Welcome

Our Recreation Dance Conservatory is a NON-RECITAL based dance program offered by the Recreation Department for village residents, ages 3 ½ through adults.  Classes are overseen by Director Felicia Menig, who is also an adjunct faculty member at Adelphi University in the departments of both Dance and Theatre.  Our class schedule runs from late September until mid-April.  Each class is 55 minutes in length.  Classes are formed by grade, with many different time offerings during the week to fit everyone’s schedule.

Creative Movement  -  Ages:  3 1/2 - 5 attending preschool
Description:      This is a pre-dance activity preparing children for more structured classes.  This classes  focuses on creativity, rhythms, and moving freely to music.

Lyrical/Modern  -  Ages:    Grades 3 and up
Description:     This opportunity is based on a contemporary form of dance incorporating various techniques, Martha Graham, Limon, etc.  The class is usually conducted in bare feet to percussion music.

Ballet  -  Ages:  4 (in a combo-class) – adult
Description:     This is the foundation of all dance.  Starting with barre work the class learns all the basic French terminology, leading to center work as well as progressions across the floor. It promotes good posture and grace while appreciating classical music.

Tap  -  Ages: Pre-K ( in a combo class) and up
Description:     Starting at the barre, warm up consists of foot work learning the varied steps, sounds and rhythms which then leads to center work and progressions across the floor using upbeat music.

Hip-Hop or Jazz
Our Adult Jazz class is a performance based class.
Description:     Starting with a center warm up that emphasizes body isolations and stretches, this class leads to work in the center, as well as progressions across the floor using contemporary music.

Combo Classes - Ballet/Tap, Ballet/Hip Hop, Ballet/Jazz  -  Ages:  4 and up attending Preschool through third grade
Description:     This class is a shortened version of each concentration of dance to hold the attention of the younger students.

The Garden City Recreation Department’s Dance Conservatory Program is pleased to announce the class offerings for its upcoming 2018-2019 season! This article lists class offerings only, registration for these classes will begin in September and will be announced at a later date. 

Director Felicia Menig, along with the rest of her staff, is excited to start off another fantastic year.  The Dance Conservatory offers classes to Garden City residents ages 3 ½ years through adult which are non-performance based.  Age is determined by the start date of the desired class.  The schedule for this year’s youth classes are as follows (all classes are 55 minutes long unless otherwise noted):  

Monday:                                                                                                                              

1:15 Ballet/Tap for 4-5 year olds                                                                                

2:45 Ballet/Jazz for 4-5 year olds                                                                                

4:00 Ballet/Hip Hop for K – 1st grades                                                                     

5:00 Ballet/Hip Hop for 2nd -3rd grades                                                                  

6:00 Hip Hop for 4th-5th grades                                                                                 

7:00 Ballet/Tap for Grades 6 and Up                                                                        

Tuesday:

11:00 Creative Movement for 3 ½ to 5 years                        

12:00 Ballet/Jazz for 4-5 year olds                                                                             

4:00 Ballet/Tap for K-1 grades                                                                                     

5:00 Ballet/Hip Hop for 2nd – 3rd grades                                                                

6:00 Ballet/Tap for 4th-5th grades                                                                            

7:00 Hip Hop/Jazz for Grades 6 and up                                                    

Wednesday:

10:30 Creative Movement for 3 ½ - 5 years                                                           

1:15 Creative Movement for 3 ½ - 5 years                                             

4:00 Ballet/Hip Hop for K -1st grades                                                                       

5:00 Ballet/Hip Hop for 2nd-3rd grades                                                                   

6:00 Jazz for 4th-5th grades                                                                                         

7:00 Contemporary Jazz for Grades 6 and up                                       

Thursday:

12:45 Ballet/Jazz for ages 4 – 5                                                                   

4:00 Ballet/Tap for K-1st grades                                                                 

5:00 Ballet/Tap for 2nd -3rd grades                                                                          

6:00 Contemporary Dance 4th-5th grades                                                             

7:00 Ballet for grades 6 and up                                                                   

Friday:

1:30 Creative Movement for 3 ½ -5 year olds                                       

2:30 Ballet/Jazz for ages 4 – 5                                                                                      

4:00 Ballet/Hip Hop for K-1st grades                                                                        

5:00 Ballet/Hip Hop for 2nd -3rd grades                                                  

6:00 Ballet/Hip Hop for 4th -5th grades                                                                   

7:00 Contemporary Dance for grades 6 and up                                                   

Saturday:

10:00 Ballet/Hip Hop for K-1st grades                                                                      

11:00 Creative Movement for 3 ½ - 5 years                                           

1:00 Hip Hop for Middle School                                                                  

3:00 Jazz  for High School                                                                              

4:00 Tap for grades 6 and up with previous experience   

Attire for ALL dance classes:  Any type of dance clothing. Leotards and tights are encouraged, but jazz or yoga pants are also acceptable.  They must be tight fitting so the teacher can assess whether the student is exhibiting proper body alignment and be able to make corrections.  Footwear for each class varies.  For Creative Movement, soft shoes or Ballet slippers, Ballet slippers for Ballet, Jazz shoes for Jazz, Tap shoes for Tap, etc.

Please note - in order to participate in the Dance Company, you must first register for classes in the Dance Conservatory.  Only registered members in 3rd grade or older of the Dance Conservatory will be allowed to register for the Company.

Performance experience is available for those who qualify for the Recreation Dance Company.  Under the direction of Ms. Felicia Menig, the members (3rd grade and up) are offered the opportunity to perform on a professional level using Ballet, Jazz, Tap and Modern which make for a well rounded program. An extra registration fee is involved and participants are expected to attend additional weekly rehearsals in addition to their already scheduled classes.  This program begins in November and culminates in June with our performance at Adelphi University's beautifully renovated Olmsted Theatre in their new Performing Arts Center. 

For further information concerning the Dance Program please call our Recreation and Parks Administrative Office at (516) 465-4076.