Becky's Dance Co.

Ballet and tap for ages 5 to 8, in three weekly sections: Monday and Friday with Becky Abbott, Wednesday evening with Hadlie Abbott. Each 45-minute class moves from stretching and technique to ballet barre and floor work, then to tap technique. Dancers learn two ballet and two tap dances across the year (one of each in the fall, one of each in the spring) for the December winter recital and May spring recital. Real pink ballet shoes and black tap shoes are required; the studio sells both.

Beginning 1 gymnastics for kindergarten and up, taught by Becky Abbott, a certified USA Gymnastics instructor. At this level students work on cartwheels and bridges. Each 45-minute class covers stretching and flexibility (seals, bridges), tumbling, and bar and beam every other week, ending with five minutes of cool-down stretching and strength work. The Wednesday and Thursday sections learn routines for the December and May recitals; the Friday section is non-performing.

One-hour gymnastics for kindergarten and up at the Beginning 2 and Intermediate levels, taught by Becky Abbott. Beginning 2 students can do regular, stacked and one-handed cartwheels with straight legs and work on bridge kickovers, back walkovers, round-offs and handstands. Intermediate students can also hold a handstand and do a back walkover, and work on front and back handsprings, aerials and front tucks off the springboard. Wednesday and Thursday sections perform at the recitals; the Friday section does not.

Introductory cheer for ages 3 to 6, taught by Hadlie Abbott on Tuesday afternoons. The 45-minute class starts with a warm-up and stretch, moves to jumps and technique, then learns routines that mix cheers, jumps and dance, adding pyramids and stunts as students are ready. The class learns four routines over the year and performs at the December and May recitals. Students wear a fitted T-shirt that stays tucked in, leggings or fitted shorts, and cheer shoes.

Cheer for ages 7 and up, taught on Tuesdays by studio owner Becky Abbott, who cheered through junior high and high school and was a four-year team captain. Each 45-minute class covers a warm-up and stretch, jumps and technique, then routines with cheers, jumps, pyramids and stunting as students are ready. Students learn four routines over the season for the December winter recital and May spring recital.

The studio's top gymnastics level, a one-hour Thursday class taught by Becky Abbott. Elite students already have all three cartwheels, round-offs and a running round-off, can hold a handstand, do front and back walkovers, and have their back and front handsprings. In class they work on front and back tucks on the floor, aerials, round-off back handsprings and back tucks, and layouts. Elite learns routines for the December winter recital and May spring recital.

FUSION is an extra one-hour Thursday group open only to members of Show Stoppers, the studio's tryout-based competition and performing company for dancers 8 and up, led by Becky Abbott. Show Stoppers covers lyrical and hip hop teams, one local and one travel competition a year (plus Nationals at Lagoon if they qualify), performances, service opportunities and team bonding, from late August to mid-May.

Hip hop for 3rd through 5th graders, taught by Hadlie Abbott on Thursday evenings. The 45-minute class runs through a short stretch and technique work, then choreography; students learn four dances over the season and perform them at the December and May recitals. The winter recital outfit is the studio's performance shirt and leggings, white socks and the required black Converse-style shoes.

Hip hop for 6th grade and older, taught by Hadlie Abbott on Thursday evenings right after the 3rd to 5th grade class. Students stretch, work on technique and learn four dances over the year, two in the fall and two in the spring, for the December and May recitals. Class dress is a T-shirt that stays tucked in and leggings or sweatpants that do not drag, with black low-top Converse-style shoes.

Hip hop for kindergarten through 2nd grade, taught by Hadlie Abbott on Wednesdays right after the preschool class. Each 45-minute class starts with stretching and technique before the group learns its dances: two in the fall and two in the spring, performed at the December winter recital and May spring recital. Required shoes are black low-top Converse-style sneakers with white laces and toe; jeans, shorts and skirts are not allowed in class.

A one-hour jazz class for ages 7 and up, taught by Hadlie Abbott on Thursday afternoons. Each class is split into stretching, across-the-floor technique and learning dances. Students learn four dances, two in the fall and two in the spring, and perform them at the December winter recital and the May spring recital. Dancers wear a leotard or fitted shirt with shorts or leggings (no bare midriffs or tank tops) and black jazz shoes.

A one-hour lyrical class for ages 8 and up, taught by Hadlie Abbott on Monday afternoons. Class is split into stretching, across-the-floor technique and learning dances, with four dances learned over the year for the December and May recitals. Beginning lyrical dancers are expected to know basic ballet positions and terms such as plié, relevé, passé and arabesque. Dancers wear lyrical sandals bought through the studio, and hair is pulled up away from the face.

A 45-minute preschool ballet and tap class for ages 3 to 5, taught by studio owner Becky Abbott. Each class has three parts: stretching and technique, ballet barre and floor work while learning ballet dances, then tap technique and tap dances. Over the year children learn four dances, two ballet and two tap, and perform them at the December winter recital and the May spring recital. Dancers need real pink ballet shoes (the studio does not allow the stiff store-brand kind) and black tap shoes.

Preschool gymnastics for ages 3 to 5. Class begins with warm-ups and stretches, then seals and bridges, then basic tumbling skills and some equipment; every other week the children also use the bar and beam. This is a non-performing class, so there is no recital. Gymnasts go barefoot and wear a leotard or a fitted shirt that stays tucked in, with leggings or fitted shorts (no skirts or jeans).

Preschool hip hop for ages 3 to 5, taught by Hadlie Abbott on Wednesday afternoons. Class opens with a 5 to 10 minute stretch, moves to technique, then to learning dances; over the year the class learns four dances and performs them at the December and May recitals. Dancers wear a T-shirt that stays tucked in, leggings or sweatpants, and black low-top Converse-style shoes with white laces and toe (an off-brand pair is fine).

The advanced hip hop team of Show Stoppers, Becky's Dance Co.'s competition and performing company, directed by Becky Abbott; a tryout is required. Show Stoppers competes at one local competition and one travel competition, with a second travel trip to Nationals at Lagoon if the team qualifies, and adds service opportunities, fundraising and team parties. The team rehearses weekly from late August to mid-May, and dancers wear the studio's required black Converse-style hip hop shoes.

The advanced lyrical team of Show Stoppers, the studio's competition and performing company, directed and taught by Becky Abbott; a tryout is required. The studio's advanced lyrical level expects three or more years of dance experience, single turns, good flexibility and timing, floor rolls, leaps and jumps. Show Stoppers teams compete at one local and one travel competition each season, plus Nationals at Lagoon if they qualify. The season runs late August to mid-May.

The beginning lyrical team of Show Stoppers, the studio's competition and performing company for dancers 8 and up; a tryout is required. Teams attend one local competition for feedback and one travel competition, plus Nationals at Lagoon if they qualify, and also do performances and service projects. The program centers on technique, performance, community, character and self-esteem. The season runs from late August to mid-May with summers off, and solo, duet and trio spots are available.

A 45-minute tumbling class for kindergarten and up that combines the studio's Beginning 1 and Beginning 2 levels, taught by Kate on Tuesday evenings. Beginning 1 students work on cartwheels and bridges; Beginning 2 students can already do regular, stacked and one-handed cartwheels with straight legs and work on bridge kickovers, back bends, back walkovers, round-offs and handstands. It is a non-performing class with no recital. Students tumble barefoot.