Studio Address: 802 Main St West, Ashland, WI Mailing Address: 1316 Main St W, Ashland, WI 54806
ASHLAND SCHOOL OF DANCE
CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
Creative Movements/Pre-Ballet (Ages 3-4): A 30 minute class designed to improve body awareness and posture placement and foster self-confidence, emphasizing motor skills development, coordination and limbering/stretching exercises. Basic beginner ballet techniques and group activities will be introduced along with classroom manners. Requirements: Must be 3 years old by September 1. Students must be able to sit quietly, listen and follow instructions.
PreBallet/Tiny Tap (Ages 5-6): Students learn rhythm and movement skills by exploring feelings and thoughts. Tap class starts with simple basic rhythm steps to develop strong tap techniques. Basic ballet techniques and group activities will be introduced. Requirements: Students must be in Kindergarten and they must be able to sit quietly, listen and follow instructions.
PreJazz/Funk (Ages 5-6): Students will learn the basic fundamental movements of jazz and hip hop. These movements include flexibility, isolation, popping, and having a low center. The movements are performed to heavy beat music that has a good rhythm and beat. Jazz/Funk is full of energy and fun music to dance too!! Requirements: Students must be in Kindergarten and must be able to sit quietly, listen and follow instructions.
Poms (Ages 6 & up): A high-intensity class with a focus on choreography, technique, and performance styles. Choreography for this class is rooted in jazz and hip hop while integrating the use of poms. Dancers in Poms will learn fundamentals of pom positions as well as performance skills while dancing to high energy music.
A 30 minute class designed to improve body awareness and posture placement and foster self-confidence, emphasizing motor skills development, coordination and limbering/stretching exercises. Basic beginner ballet techniques and group activities will be introduced along with classroom manners. Requirements: Must be 3 years old by September 1. Students must be able to sit quietly, listen and follow instructions. Students learn rhythm and movement skills by exploring feelings and thoughts. Tap class starts with simple basic rhythm steps to develop strong tap techniques. Basic ballet techniques and group activities will be introduced. Requirements: Students must be in Kindergarten and they must be able to sit quietly, listen and follow instructions. Students will learn the basic fundamental movements of jazz and hip hop. These movements include flexibility, isolation, popping, and having a low center. The movements are performed to heavy beat music that has a good rhythm and beat. Jazz/Funk is full of energy and fun music to dance too!! Requirements: Students must be in Kindergarten and must be able to sit quietly, listen and follow instructions. A high-intensity class with a focus on choreography, technique, and performance styles. Choreography for this class is rooted in jazz and hip hop while integrating the use of poms. Dancers in Poms will learn fundamentals of pom positions as well as performance skills while dancing to high energy music.
Level I Jazz/Tap (Ages 7 & up): A beginner class teaching basic jazz and tap technique. Students will learn basic tap terminology and techniques along with learning different rhythms and counting. This class will work on perfecting past tap steps, rhythms and sound clarity while introducing new steps. The class content will be very age appropriate focusing on developing good jazz and tap technique, stage presence, good classroom skills and creating a love and appreciation for dance.
Level I Jazz/Funk (Ages 7 & up): Students will see a combinations of fundamental movements of Jazz and hip hop. These movements include flexibility, isolation, popping, and having a low center. The movements are performed to heavy beat music that has a good rhythm and beat. What separates Jazz/Funk dance from the others is being lower to the ground and having you feet grounded. Jazz/Funk is a body and mind style, such as emotion, expression and certain body movements to match the music. Jazz/Funk is full of energy and fun music to dance too!!
Level II Ballet/Jazz (Ages 10 & up): A intermediate class teaching classical ballet and jazz for older students with three or more years of dance experience. This class builds on the technique already learned through Level 1. We will focus on developing strong traditional ballet and jazz technique, vocabulary, terminology, and stretching/strength training through both barre and floor exercises.
Level II Jazz/Tap (Ages 10 & up): A intermediate class teaching tap technique for older students with at least two years of previous dance experience. This class builds on jazz and tap technique already learned in the previous level. Students will learn intermediate terminology and techniques. This class will focus on developing tap technique, stage presence, good classroom skills and creating a love and appreciation for dance.
Level II Jazz/Funk (Ages 10 & up): Students will see a combinations of movements of Jazz and hip hop. These movements include flexibility, isolation, popping, and having a low center. The movements are performed to heavy beat music that has a good rhythm and beat. What separates Jazz/Funk dance from the others is being lower to the ground and having you feet grounded. Jazz/Funk is a body and mind style, such as emotion, expression and certain body movements to match the music. Jazz/Funk is full of energy and fun music to dance too!!
