enhances functional fitness 

  • Balances strength and flexibility 

  • Heightens body awareness 

  • No-impact (easy on joints) 

  • Improves balance, coordination, circulation

Leaps and Turns

Leaps and Turns dedicated to studying the art of the successful turns, leaps and tricks. Dancers will learn how to better control their bodies, while also learning various advanced leap patterns and turn combinations. This class is recommended for Intermediate and Advanced dancers studying contemporary and jazz.

Modern

Inspired by Martha Graham and Lester Horton, Modern teaches dancers to develop a freedom in movement, including rolling, as well as contraction and release. Dancers explore new ways of moving in combinations, floor work and partnering, and also in various methods of improvisation.

Embody Dance Company

Founded by JacLyn Allott, Embody offers its dancers high quality dance instruction through a codified dance program that embraces the value of both technique and performance, in an effort to develop strong technical dancers that are capable of performing with effortless artistry. 

Embody allows flexible participation in all performances and competitions, based on each dancer’s goals.

Studio Performances Will Include: In-Studio Winter Showcase, In-Studio Spring Banquet, June Showcase and Charity/Event Performances

Charity Performances Will Include: Fox Valley Orchesis Show, Art for Life at Northern Illinois University, Dance for the Drive, and Dance for Life Next Generation

Events May Include: Batavia Block Party (Batavia), Kane County Cougars, Fox Trot (Batavia Mothers Club), Scarecrow Fest (St. Charles), Oktoberfest (Batavia), Geneva Christmas Walk (Geneva)

Conventions and Competitions will include: NYCDA, Nuvo, Applause Talent Competition and Groove Dance Competition

For more information, visit www.embodydancecompany.com.

Summer Session

EFAD holds a summer session for EFAD students and outside dancers looking to improve quickly in a short time. It is important for dancers to continue their craft over summer months so progress made throughout the year is not lost. Summer session is required for Dance Company members. Summer session runs for eight weeks. EFAD offers academic classes with dance technique classes. Summer offers a wider variety for dancers than possible during the year. Some classes include Ballet and Pointe (as many focus), Pilates, Character, Contemporary, Jazz, Improvisation, Partner Work,  Modern, Musical Theatre, and Academic classes such as Nutrition, Choreography, History, Q&As, etc.

Summer session is offered Pre-Ballet through Advanced Level.

Private Lessons

In addition to group dance instruction, our studio offers private lessons in Pilates, ballet, jazz, and contemporary. Private lessons are personalized training that is individualized to the dancer’s needs. The benefits of private dance lessons include instant feedback from the instructor and the one-on-one attention. Private lessons are also useful for students getting ready to audition for roles and summer intensive programs. During private lessons, the audition videos can be completed.

We offer private lessons in both 30 and 60-minute time slots.