CLASSICAL BALLET
Concordia Arts Academy offers classical ballet classes for ages 3 through 18. Our ballet instructors are classically trained, put proper technique and safety first in teaching students correct form and preparing our more advanced students in en pointe! Ballet is a pre-requisite to be in modern, contemporary, jazz and Company. Concordia’s ballet classes have the opportunity to perform in our Christmas Ballet and our Spring Shows. Ballet is a beautiful art form and the basis for most dance genres. Students must adjudicate to be placed in levels 2 through 6. See ballet schedules here: https://www.concordiaartsacademy.com/schedule/
JAZZ
Jazz Dance …beginning in New Orleans in the 19th century with African dance roots and taking inspiration from choreographers such as Jack Cole, Lester Horton and Bob Fosse, Jazz has evolved into a performance-based dance discipline. Today, with the influence of stage and screen, Jazz dance offers a variety of choreography styles. Jazz dance at Concordia is offered to dancers ages 6-18 and consists of both traditional Broadway style jazz and commercial jazz which incorporates unique leaps, jumps and turn combinations. Students begin in Jazz 1 (along with taking ballet) and once skills are acquired will be placed in intermediate Jazz, Broadway Jazz or Advanced Jazz by the teachers.
HIP-HOP
Hip-Hop is a fun and energetic dance form for all! Our hip-hop instructors offer their very own curriculum in our hip-hop classes and deliver unique, family-friendly and quality choreography at every age level for five year olds to teenagers. See dance schedule here: https://www.concordiaartsacademy.com/schedule/
TAP
Tap classes at Concordia Arts Academy start as young as 3 years old in our ballet/tap combo class. Rhythm is the basis of all dance and we encourage our dancers to study tap to gain confidence in rhythm, musicality and stage presence. We offer tap classes (Hoofer style) and private lessons through advanced levels and offer tap master classes periodically. No split sole tap shoes allowed, must purchase tap shoes in-studio (combo classes) and for levels 1 through 5 at Bellissimo to ensure correct fitting and style for safety. Inquire within about auditioning for our TAP TEAM!
“A hoofer is a tapper who’s achieved a certain level of wisdom and sophistication in his or her craft. Hoofers are masters of improvisation, with a heightened sense of musicality. They’re so dedicated to tap, they live it completely, to the point where it becomes not just a style of dance but a lifestyle. You can consider yourself a hoofer only after you’ve lived the life of one.” — J Samuels Smith
AERIAL SILKS
Concordia Arts Academy offers classes with our certified aerial instructor, Ashley Yelton. We value and emphasize safety and etiquette in this beautiful and unique art form. Children as young as 6 years of age can study this wonderful art form. Concordia also offers classes for the intermediate aerialist through advanced levels. Concordia students that take this class will be featured in performances. Ms. Ashley also offers private aerial silks instruction. We now offer adult aerial silks classes!
MODERN DANCE
Modern dance begins for the inspired dancer at Concordia Arts Academy for the young and more advanced dancer. Modern combines theatrical and contemporary, while developing the use of the entire body in movements expressive of abstract ideas. All modern dancers at Concordia must take ballet and are encouraged to take other dance forms as well.
Jennifer Sudol took over our modern dance department in 2022. She hails from New York where she had the opportunity to train under various greats from both the ballet and modern dance world. She received her B.F.A. (cum laude) in Dance from Adelphi University under the direction of Norman Walker.
Jennifer went on to work with Carmen deLavallade, Regina Larkin and Milton Myers on a demonstration of the Horton modern dance technique and the works of Joyce Trisler as an educational reference for the Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts. She was chosen to perform Trisler’s most famed work “Journey” for the occasion. Jennifer has worked with various independent choreographers and has been a featured dancer in film and for dance companies such as the Fedicheva Ballet and The Bare Bones Dance Project. Her innovative choreography has been showcased for production companies, concerts, music videos and dance and theatre programs where she has staged ballets, operas and musical theatre works.
For over fifteen years she taught technique class at the Long Island High School for the Arts, helping students achieve their goals for college and the professional dance world. Many of her talented students are gracing stages performing with dance companies here and abroad, on Broadway and in television and film productions. Jennifer has established herself as a well known teacher, coach and dance mentor in the NY area and is now happy to continue sharing her passion, knowledge and love of the art of dance here in the Nashville area.
See our dance schedule here: https://www.concordiaartsacademy.com/schedule/
COMPANY DANCE
Company dance is for the serious and committed dancer. Company involves jazz, modern, lyrical, contemporary and ballet and tap for our Company Tap students. Our Creative Director and Company instructor invite students to audition once they are at a certain age/skill level in dance. Company dancers perform more often and are involved with giving back to our community. All Company dancers must take their regular ballet classes and an elective dance class weekly, such as modern or jazz. All Company dancers take our dance intensives in the summer and core classes through out the summer.