Class Levels and Advancement
There are four skill levels of advancement in Bows and Toes that determine which class you are in, and which performances you are able to participate in. All students are invited and encouraged to perform at our two annual recitals. More advanced level students will have additional performance opportunities. Advancing to the next level should always be a goal for each student.
All students start at Beginner 1. In order to advance to Beginner 2, students:
Advancing to Performer 1 means moving up to the 2nd class, and is a bigger accomplishment. These students must:
Performer 2 is the highest level of dancer. In order to advance, students must:
There are four skill levels of advancement in Bows and Toes that determine which class you are in, and which performances you are able to participate in. All students are invited and encouraged to perform at our two annual recitals. More advanced level students will have additional performance opportunities. Advancing to the next level should always be a goal for each student.
- Beginner 1 (1st class)
- Beginner 2 (1st class)
- Performer 1 (2nd class)
- Performer 2 (2nd class, most advanced)
All students start at Beginner 1. In order to advance to Beginner 2, students:
- Must not be delinquent in practice days (at least 13 parent-initialed practice days / month, and class days do not count)
- Must maintain good behavior in class on a regular basis
- Must master basic good dancing form.
- Must know the 1st four reels, Jig 2, Stamp Step, and basic dance moves.
Advancing to Performer 1 means moving up to the 2nd class, and is a bigger accomplishment. These students must:
- Must not be delinquent in practice days (at least 13 parent-initialed practice days / month, and class days do not count)
- Must maintain good behavior in class on a regular basis
- Must pass an audition to show they can dance the following steps. For soft shoe steps, they need to stay with the music. For hardshoe, this is not necessary.
All four beginner reels, all three light jigs, Slip Jig 1, Single Jig 1 and 3, Stamp Step, Front Back Step
- Finally, dancers moving into Performer 1 must show significant improvement in dancing form and bodily control. It is not enough to have the steps memorized – they need to be able to dance them with a basic degree of fluency.
Performer 2 is the highest level of dancer. In order to advance, students must:
- Dance at the level of Performer 1 for at least 1 year.
- Must not be delinquent in practice days (at least 13 practice days / month, and class days do not count) We expect dancers at this to level to practice more than the required minimum.
- Must know all reel steps, the Cape Breton Slip Jig Routine, and the Ojai Treble Reel.
- Must demonstrate excellent dancing form in all steps.
