Classes

All of our class groupings are based on age, instead of ability. Though we occasionally break these rules and move students between levels when necessary, we believe that a peer-centered learning environment is helpful to all students and fits well within our mission of building an encouraging atmosphere. When our young actors work with their peers, the beginners find veterans among their friends to look up to while continuing students get reinforced training by helping less-experienced friends. However, we do have a commitment to keeping our student/teacher ratio low to allow our instructors to give each student a specialized focus.

All classes culminate in a final showcase performance during the last week of semester classes: May 24-29, 2010.

Acting I

Ages: 7-10yrs

Day/Time: Mondays 4:30-5:30pm

Room: Stage

Instructor: MaryClaire Becan

Acting I teaches students the fundamentals for theater. Each week's class will include theater games and varied lesson concentrations, such as: acting, characterization, improvisation, costumes, make-up, set design, playwriting, and more. Great for all levels of experience.

Acting II

Ages: 10-13yrs

Day/Time: Mondays 5:30-6:30pm

Room: Stage

Instructor: MaryClaire Becan

Acting II teaches students the fundamentals for theater. Each week's class will include theater games and varied lesson concentrations. Students delve deeper into character study, improvisation, costumes, make-up, set design, playwriting, and more. Great for all levels of experience.

Acting For Camera

Ages: 10-16yrs

Day/Time: Tuesdays 4:30-5:30pm

Room: Stage

Instructor: MaryClaire Becan

Perform on-camera acting exercises from commercial work and monologues to scenes from popular television shows and movies. Work to develop sitcom-type episodes for your own DVD to keep when classes are done!

Sketch Comedy

Ages: 10-16yrs

Day/Time: Tuesdays 5:30-6:30pm

Room: Stage

Instructor: MaryClaire Becan

Popular shows like Saturday Night Live and Sonny With A Chance inspired our addition of the Sketch Comedy class to our schedule. Working with short, comic skits and scenes, students in this class develop a show to perform for friends and family.

Teen Acting

Ages: 13-17yrs

Day/Time: Wednesdays 6:30-7:30pm

Room: Stage

Instructor: MaryClaire Becan

Students will learn the essential tools of acting for the stage, while learning to provide creative input within a collective. Students will learn to use their own expression through improvisation, scene study, and character analysis and learn to effectively apply these skills so necessary to all versatile and well-rounded stage performers.

Beginning Acting

Ages: 4-6yrs

Day/Time: Saturday 9:30-10:30am

Room: Stage

Instructor: MaryClaire Becan

Twist, skip, and jump your way into creative acting and discover a world of possibilities as we develop and create stories and characters through movement and games.

Private Acting Lessons

Instructor: MaryClaire Becan or Lizel Sandoval

Prepare for an audition or improve your skills with one-on-one training with our qualified instructors. Fees are $20.00/half hour or $35.00/hour and we can work with your schedule to find the perfect time!

Dance For Stage

Ages: 7-13yrs

Day/Time: Mondays 4:30-5:30pm

Room: Studio

Instructor: Lizel Sandoval

This is a fun filled class focused on improving overall knowledge, technique, strength, and flexibility which will enhance student’s jumps, turns, and stage performance. Jazz is the main style taught, though instructors will pull in other dance styles from time to time.

Basic Tap

Ages: 7-13yrs

Day/Time: Tuesdays 6:30-7:30pm

Room: Studio

Instructor: MaryClaire Becan

This is an introduction to tap beginning with basic tap steps so that students can develop a sense of rhythm and learn to count music while dancing at the same time. The class will move into basic combinations of rhythmic, percussive movements of traditional jazz style. This is a wonderful way to expand energy and learn to dance at the same time.

Beginning Ballet/Tap

Ages: 4-6yrs

Day/Time: Mondays 3:30-4:30pm

Room: Studio

Instructor: MaryClaire Becan

A with both tap and ballet combined into one class. This is done to introduce the basic fundamentals of these dance disciplines, while still incorporating many creative dance aspects of musicality, rhythm, and basic skills. This gives young dancers the foundations in various styles so that they have a wider scope.

Group Voice

Ages: 7-13yrs

Day/Time: Wednesdays 3:30-4:30pm

Room: Stage

Instructor: Jillian Cox

This group learns warm-ups together that will help them to develop a good vocal technique to address issues of breath support, diction, tone and posture. This class is for young people who love to sing and wish to learn in a supportive and fun small-group environment.

Hit The Road

Ages: 7-13yrs

Day/Time: Wednesdays 4:30-6:00pm

Room: Stage/Studio

Instructor: MaryClaire Becan & Lizel Sandoval

Hit The Road is a very special travelling musical performance group. Throughout the semester students learn a short revue-style song and dance show to tour to nursing homes and community events. Though the class is focused on musical theater training, the group is also committed to building a strong team among the performers. Performers take turns performing solos and learn to encourage each other’s abilities. The Hit The Road show for Spring 2010 is “A Disney Spectacular”.

SA Shakedown

Ages: 10-16yrs

Day/Time: Thursdays 4:30-6:00pm

Room: Stage/Studio

Instructor: MaryClaire Becan & Lizel Sandoval

SA Shakedown is a travelling pop performance group. Throughout the semester, students learn song and dance routines to popular songs and then tour around San Antonio to perform at community events. Students are given solo opportunities, but also learn the importance of encouraging each other and working as an ensemble on stage.

Private Voice Lessons

Instructor: Jillian Cox

Prepare for an audition or improve your skills with one-on-one training with our qualified instructors. Fees are $20.00/half hour and we can work with your schedule to find the perfect time!

Private Piano Lessons

Instructor: Terrie Becan

Fees are $25.00/half hour and we can work with your schedule to find the perfect time!

Dress Code for Classes:

Acting Classes: Students are expected to come dressed comfortably and ready to move. We ask that students refrain from wearing skirts, short shorts, tight jeans or any clothing that may impose upon their flexibility.

Dance For Stage / Hit The Road / SA Shakedown: Comfortable attire – no jeans, skirts or shorts. Students are encouraged to wear jazz dance pants or sweatpants and jazz dance shoes. Hair should be pulled away from the face.

Tap Classes: Tap shoes and comfortable attire – no jeans, skirts or shorts. Students are encouraged to wear jazz dance pants or sweatpants. Hair should be pulled away from the face.

Hip Hop Classes: Comfortable clothes to move in. Please no jeans, no skirts, & no jewelry. Students may wear street shoes, but we strongly encourage dance shoes or dance sneakers. Hair must be secured off the face & neck.

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