At Luna, we honor children’s natural propensities to learn through movement, curiosity, and imagination. The rigor of creativity can be seen in children’s play. Inspired by that rigor, we structure our programs so that children can delve into their capacity to explore, improvise, compose, and express original ideas in developmentally appropriate ways.
Studio Laboratory
Studio Lab’s creative dance classes for children 5 to 17 develop their artistic voices and whole body intelligence through composition dance-learning.
All dance classes for children provide safe yet challenging opportunities for students to discover, invent, perform, respond and connect. They learn to create dances through active participation, guided discovery, and critical reflection. As choreographers, students need the most extensive range of strength, coordination, and flexibility possible. Thus, Luna embeds technical training, grounded in Bartenieff fundamentals, in all classes. This looks different than in classes with a more traditional follow-the-teacher format.
As movement inventors, students begin with the exploration of dance concepts, discovering all the ways their body can move. They learn to experiment, play with possibilities, and take creative risks. As they progress through the curriculum, they develop improvisation and choreographic skills that build to full dance works in solo, duet, trio, quartet and group forms.. Luna’s unique approach to teaching dance is informed by a deep understanding of the creative process, sound principles of child development, and knowledge of how children construct their own definitions of themselves, others and the world.
Early Childhood Education
Luna Dance Institute is proud to be considered experts in early childhood dance education. Our faculty has studied child development, attachment and play theories, early neuro-movement patterns, and the work of Reggio-Emilia schools, so we can offer a full palette of experiences in early childhood education.
In our Studio program, children ages 0-4 explore dance within age-appropriate settings and curriculum. Children and their caregivers dance together in Luna’s Infant, Waddler, and Toddler classes. As parents observe, mimic, and interact in our dance classes for children, they participate in embodied parent education and develop relationships with other families. Three and four year-olds practice newly forming independence within the safety net of their parents as witnesses to their emerging creative competencies.
Teens
Luna offers a series of classes just for teens where they can develop both artistic and leadership skills while learning about the larger context of contemporary dance. As teen dancers grow in strength, flexibility, and expressiveness, they are supported in embodying their own choreographic visions, and performing the work of their peers with confidence.
Summer Camps
Luna’s week-long summer camps immerse children in creative fun, and incorporate dance improvisation lessons, outdoor play with friends, and an end-of-week family showing designed by the campers. We offer half-day camps for 5-7 year olds, full-day camps for 8-11 year olds, and a choreography workshop for teens.