Youth Classes 

Taught by professionally trained faculty, BAX Youth Education classes provide expert instruction in building technical skills in Dance, Drama, and Tumbling. BAX students develop improvisation, original composition, and performance skills, while working independently and in collaboration. Our classes are developmentally appropriate and ensure that each child is challenged and supported. During each semester, families will have the opportunity to participate in Family Classes. Our Fall Semester ends with Open Studio class sharings and our Spring Semester culminates in Student Concert performances. 

Fall 2023 Class Schedule:  

Fall 2023 Term Dates: Monday, September 11 to Saturday, February 3, 2024

All our Youth Classes are offered with sliding scale, tiered tuition. You can learn more about tiered tuition at BAX online here.

Class Schedule Subject to Change. 

Class

Tumble Jumble

Mondays
3:30-4:15pm

Grades / Ages

PreK/K; Ages 3-5

Teacher

Class Description

Using exercises from partner acrobatics and gymnastics, this class helps to build fundamental motor skills, spatial awareness, and balance. Young tumblers enjoy playful obstacle courses, animal walks, and inverted movements, while also engaging in such social skill-building as transitions, taking turns, and working as a group.

Registration

Class

Drama Rama

Mondays
3:30-4:30pm

Grades / Ages

2nd-4th Grades; Ages 7-10

Teacher

Class Description

In this class, young theater-makers experiment with the building blocks of acting, including character and embodied storytelling, to create and perform devised and improvised work. Together, these young artists develop clarity of voice, expression, physical gesture as well as scale, ensemble-building, and audience awareness.

Registration

Class

Contemporary Dance

Mondays
3:30-4:30pm

Grades / Ages

1st/2nd Grades; Ages 6-8

Teacher

Class Description

This class explores a composite of techniques and traditions unique to modern and contemporary dance, including ballet, structured improvisation, and partner work. Students work both independently and collaboratively; learn phrase material, break-down and build-up repertory; and express themselves through improvisation and creative choice-making.

Registration

Class

Tumbling

Mondays
4:30-5:30pm

Grades / Ages

1st/2nd Grades; Ages 6-8

Teacher

Class Description

Drawing on partner acrobatics and fundamental gymnastics exercises, this playful class explores basic locomotive and body coordination skills as well as balance and strength-building. Students engage in fun individual and group exercises including learning forward rolls, logrolls, bear and crab walks, skipping, chasing, and galloping.

Registration

Class

Contemporary Dance

Mondays
4:45-5:45pm

Grades / Ages

5th-8th Grades; Ages 10-14

Teacher

Class Description

Contemporary Dance is a choreography-based movement class that draws from a variety of European and Africanist dance traditions such as modern, jazz, ballet, and hip hop. Students focus intensively on floor-work, honing their own personal style, developing skills such as musical awareness and release technique.

Registration

Class

Drag Performance

Mondays
4:45-5:45pm

Grades / Ages

3rd-5th Grades; Ages 7-11

Teacher

Class Description

In this class, students delve into the unique and increasingly popular art form that is drag performance. Students learn about drag performance’s rich cultural history and roots in queer performance traditions. Students are invited to discuss and dismantle gender archetypes towards creating a more expansive and empowered gender expression palate. Young artists use dramatic play, clowning, lip-syncing, as well as basic costumes, fashion, make-up, and props.

Registration

Class

Creative Movement

Tuesdays
3:30-4:15pm

Grades / Ages

PreK/K; Ages 3-5

Teacher

Class Description

A creative and engaging introduction to the world of movement, this class encourages children to explore their individual expression within a collaborative setting. Imagery, music, stories, and props play a vital role by providing structures for creative choice, dance making, and collaboration within this lively and fun group class!

Registration

Class

Tumbling

Tuesdays
3:30-4:30pm

Grades / Ages

2nd-3rd Grades; Ages 7-9

Teacher

Class Description

Drawing on techniques from gymnastics, dance, and partner acrobatics, students explore ways to support their own weight with handstands, headstands, and arm stands as well as create inversions like arching and bridging. Students explore balances and lifts, and learn sequences of rolling and flipping. As the year progresses, improvisation, performance, observation, and reflection become an important part of the tumbling practice.

