Dance
Welcome!
At Neuse River we offer many different dance classes for students of all skill and experience levels. Whether you've never set foot in a dance studio or you've been dancing since you could walk, there's a place for you here. In all of our dance courses, we cover dance technique in multiple styles of dance, as well as topics outside of a traditional studio dance class, such as the choreographic process, dance history, elements of dance and movement, research-backed strength and stretching processes, and watching and analyzing dance. Our beginner classes focus on basic dance technique and coordination, as well as an introduction to other topics in the field of dance. Our advanced class offer extended opportunities for leadership, choreography, and advanced technique.
About The Instructor
Hello! My name is Ashley Grant. I'm from the mountains of North Carolina and I've been dancing for about 20 years. I graduated from Meredith College with a BA in dance education and my areas of training include ballet, tap, jazz, modern, and contemporary. My favorite style to teach is ballet, but I love teaching anything. My favorite style to choreograph is contemporary, and my favorite to perform is tap! Some of my hobbies are ice skating, swimming, hiking, and reading. I also really love coffee!! I have extensive performance and choreography experience and several years of private studio teaching experience with all ages.
Ashley Grant
Neuse River MS Dance Teacher
Meredith College
BA in Dance Education/K-12 Teaching Licensure
All Grades
7th and 8th Grade
7th and 8th Grade
Course Options and Descriptions
Intro to Dance
Offered to 6th, 7th, and 8th grade.
Designed for beginning students who have not taken dance before.
Prerequisite to Dance I and Dance II.
1 required performance.
Dance I
Offered to 7th and 8th grade.
Designed for returning dance students.
Must have taken either Intro to Dance or an equivalent experience outside of school.
1 required performance.
Jr. Company
(Dance II)
Offered to 7th grade only.
Two semester commitment.
Designed for students who want to level up their dancing and technique.
Must have taken Intro to Dance or Dance I.
2 required performances.
Dance Company
(Dance II)
Offered to 8th grade only.
Two semester commitment.
Designed for advanced students who are interested in choreography.
Must have taken Intro to Dance or Dance I.
2 required performances.
Pictured: Panther Creek High School's Dance Company performing "Fine Line"
Choreographed by Ms. Grant
Class Expectation/Studio Etiquette
Do not wear shoes in the dance room. Shoes will be placed in cubbies when you enter the room.
Be on time and dressed appropriately every day.
Absolutely no gum. This is a NRMS policy but it is also a safety hazard in the dance studio.
Waterbottles will be kept to the side of the room and will only be used during designated water breaks.
All electronic devices should be left in the student’s bag in the dressing room unless they are being used for a specific class activity.
Be respectful and supportive of everyone in the room, yourself included.
Make mistakes and try again.
Practice! You will need to review choreography at home in order to be successful in this class. It is your responsibility to know all choreography taught in class. All choreography videos will be located in the class Google Drive.
Ask for help when you need it.
Take care of your body and the environment. All trash in the dressing room and studio must be thrown away at the end of class.
Take warm-up seriously. This is your opportunity to prepare your brain and your body to dance safely.
Do not talk/whisper/or laugh while others are dancing.
Participate fully every day. If you are not dressed in clothes you can fully participate in and/or you are not dressed on time, you will not receive full participation points for the day.
Course Objectives
Students will be able to use choreographic tools to create dance.
Students will be able to use performance values to enhance dance performance.
Students will be able to use strength, coordination, and flexibility to perform dance movement skills.
Students will be able to watch and respond to dance.
Students will be able to make connections between dance and other disciplines.
Course Topics
Ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary, and more
Improvisation
Choreography
Elements of dance
Strengthening and stretching
Analyzing dance
Performance qualities
Class Technology
Classwork: Canvas
Parent Info: Google Sites (this site!)
Grades: PowerSchool
Videos: Google Drive (link on Canvas)
Grading Policies
45% of your grade will be mastery assessments. This includes dance technique assessments, choreography projects, and performances.
40% of your grade will be practice assignments. This includes homework, project check-ins, and reflections.
15% of your grade will be participation. You must be dressed out, at your assigned spot, and ready to dance by 3 minutes after the bell in order to get full participation points for that day. You must be dressed in clothes that allow you to fully participate in order to get full participation points for that day.
Late Work Policy
Students may turn in late work up until 5 school days before the end of the grading period (nine weeks). I believe that the work I assign is valuable and important and I want students to have a chance to complete the work, even if it is late. Late work will have a 10-point deduction.
Makeup Work Policy
Sitting out of class due to illness/injury: Students will be required to complete an observation form to be turned in at the end of class in order to receive participation points for the day.
Unable to perform due to illness/injury/scheduling conflict: If a student misses a performance they will be required to complete a substantial makeup project in order to receive the two test grades that the performance is worth.
Appropriate Attire
Sweatpants, leggings, or athletic shorts
Any shirt you can move in comfortably without getting overheated
If you have long hair, please have a way to pull your hair out of your face.
Injury/Illness Policy
In this class, we do not push through injuries or ignore the advice of medical professionals. If a student is ill or injured and has been instructed by a medical professional to sit out of physical activity, that student will not be allowed to begin dancing again without written approval from their doctor. If a student becomes ill or injured during class, the student will stop dancing immediately until the situation can be assessed. When in doubt: If it hurts, stop. In the event that a student has to sit out of class, they will have an observation form they will fill out during class in order to receive participation credit for the day. It is still the student’s responsibility to learn any choreography that was taught while they are sitting out.
Pictured: Panther Creek High School Spring Dance Concert 2022 featuring choreography by Ms. Grant
The deadline to communicate a conflict is two weeks before the performance date. In case of an emergency, please inform me of the conflict within 48 hours of the emergency. Failure to communicate a performance absence will result in a 0 grade for the performance. Students will be allowed to complete a makeup assignment for a maximum grade of 55. Students who are not able to attend the concert and communicate the conflict before the deadline will be allowed to complete a makeup assignment for full credit.
Performance Details
Winter Performance Date: 6:30 PM, Friday, Dec 8
Rehearsals: After school, Dec 8
This performance is REQUIRED and is worth 2 test grades. If there is a reason you cannot perform, your parent/guardian must communicate this to me immediately. This performance is a group effort and unexpected absences will impact the rest of your class. Please be respectful of everyone’s time and effort by being on time for rehearsals and the performance and communicating if there are any conflicts. Please do not wait until the last minute to communicate conflicts, let me know as earlier as possible. The other students in the class do not want to have to respace their dances halfway through the year.