Class Style, Type & Level Guide
Class Levels
Below is a general guide to how we describe the levels of our classes. This is meant to help set expectations, to guide you and our Instructors, and to help provide clarity and consistency. Class levels are not intended to be a means of excluding or labeling dancers. Anyone is welcome to take any of our classes!
Additionally, levels are highly subjective depending on the dancer, teacher and the geographical area/audience. You may find these levels defined differently at other studios, or you yourself may define them differently.
This guide is not meant to lock any class or teacher into a rigid set of requirements. You may find some variance from this guide in some classes. Our Instructors are humans who change and evolve, and will not be exactly the same every class they teach. However, if you take a class that significantly deviates from the level noted in the class description, please let us know.
Finally, some of our class styles have a wider variety of levels offered than others. This is a work in progress for us as we continually monitor our dancers’ needs and wishes while we work to add more level differentiation to best serve them and you!
Class Level Guide
Each style of class may have a more detailed description of the levels within it. Please refer to the class descriptions in Mindbody for further detail and differentiation.
Class Styles
Ballet
Although there are various styles and methods within ballet, when we typically think of ballet, Classical ballet often comes to mind. This style is characterized by graceful, flowing movements; turned out feet; positions with long lines; balance; symmetry; and an almost ethereal quality. Ballet will challenge your physical strength, control and stamina. In a Powerhouse ballet class you will start with a barre section, then move to center for center-work. You will potentially also do adagio, petite allegro, and some combinations across the floor. At Powerhouse, even our ballet classes are relaxed and no pressure! Our Instructors are encouraging and gentle, so you will not feel the pressure or rigidity that is often be associated with ballet.
Recommended attire and footwear: You can feel free to wear traditional ballet class clothing like leotard and tights, however, you are welcome to wear anything you’d like. Leggings or sweatpants are also acceptable. For footwear, we recommend ballet slippers, or dancing in bare feet or socks if you don’t have slippers.
Contemporary
Contemporary dance is at its core expressive, often symbolic, and highly intertwined with the music. Choreography may be focused on either expressing the lyrics of the music or geared toward the musicality of the instruments. It is a broad style that encompasses a fusion of other styles, however it is most often known for being fluid and sometimes appearing abstract. You may find technical elements (ie, jumps and turns) and floorwork, especially in the intermediate and advanced levels. However, the technical elements in contemporary may be done in a more experimental fashion (for example, either more fluid than sharp, or different in shape than you would see in a jazz or ballet class). Additionally, you will often see a contrast of dynamics within one piece of choreography (slow vs. fast, sharp vs. smooth, high vs. low). Finally, this style will allow you to explore your own movement and express yourself with a little less precision or specificity than some other styles.
Recommended footwear: half soles/foot-undies, socks, bare feet, ballet slippers, jazz shoes
Dancehall
Dancehall is a popular music and dance style, and all-around way of life for Jamaicans. This musical style developed from the roots of reggae music in the 1980’s and started in dance halls, which are basically nightclubs and parties. It is a high energy style, with a significant focus on the hips and booty, but not excluding other body movements. There are many dancehall songs which incorporate lyrics of dance movements that you can perform together with a group.
Recommended footwear: sneakers or bare feet
Heels
This is a sultry, confidence-boosting class that may feature elements of jazz and hip hop, while allowing you to dance in heels. Depending on the instructor and level, choreography may include floorwork, so we recommend bringing kneepads or wearing pants/leggings.
Recommended footwear: We recommend heels that are secure around your ankle, preferably ones with laces that you can tighten for added stability. If you are just starting to dance in heels, we recommend a medium thickness heel, and a lower height. As you gain comfort and experience, feel free to bust out the stilettos. We do not recommend sandals, wedges, or strappy heels. If you want to make an investment in dance-specific heels, we recommend Burju and LaDuca. LaDuca is geared toward theater dance styles, while Burju is geared more toward commercial/sultry styles of dancing in heels.
Hip Hop
Hip Hop Dance is a style of movement created by African-American and Latino cultures. Some key elements include bouncing, grooving and rocking. These elements are executed to Hip Hop music. Hip Hop emerged out of the Bronx, New York, also known as “The Birth Place”, and has been the building block for many of the ideas and trends we see today, both in and out of dance. While often referred to as one dance style, Hip Hop dance is actually just one component of Hip Hop culture, extending into the Elements of DJ’ing, Emceeing, Graffiti, Breaking (b-boys and b-girls), and Knowledge.
Most hip hop classes at Powerhouse are choreography-focused and contain a variety of specific hip hop styles within one class. If we are offering a specific style of class within the hip hop genre (for example Popping), we would label it as such.
Recommended footwear: Sneakers
Jazz
This performance style of dance focuses on high-energy movement, clean lines and technical skills learned in ballet. Jazz dance pairs animated expressions with sharp, yet fluid motions. You may expect to see turns and leaps in traditional jazz dance.
Recommended footwear: Character heels, jazz shoes, sneakers, or bare feet.
Jazz Funk & Street Jazz
These styles can be similar and the terms are often used interchangeably. They tend to combine both jazz and street styles such as hip hop, and tend to be danced to pop music. You may find the choreography to contain somewhat less jazz technique than traditional jazz classes, with more emphasis put on style and swag than precision and sharpness. On the other hand, these styles may be a bit more precise, clear and straightforward than hip hop, with less focus on grooving and bouncing. When you think of music videos and awards show performances, you might often think of these styles. Check out this great explanation of the origins of these styles from CLI!
