Darien Dance CenterDarien Dance Center
Dance Classes and Teachers
- Children and Teen Classes
- DANCE BEGINNINGS - (Ages 3 & 4) A class especially for pre-schoolers to learn about dance and the joy of movement through body awareness and creativity.
Instructor(s): Elizabeth Hall Bonnie Gombos Debbie Vingo-Blevins Kari Nealis Gomez Marie Maccarone
D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10 D12 D13 D14 - PRE-BALLET - (Ages 4-5, pre-requisite: Dance Beginnings) A fun introduction to ballet using imaginative techniques learn the primary elements of classical ballet including floor
& center work. Time during each class devoted to creativity providing children with an opportunity to apply ballet technique to their own dances.
Instructor(s): Bonnie Gombos Kari Nealis Gomez Elizabeth Hall Debbie Vingo-Blevins Marie Maccarone
D11 D15 D16 D17 D18 D19 D20 D21 - KINDERBALLET - (Kindergarten) See "Pre-Ballet" description. This class is a continuation of the ballet curriculum.
Instructor(s): Bonnie Gombos Elizabeth Hall Debbie Vingo-Blevins Kari Nealis Gomez
D31 D32 D33 - KINDER-JAZZ/HIP HOP - (Kindergarten) Introduction to jazz and hip hop techniques using lively pop music to build
skills & have fun learning new dances.
Instructor(s): Kari Nealis Gomez Debbie Vingo-Blevins
D27 D26 - BALLET 1B - (grade 1 & 2) Beginning level class for students who have already had introductory ballet classes. Warm-ups at the barre teach primary elements of classical ballet: posture, positions of feet, arms, head, qualities of movement, center floor and elementary combinations across the floor.
Instructor(s): Bonnie Gombos Elizabeth Hall
D37, D38 - BALLET 2 - (grade 3 & 4) Advanced beginners & intermediate students who have had 2 years or more experience in
ballet technique or equivalent. Refer to Ballet 1 description.
Instructor(s): Bonnie Gombos
D40 - BALLET 3 - (grade 5 & up) Pre-requisite - Ballet 2.
intermediate students who have had at least 3 years more experience in ballet technique or equivalent.
Instructor(s): Bonnie Gombos
D45 - BALLET 4 - (by permission only) Classical ballet technique for serious dance students. Should take with at least one other technique class.
Instructor(s): Bonnie Gombos Kari Nealis Gomez
D46 - JAZZ/HIP HOP 1 - (grade 1&2) Learn jazz technique and
the latest hip hop moves.
Instructor(s): Debbie Vingo-Blevins Kari Nealis Gomez
D51 D52 D53 - JAZZ/HIP HOP 2 - (grade 3-5) Must have at least one year experience.
Instructor(s): Kari Nealis Gomez Debbie Vingo-Blevins
D56 D58 - JAZZ/HIP HOP 3 - (grades 6 & up) The study of jazz technique including hip hop from warm-ups to complete routines.
Instructor(s): Debbie Vingo-Blevins Kari Nealis Gomez
D52 - MODERN/JAZZ 4 - (grade 6 & up) Intermediate level technique class combining modern & jazz dance. Fast-paced challenging class - must have appropriate experience.
Instructor(s): Kari Nealis Gomez Debbie Vingo-Blevins
D65 - TAP 1 CHILD - (grade 1-3) An introduction to tap rhythms & basic
steps designed especially for the young dancer. Tap shoes required.
Instructor(s): Debbie Vingo-Blevins
D70 - TAP 2 CHILD - (grade 4 & up) For the dance student with some tap background. Basic steps with fun routines
Instructor(s): Debbie Vingo-Blevins
D71 - DDC JR CO TECHNIQUE - Teacher Approval Required
Instructor(s): Kari Nealis Gomez
D75 - DDC JR CO REHEARSAL - Teacher Approval required
Instructor(s): Kari Nealis Gomez
D76 - DDC SR CO TECHNIQUE - Teacher Approval Required
Instructor(s): Bonnie Gombos
D78 - DDC SR CO REHEARSAL - High School Teacher Approval required
Instructor(s): Bonnie Gombos
D79 - BROADWAY JAZZ HS - High School students In this high-energy dance class, you will learn original Broadway choreography from "Fosse" to "Pajama Game" to "A Chorus Line", and from contemporary musicals such as "Hairspray". The main focus of the class will be the performance aspects of the dance. Students will learn how to incorporate acting into their movement and how to "sell" a dance number. Attention is given to the beginner dancer so that they learn the basics as well as the more experienced dancer so that they can advance and build upon their skills. The atmosphere will be fun, supportive, non-commpetitive and challenging.
Instructor(s): Debbie Vingo-Blevins Jim Clark
D95 - DDC SR CO BALLET - Teacher Approval Required
Instructor(s): Bonnie Gombos
D49 - DDC JR CO BALLET - Teacher approval required
Instructor(s): Bonnie Gombos
D47 - BALLET 2/3 - Grades 4-6 See Ballet 2
Instructor(s): Bonnie Gombos
D41 - MODERN/JAZZ 2/3 - GRADES 3-6 The study of Modern Dance techniques
Instructor(s): Bonnie Gombos
D54 - BROADWAY JAZZ MS - Middle School Students see "Broadway Jazz" description
Instructor(s): Debbie Vingo-Blevins
D94 - DDC JR/SR CO BALLET TECHNIQUE - A solid multi-level ballet technique class for DDC Jr and Sr Company members only.
You will not learn a dance for the spring dance concert in this class. Focus is on building individual strength to become stronger and more versatile dancers.