Level III Ballet/Jazz: A teacher recommended class that will work on intermediate and advanced ballet, lyrical and jazz technique. We will incorporate more complicated choreography and faster footwork. There will be a strong emphasis on understanding the terminology and proper execution of more advanced ballet and jazz movement. We will also concentrate on developing the strength and technique necessary for pointe work.
Level III Tap: An intermediate teacher recommended class that will be challenged to develop stronger technique, rhythms and sounds. Students will be working with a variety of music from Hip-Hop to African to the old classics of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin and multiple tap styles including rhythm, soft shoe, musical theater style tap and classical tap. Students must have tap experience. Practice time outside of class will be required.
Level III Jazz/Funk: Dancers will build on movements of Jazz and hip hop. These movements include flexibility, isolation, popping, and having a low center. The movements are performed to heavy beat music that has a good rhythm and beat. What separates Jazz/Funk dance from the others is being lower to the ground and having you feet grounded. Jazz/Funk is a body and mind style, such as emotion, expression and certain body movements to match the music. Jazz/Funk is full of energy and fun music to dance too!!
Jr. Co: This is a teacher recommended class meeting 2 days a week for a total of 2 hours of class time. Class time consists of ballet, lyrical, jazz and modern technique and repertoire. This class will work on advanced ballet and jazz technique focusing on strength, flexibility, adagio, repertoire, and advanced turn and jump combinations. This class is strongly recommended for anyone wishing to move further within their dance education.
Mr. Co: This is a teacher recommended class meeting 2 days per week for a total of 3 hours of class time. Class time consists of ballet, lyrical, jazz & modern technique and repertoire. This class will work on advanced ballet and jazz technique focusing on strength, flexibility, adagio, repertoire, and advanced turn and jump combinations. This class is strongly recommended for anyone wishing to move further within their dance education.
REQUIRED ATTIRE
Creative Movement: Pink ballet shoes, tights, any color leotard and hair secured back in a ponytail or bun. May wear a ballet skirt or shorts over leotard.
Pre-Ballet/Tiny Tap: Pink ballet shoes and tap shoes, tights, any color leotard and hair secured back in a ponytail or bun. May wear a ballet skirt or shorts over leotard.
Poms: Black jazz shoes and comfortable clothes that you can easily move in. Hair secured back in a ponytail. No dangly earrings, watches or large jewelry.
Jazz/Tap: Black jazz & tap shoes; comfortable clothes that you can easily move in. Hair secured back in a ponytail. No dangly earrings, watches or large jewelry.
Ballet/Jazz: Pink ballet shoes and black jazz shoes; any color leotard or comfortable clothing and hair secured back in a ponytail or bun. No jeans, No dangly earrings, watches or large jewelry.
Jr Co & Sr Co: Nude lyrical shoes and black jazz shoes; comfortable clothing and hair secured back in a ponytail or bun. No dangly earrings, watches or large jewelry.
Jazz/Funk: Clean soled tennis shoes (shoes worn outside will not be allowed) or jazz shoes, comfortable clothes that you can easily move in, no jeans allowed!! Hair secured back in a ponytail or bun. No dangly earrings, watches or large jewelry.
Tap: Black tap shoes, comfortable clothes that you can easily move in, no jeans allowed!! Hair secured back in a ponytail or bun. No dangly earrings, watches or large jewelry
ALLY O'CONNELL
Ally started her dance journey with Just For Kicks at age 7 where she studied high kick and jazz. In 2008 Ally joined Sterling Silver Studio and studied jazz and lyrical. She was also part of their competition team. After graduating in 2012 Ally attended The University of Wisconsin Superior and became a part or their cheerleading team. After a year without dance she decided to also join their dance team, where she helped choreograph and started to help with coaching. Through that experience Ally learned she had a love not only for the sport of dance but for creating them as well. Ally also has practiced hip-hop, pom, zumba, belly dancing, and ballet. Ally is a Medical Assistant for Twin Ports Dermatology.
ANESSA ANDERSON
Anessa started dancing at the age of 3 at Sterling Silver Studio in Superior WI. She was ten years old when she switched to Dance Escape in Duluth, MN. Anessa than went on to be part of the Superior High School dance team. While on the team Anessa was captain her junior and senior year. After graduating Anessa went on to college at Iowa Central College where she danced her freshman and sophomore year and was also captain of the team. Throughout the years, Anessa has participated in many styles of dances such as Baton, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Hip-hop, and Ballet. She has also won awards at local competitions and was called back to be in a Kelle Costume Catalog. Anessa also participated in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and has competed in the National Dance competition in Daytona Beach Florida with her college dance team. Anessa is an Occupational Assistant at Ecumen Lakeshore in Duluth.