Recommended footwear: Sneakers, jazz shoes or bare feet.
Latin Fusion:
In our Latin Fusion classes, you will learn the basics of the specific style (listed below) and then incorporate it into a short choreography combination that you can perform solo! No partner needed for these classes. However, sometimes we do offer partnering classes. Those will be specified as such.
Cha Cha is a fun, flirty dance that grew very popular in the 1950’s. It consists of hip action, speed and sassy style to get your heart rate pumping while still having a good time! In Noelle’s Latin Fusion class, you will learn the basics of Cha Cha while adding it to choreography and performance.
Jive is a combination of latin and swing dancing. It is fast paced and uses a lot of knee and hip action. It is super high energy and a great dose of cardio! In Noelle’s Latin Fusion class, you will learn the basics of Jive while adding it to choreography and performance.
Rumba is universally recognized as the grandfather of latin dance and also the dance of love. It is a slower, sexy style with lots of passion involved.
Bachata is a playful latin dance typically danced in a club setting. It is all about the hips! This sensual style has hip motion, turns and side to side footwork.
Samba The international latin ballroom style of Samba is a fun, upbeat and lively dance based on Brazilian Samba. This dance has a lot of rhythm and a bouncing action from the knees that creates a really sexy hip action.
Salsa This fun and energetic dance is the most popular of the latin dances because it is easy to learn and is fantastic for all dancing abilities. This style has Afro-Caribbean roots with a lot of rhythm and hip action.
Pro Dance Team Style
Get the chance to learn from current and former professional cheerleaders in Powerhouse's Pro Dance Team Style Class. These routines are about :30-:45 seconds in length, featuring technical elements that range from kicks, leaps, turns, and floorwork (with modifications often provided). With every hair whip and snap, Pro Style class will make you feel like you're dancing in a Halftime Show! This class is designed for the dancer who loves a stylized and fun routine and maybe aspire to dance for a collegiate or professional dance team.
Recommended footwear: Sneakers, jazz shoes.
Sideline Style / Pom
Break out those poms! Powerhouse's Sideline Style class is for your inner cheerleader to come to life! You will begin with a warm-up and spend a few minutes breaking down traditional Pom motions and form. You will then learn a combo that ranges from 4 to 8 eight counts, sometimes featuring a formation change and/or a repeat that will mimic the feeling of being on the sidelines for a t-shirt toss! Sideline Style routines do not have technical elements in them, just lots of energy and hard-hitting movements. This class is designed for the dancer who wants an introduction to this style or a dancer who would love to dance on a collegiate or professional dance team. (Poms are encouraged, but optional!)
Recommended footwear: Sneakers
Tap
Tap dance is a style known for the sound the dancer creates with their tap shoes while dancing. The dancer’s body truly becomes the instrument while they merge with and become the tangible expression of the intricate rhythms of the music. It is danced to various styles of music, however, in our Theater Tap class, choreography will be done to show tunes and danced in a more theatrical style that you would be likely to see on the stage of a musical production. This style is more than 100 years old, originating from the merging of West African dances and the clog dances and Jigs of Irish, Scottish and English immigrants.
Recommended footwear: Tap shoes. If you are new to the level, you may wear sneakers.
Theater Jazz
This class looks at classical and modern musical theater jazz technique and stylistic influences of the Broadway musical. It emphasizes storytelling through movement, sharp lines, musicality, and performance quality.
Recommended footwear: You can wear character heels, jazz shoes, sneakers, or bare feet.
Twerk
Twerking is a dance style featuring thrusting hip movements in a squat, done at various speeds. Some people view this style as provocative and inappropriate, however, twerking can also be seen as a unique way to move your body and a way to embrace and appreciate all your assets! In this class we will learn basic to intermediate twerk movements as well as an energetic upbeat dance combo to put your new skills to work! As a bonus, this class will be a great workout for your core, quads, hamstrings and lower back. Expect to have FUN, get out of your comfort zone, decompress, let go of stressing about technique and show yourself (and everyone) what you're working with!
Recommended footwear: sneakers.
Class Types
Regular Classes: Most of our classes are considered “regular” classes. They are typically 1 hour (except ballet which is 1.25 hour), and contain a warm-up and choreography. They are typically taught by our recurring team of Instructors or in some cases, Guest Instructors.
Master Classes: Our Master Classes are taught by instructors who are usually from a different location and have extensive professional performance and/or educational expertise. These classes are typically longer (1.5 to 2 hours), and sometimes feature a Q&A.
Premium Programs - Series: Series are groups of multi-week classes that are bundled together and are progressive in nature. They usually consist of 1 class per week on the same day and time slot, for a period of 3 to 5 weeks. Examples include our Pure Beginner Tap Series (4 weeks), and our Pure Beginner Hip Hop Series (4 weeks). They may be offered as a drop-in option, or as a package of classes that must be purchased together.
Premium Programs - Special Events: Special events are typically one-time classes that may incorporate a mixer and may be longer than one hour. They are typically priced differently than our regular classes.
Premium Programs - Workshops: Workshops are classes that have a very specific focus and purpose beyond just learning choreography. For example, our Pro Prep Workshop is a one-day, 6-hour event that is geared towards preparing dancers for auditioning for a professional sports dance team.