Contemporary Dance - Pre-College Program
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Mission Statement
The IU Pre-College Contemporary Dance Program is committed to providing professional dance instruction that enhances children’s motor learning and physical development within a positive, supportive environment. The pre-college program focuses on creating dancers with outstanding technique while encouraging individual creativity and freedom of expression.
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Youth Company
A youth company is planned for the Spring of 2009. Program faculty are well qualified and experienced (many hold graduate degrees) to work with children, and instill in them a love and appreciation of the art of dance. The pre-college program brings into the community the highest quality of instruction and education in contemporary dance.
Class Descriptions:
Creative Movement (CM) ages 3-6
This is a fun, energetic class which emphasizes coordination and creativity, allowing young minds to explore and connect with their bodies. This introduction to dance provides a strong foundation for dance technique, while enhancing body awareness, creativity, and self-confidence.
Tap (T) ages 5-15
Want to make some noise? Learn to shuffle or do a time step? Then this is the right class for you! A fun dance class that introduces students to the basics of tap. This style teaches your feet to make music!
Pre-Ballet (PB) ages 6-7
Students will continue with skills acquired in Creative Movement and will be introduced to a more structured class format while learning basic ballet technique.
Ballet Technique (BT) ages 7-15
Our Ballet classes for ages 7 through 15 teach students the fundamentals of ballet technique. This will give young dancers a strong sense of proper placement while strengthening their body, instilling poise and grace, increasing flexibility, and developing musicality.
Advanced Ballet Technique (ABT) ages 15+
This class is for advanced students and will include college and adult dancers.
Modern Dance Technique (MDT) ages 7-10
Modern Dance is done with bare feet and gives students the opportunity to go beyond ballet to explore more freedom of movement and learn how to control their bodies off center. Students will broaden their movement vocabulary and improve their ability to learn a variety of combinations with unusual shapes, lines, and rhythms.
Teen/ Adult Dance (TAD) 13+
An intermediate class for teens and adults that provides an opportunity to improve strength, flexibility, and conditioning through the practice of ballet principles and modern dance technique. Concepts of breath, lines of energy, proper alignment, and the body-mind connection are also emphasized to maximize creativity and versatility of movement. (Not taught in Fall 2009)
Hip-Hop (HH) Ages 7-15
This class is designed for FUN! High energy and quick movement set to fast paced, popular music. No missing the beat here! Great for students with lots of energy and for those who want to learn the latest dance moves.
Musical Theatre/Jazz (MTJ) Ages 7-15
Broaden your skills with an introduction to musical theater dance and performance concepts. This class combines elements of ballet, jazz, and modern dance styles with choreography set to musical theater tunes. Begin your journey to Broadway!
2009-2010 Class Schedule and Calendar:
Fall Semester Dates:
Sept. 14 - Dec. 19
Thanksgiving Break:
Nov. 23-28 (No classes on these days)
Spring Semester Dates:
Jan. 18 - April 30
Spring Break:
March 13 - 21 (No classes on these days)
Spring Show:
May 1, 1 p.m. (tentative)
Contact Information:
For more information, please contact:
Susannah Windell, Coordinator of the Pre-College Program, 855-9509 swindell@indiana.edu
Mildred Perkins, Department of Kinesiology, 855-6172
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Dance Faculty
Susannah Windell – Pre-College Contemporary Dance Program Coordinator
Susannah (Susie) graduated with distinction in 1989 from Indiana University with a B.S. in Dance and Exercise Science. Susannah studied with Bill Evans, Paul Taylor, Susan McGuire, David Parsons, Ken Tosti, Michael Mao, Jan Miller, Gelsey Kirkland, Maggie Black, David Howard, Peter Sparling, Jessica Fogel, Judy Rice, Marat Daukayev, Reid Olson, and many others. She has performed, taught, and choreographed professionally for 20 years with companies from New York City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Ann Arbor, and Bloomington. Susannah attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City from 1997-1998. In 2003 she was awarded a full scholarship and teaching fellowship from the University of Michigan. She graduated in 2005 with her MFA in Dance. In addition, she has been a Certified Personal Trainer since 1989 and certified Pilates instructor since 1999. In 2007, Susannah became a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the NSCA. Susannah taught Jazz, Modern, and Ballet from 2005-2008 as an adjunct faculty member at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, California. Susannah is currently an adjunct faculty member teaching Modern Dance, Pilates, and Conditioning for Dancers with the Department of Kinesiology and the PAIP program in the School of HPER.
Student Teachers and Assistants
Jayme Deeb has been studying dance for ten years. She began her training in Ann Arbor, MI.and is currently majoring in Modern Dance at IU. She has studied tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, hip hop, and modern dance. She has attended many summer programs including the University of Michigan Summer Intensive, the Radio City Rockette Summer Intensive, the Cecchetti Council of America Summer Intensive, and Bates Dance Festival. This is Jayme’s second year teaching with the Pre-College Contemporary Dance Program.
Melanie Griffin has been dancing since the age of six. She began her training at Tony’s Dance Studio near Chicago, where she competed and also taught. Melanie is trained in ballet, modern, and jazz dance. She is a dance major at IU and plans to dance professionally. This is Melanie’s second year teaching with the Pre-College Contemporary Dance Program.
Laura Hunter has been dancing for 17 years. She trained at Stage I Dance Academy where she also taught and assisted classes. Laura is trained in ballet, tap, jazz, and modern dance. She is a dance major at IU and this is her second year teaching with the Pre-College Contemporary Dance Program.
Rachael Newbrough Rachel Newbrough has been dancing for sixteen years. She is trained in modern, tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, musical theater, and modern dance. Rachael also taught and assisted classes at her local studio and has attended various MusicWorks Teacher Workshops. She is currently a dance major at IU. This is her first year teaching for the program.
Andre Rivers currently a dance major at IU. He is trained in ballet, jazz, hip-hop, and modern dance. Andre teaches at several studios in the area. This is his first year teaching for the program.
