Tiny Toes

Tiny Toes is an engaging Ballet and Jazz class designed for young dancers (ages 4–6) who are ready to build on basic movements and quickly move into more refined technique and dance terminology. This interactive class introduces proper warm-ups, stretches, and across-the-floor progressions, allowing your dancer to explore new skills in a supportive, creative environment. The class is taught by Jessica Steinhart, supported by her Upper School assistants and Lower School junior assistants, ensuring each student receives personalized guidance.

What to Expect

  1. Circle Warm-Up: Dancers begin seated in a circle, warming up to the famous “Miss Puffy” song.

  2. Standing Warm-Up: Includes isolations, cardio exercises, and stretching to build strength and coordination.

  3. Floor Stretch: Using imaginative imagery, dancers work on foot strength and leg flexibility, preparing them for more challenging movements.

  4. Across the Floor: In small groups, students practice technique-based combinations—bunny hops, passés, skips, leaps, and chassés—focusing on proper form and coordination.

  5. Center Combination/Choreography: Dancers come together to learn fun mini-combinations blending Ballet and Jazz fundamentals.

Ballet & Jazz

  • Tahitian Fusion: This year, we’re thrilled to incorporate a special combination of Ballet and Tahitian dance, co-choreographed with Leolani Gallardo of Te Aho Nui Tahitian Dance School based in Los Angeles, offering a vibrant cultural twist to our traditional Ballet and Jazz foundation.

  • Jazz Portion: Builds on familiar steps like skipping, hopping, and leaping, emphasizing the proper “dance way” to execute each movement.

  • Ballet Portion: Introduces the ballet barre and foundational terminology (e.g., plié, tendu, passé), helping dancers gain confidence with new, more challenging steps.

Tiny Toes provides a fantastic introduction for young dancers just starting out at Sierra Canyon, while also offering more experienced beginners the opportunity to refine their coordination and technique. If your child loves to move, create, and explore, this class will nurture their excitement for dance in a fun, welcoming atmosphere—especially as they discover the beauty of combining Ballet, Jazz, and Tahitian dance.