Registration

Class

Wild Bodies

Tuesdays
3:30-4:30pm

Grades / Ages

3rd-5th Grades; Ages 7-11

Teacher

Class Description

This class uses obstacle courses, physical comedy, sports movement, dance, storytelling, and charades as inspiration to get creative and physical. Young artists will work with others to create movement sequences that tell stories, embody emotions, and get us listening to and reading the movements of others.

Registration

Class

Creative Drama

Tuesdays
3:30-4:30pm

Grades / Ages

K/1st Grades; Ages 5-7

Teacher

Class Description

In this playful setting, young artists enjoy creative play, imagination, and the process of working collectively. Students explore, experiment, and devise stories using their bodies, voices, emotions, and imaginations. Performance helps to build a sense of teamwork, taking turns, and harnessing individual energy for creative group fun.

Registration

Class

Contemporary Dance

Tuesdays
4:30-5:30pm

Grades / Ages

3rd-5th Grades; Ages 7-11

Teacher

Class Description

This class explores a composite of techniques and traditions unique to modern and contemporary dance including ballet, structured improvisation, and partner work. Students work both independently and collaboratively; learn phrase material, break-down and build-up repertory; and express themselves through improvisation and creative choice making.

Registration

Class

Drama Rama

Tuesdays
4:45-5:45pm

Grades / Ages

2nd-3rd Grades; Ages 7-9

Teacher

Class Description

In this class, young theater makers experiment with the building blocks of acting including character and embodied storytelling to create and perform devised and improvised work. Together, these young artists develop clarity of voice, expression, physical gesture and scale, ensemble-building, and audience awareness., imagination, and the process of working collectively. Students explore, experiment, and devise stories using their bodies, voices, emotions, and imaginations. Performance helps to build a sense of teamwork, taking turns, and harnessing individual energy for creative group fun.

Registration

Class

Dance Performance Workshop (DPW) Levels II and III

Tuesdays
DPW II 4:30-7:00pm
DPW III 4:45-7:45pm

Grades / Ages

Ages 12+

Teacher

DPW II Director Anna Vomacka, DPW III Director Johnnie Cruise Mercer

Class Description

DPW develops a ‘total artist’ encompassing the roles of dancer, performer, collaborator, creator, and observer. DPW encourages young artists to work both independently and in collaboration with peers, while honing and deepening skills in technique, performance, improvisation, partnering, and developing original choreography. DPW is a year-long, invitation based program with supplementary pre-professional experiences including a separate 1.5hr mandatory weekly technique class. Learn more here.

Registration

Admission is by invitation only. Email info@bax.org to inquire.

Class

Tumbling

Wednesdays
3:30-4:30pm

Grades / Ages

1st/2nd Grades; Ages 6-8

Teacher

Class Description

Drawing on partner acrobatics and fundamental gymnastics exercises, this playful class explores basic locomotive and body coordination skills as well as balance and strength-building. Students engage in fun individual and group exercises including learning forward rolls, logrolls, bear and crab walks, skipping, chasing, and galloping.

Registration

Class

Drama Rama

Wednesdays
3:30-4:30

Grades / Ages

3rd-5th Grades; Ages 7-11

Teacher

Class Description

In this class, young theater makers experiment with the building blocks of acting including character and embodied storytelling to create and perform devised and improvised work. Together, these young artists develop clarity of voice, expression, physical gesture and scale, ensemble-building, and audience awareness.

Registration

Class

Tumbling

Wednesdays
4:45-5:45pm

Grades / Ages

3rd-5th Grades; Ages 7-11

Teacher

Class Description

Students develop balance, strength, and flexibility skills, while learning to support their own weight with handstands, headstands and arm stands. Working as a close community, students also begin creating elements of original choreography drawing on a unique blend of dance and gymnastic movement.

Registration

Class

Play Making

Wednesdays
4:45-6:00pm

Grades / Ages

5th Grade & Up; Ages 11+

Teacher

Class Description

In this class, young theater artists experiment with character and storytelling by creating and performing devised, improvised, and scripted-work. Students will get to try on the roles of actors, writers, and directors while developing skills in voice, expression, physicality, ensemble-building, and audience awareness in a fun and supportive ensemble.

Registration

Class

Performance Workshop Technique and Choreography Class

Wednesdays
6:00-7:30

Grades / Ages

Ages 10+

Teacher

Class Description

In this Guest Artist Technique and Choreography class young artists hone their contemporary dance technique, performance, improvisation skills and develop original phrase work for performances at BAX (and potentially beyond) in collaboration with a BAX Guest Artist. This class is affiliated with BAX's Performance Workshop program but open to anyone 10+ with previous dance experience and interest. Learn more here.