2024 - 2025 INSTRUCTORS
LILY MILLER
Lily is a student at Lake Superior College in Duluth. Her journey with ASOD began in 2009 as preballet/tiny tap dancer. She started her assisting career as a 4th grader and is now one of our lead instructors. She has taught ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop and poms over the years as an instructor. Her favorite style of dance style is lyrical and hip hop. Her favorite style to teach is jazz. For the 2024-2025 season, Lily will teach on Sunday and Thursday evenings.
BROOKE TADDY
Brooke is a senior at Ashland High School, this fall and joined ASOD as a dancer in 2019. This past dance season she was our lead instructor with a Creative Movement and PreBallet/Tiny Tap class. Her favorite styles are Contemporary and Poms, and this season she'll be sharing her passion by teaching: Creative Movement, PreBallet/Tiny Tap, Lyrical/Jazz & Poms classes on Mondays. Beyond dance, Brooke is also a dedicated athlete, participating in volleyball and track at Ashland High School. This year she will be taking Sr Company and Sr Co Jazz/Funk. For the2024-2025 season, Brooke will be teaching on Mondays.
EMMA MELLER
Emma is a junior at Ashland High School. She started dancing with ASOD as a 5 year old in PreBallet/Tiny Tap. Her passion now shines through in Contemporary and Hip Hop. When she's not dancing, Emma enjoys creating art, exploring the outdoors, and spending time with loved ones. One of her most cherished dance memories is joining the Sr Company class. For the 2024-2025 Dance Season, Emma will be teaching: Creative Movement, PreBallet/Tiny Tap and Poms classes on Fridays This fall she will be teaching on Fridays. This year she is taking Sr Company and Sr Co Jazz/Funk.
ASHLEY LECIEJEWSKI
Ashley is an 8th grader at Ashland Middle School. She started dancing with ASOD in 2014 as a 4 year old in Creative Movement! And this will be her 4th year as an assistant. Her favorite types of dance are lyrical and hip hop. She has been an assistant for Creative Movement, PreBallet/Tiny and PreJazz/Funk. Her favorite dance memory is doing a duet with Lily, being an assistant and she loves dancing with her friends! For the 2024-2035 dance season, she will assist the Creative Movement and PreBallet/Tiny Tap classes on Fridays. This year she will be taking Jr Company and Jr Co Jazz/Funk.
RYLEE OVASKA
Rylee is an 8th grader at Ashland Middle School. She started dancing with ASOD as a 3 year in Creative Movement. And this will be her 3rd year as an assistant. Her favorite types of dance are hip hop, acro and contemporary. Rylee is very active - when she's not dancing she plays soccer, softball and basketball. She has been an assistant for Creative Movement. Her favorite dance memory is competing in her first dance competition at the age of 8; being an assistant and going to the Showstopper Convention in Wisconsin Dells. For the 2024-2035 dance season, she will assist the Creative Movement and PreBallet/Tiny Tap classes on Mondays and is taking and Jr Company and Jr Co Jazz/Funk.
SAWYER WICKMAN
Sawyer is 13 years old and started dancing at ASOD in 2015 at 4 years old; after taking a couple years off, she returned to dance in 2021. Her favorite type of dance is jazz/funk and contemporary. She loves to perform and enjoys getting to know everyone in each of her classes as the year goes on. Outside of dance she likes being active and participates in volleyball, softball, and track. Sawyer will be an 8th grader at the Ashland Middle School this year. She will be assisting the 4-5 year old Poms/Jazz class on Tuesdays and taking Jr Company Jazz/Funk, Lyrical/Jazz, and participating in the Teen Competition Team.
EMILY ROY
Emily started dance with ASOD in 2017 as a 4 year old in Creative Movement. Her favorite types of dance are lyrical and tap. Her favorite dance memories include performing with her Competition Team in the 2023/2024 season, and also teaching as an assistant instructor for the first time. When Emily isn't dancing, she loves downhill skiing, camping, spending time in/on the water, playing basketball, school, and hanging out with friends and family. Emily is in the 6th grade at the Ashland Middle School. This dance season she is on the Junior Competition Team and is taking Int/Adv Tap & Level III Ballet/Jazz. She is also looking forward to being an assistant for the Sunday PreJazz/Funk & Mini Competition Team classes.