Registration

Admission is by invitation only. Email info@bax.org to inquire.

Class

Tumbling

Thursdays
3:30-4:30pm

Grades / Ages

3rd-5th Grades; Ages 7-11

Teacher

Class Description

Students develop balance, strength, and flexibility skills, while learning to support their own weight with handstands, headstands and arm stands. Working as a close community, students also begin creating elements of original choreography drawing on a unique blend of dance and gymnastic movement.

Registration

Class

Hip Hop

Thursdays
3:30-4:30pm

Grades / Ages

2nd-4th Grades; Ages 7-10

Teacher

Class Description

In this high energy class, students will explore the joy of movement and creativity. Through movement games and hip hop music and dance, students will find their individualized artistic expression as dancers and movers in a supportive community.

Registration

Class

Contemporary Dance

Thursdays
3:30-4:30pm

Grades / Ages

1st/2nd Grades; Ages 6-8

Teacher

Class Description

This class explores a composite of techniques and traditions unique to modern and contemporary dance including ballet, structured improvisation, and partner work. Students work both independently and collaboratively; learn phrase material, break-down and build-up repertory; and express themselves through improvisation and creative choice making.

Registration

Class

Hip Hop

Thursdays
4:45-6:00pm

Grades / Ages

5th Grade and Up; Ages 11+

Teacher

Class Description

In this class, students develop skills in musicality, choreography, and freestyling as they learn and build upon the basics of hip hop. Students are encouraged to apply a personalized lens and create original choreography that is shared with the whole class.

Registration

Class

Performance Workshop I

Thursdays
4:45-6:15pm

Grades / Ages

Ages 9+

Teacher

Performance Workshop Director Diana Crum

Class Description

This introductory workshop is designed for students who are eager to begin their Performance Workshop experience at BAX. This ensemble will deepen their technical skills in dance and tumbling, explore the building blocks of choreography and ensemble-work, and gain valuable pre-professional experience through performance and collaboration. Learn more here.

Registration

Admission is by invitation only. Email info@bax.org to inquire.

Class

AcroBAX I/II

Thursdays
4:45-7:00pm

Grades / Ages

Ages 12+

Teacher

AcroBAX Director Diane Tomasi

Class Description

Drawing on contemporary circus traditions and theatrical techniques, AcroBAX is BAX’s most advanced tumbling class, combining contemporary dance, partner acrobatics, performance, and choreography skills. AcroBAXers work closely as an ensemble, developing and performing original group pieces inspired by different annual themes. AcroBAX is a year-long, invitation based program. Learn more here.

Registration

Admission is by invitation only. Email info@bax.org to inquire.

Class

Creative Movement

Saturdays
9:30-10:15am

Grades / Ages

PreK/K; Ages 3-5

Teacher

Class Description

A creative and engaging introduction to the world of movement, this class encourages children to explore their individual expression within a collaborative setting. Imagery, music, stories, and props play a vital role by providing structures for creative choice, dance making, and collaboration within this lively and fun group class!

Registration

Class

Tumble Jumble

Saturdays
9:30-10:15am

Grades / Ages

PreK; Ages 3-4

Teacher

Class Description

Using exercises from partner acrobatics and gymnastics, this class helps to build fundamental motor skills, spatial awareness, and balance. Young tumblers enjoy playful obstacle courses, animal walks, and inverted movements, while also engaging in such social skill-building as transitions, taking turns, and working as a group.

Registration

Class

Tumbling

Saturdays
10:30-11:30

Grades / Ages

K/1st Grades; Ages 5-7

Teacher

Class Description

Drawing on partner acrobatics and fundamental gymnastics exercises, this playful class explores basic locomotive and body coordination skills as well as balance and strength-building. Students engage in fun individual and group exercises including learning fun forward rolls, logrolls, bear and crab walks, skipping, chasing and galloping.

Registration

Class

Creative Ballet

Saturdays
10:30-11:30am

Grades / Ages

1st/2nd Grades; Ages 6-8

Teacher

Class Description

Students explore their own creativity and original movements while deepening to fundamental ballet skills, including attention to alignment, balance, positionality of body and feet, and across the floor movement. Students will have opportunities to try new ideas with their peers, and to express their own artistry through choreography.

Registration