Instructor: Bonnie Gombos
Instructor(s): Bonnie Gombos
D50 - JUST BEGINNINGS - 3-4 a creative movement class for pre-school children using games, music and props to learn how to focus their energy in a fun imaginative way. Students must be 3 by Jan. 30.
Instructor(s): Marie Maccarone Elizabeth Hall
D3,D4 - Teen Contemporary - Grade 6 & up Contemorary dance draws on Modern dance technique and an array of still developing philosophies of movement based on the study of the human body and body/mind inter-relationships.
Instructor(s): Kari Nealis Gomez
D66 - Teen Lyrical - Grade 7 & up Lyrical dance is a modern dance which fuses modern dance , jazz and ballet
Instructor(s): Debbie Vingo-Blevins
D67 - ABC Dance - 4&5 An intro to jazz /hip hop dance for boys and girls.
Instructor(s): Debbie Vingo-Blevins
D23 - Tiny Tigers - 4 & 5 yrs old This class is designed to refine motor and organizational skills, improve self-disipline and teach teach proper behavior through respect and self-control, while having fun.
Instructor(s): James Gombos
DK01 - Little Leopards - 6-9 yrs old This class is designed to refine motor and organizational skills, improve self-disipline and teach teach proper behavior through respect and self-control, while having fun.
Instructor(s): James Gombos
DK02 - Developing Dragons - 10-12 yrs old This class is designed to refine motor and organizational skills, improve self-disipline and teach teach proper behavior through respect and self-control, while having fun.
Instructor(s): James Gombos
DK03 - Shaolin Teens - 13-16 yrs old This class is designed to refine motor and organizational skills, improve self-disipline and teach teach proper behavior through respect and self-control, while having fun.
Instructor(s): James Gombos
DK04 - Ballet 1A - (K-1) Beginning level class for students who have already had introductory ballet classes. Warm-ups at the barre teach primary elements of classical ballet: posture, positions of feet, arms, head, qualities of movement, center floor and elementary combinations across the floor.
Instructor(s): Bonnie Gombos Elizabeth Hall
D36, D55) - Advanced Tap - By permission only For students who have excelled in basic tap technique.
Instructor(s): Debbie Vingo-Blevins
D72 - M.S. Latin Dance - Grades 6-8 Students will learn many different latin styles such as mambo, salsa and tango.
Instructor(s): Luis Lopez
D96 - H.S. Latin Dance - Grades 9-12 Students will learn various latin styles such as mambo, salsa and tango
Instructor(s): Luis Lopez
D97 - ADULT BALLET - All Students are encouraged to try this
popular intermediate level class. Each class will include a thorough barre, center floor, and a well-balanced combination in a relaxed, and positive atmosphere. Pointe class available on Fri.
Instructor(s): Bonnie Gombos
D82 - PILATES MATWORK - This method of body conditioning is a unique system of stretching and strengthening exercises developed over 90 years ago by Joseph Pilates. It strengthens and tones muscles, improves posture, provides flexibility and balance, unites body and mind and creates a more streamline shape.
Instructor(s): Oleg Belousov
D83 - Adult Latin Dance - Students will learn various Latin styles such as Mambo, Salsa and Tango
Instructor(s): Luis Lopez
D85 - Oleg Belousov - Oleg Belousov is the owner of The Pilates Center in Norwalk, Connecticut. He has been personally trained by Romana Kryzanowska, Master Teacher and president of The Pilates Guild. Back in his native Russia, Oleg was a high ranking national competitive wrestler. Last Fall he attended an International Pilates Conference in California.
- Bonnie Gombos - Bonnie Gombos, Director of the Darien Dance Center & DAC workshops, has been dancing for over 30 years and teaching for over twenty years in Queens and Fairfield County working with students from age three through adult; with a wide range of dance styles from classical ballet, to jazz and modern. She has also worked at the Connecticut ballet for many years.Bonnie was a Dance-Theater major at Queens College N.Y. and received most of her training from Hannah Kroner and the New York School of Ballet. Bonnie directs many voluntary performances for local nursing homes and has assisted in many DEA conventions.Bonnie also directs and choreographs for the annual adult showcase performance every October and "Scenes from the Nutcracker every December"
- Kari Nealis Gomez - Kari Nealis Gomez, has been committed to teaching dance to children of Southern Connecticut for the past Eight years. Kari has been a dance educator with the Connecticut Ballet Center, CBC's Dance Exposure Project, Darien Dance Center, Allegra Danace Studio, Stamford's Youth Foundation's Art Infusion and the International School at the Rogers Magnet enrichment program. Kari received professional dance training from the Ailey School in NYC and has a BA in Liberal Arts from the New School University.
- Debbie Vingo-Blevins - Debbie Vingo-Blevins has studied dance at various schools throughout Fairfield County for the past 20 years. She obtained her BA in Dance/Theatre from Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York with a specialization in performance and choreography. She attended the American Dance Festival 2000 both in NYC and Durham, NC. Her talents range from Jazz/Hip-Hop and Modern to Ballet and Ballroom. Debbie taught at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Stamford and currently teaches at the Westport Dance Center and the DDC.
- Marie Maccarone - Marie has been dancing and performing for over twenty years. She received her training in NYC at Dancespace where she studied modern dance and ballet with Lynn Simonson and Jamie Brendell. She was a member of the dance troupe "Earth Song" and "Betsy Ceva's Moving Mantras", and now is a member of the DDC Adult Troupe. Marie has a BA from Suny Purchase and has taught pre-school in Brooklyn.
- Elizabeth Hall - Elizabeth holds a BA in Literature and Dance from Hunter College, and holds a full teaching diploma from the Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing in Singapore. Elizabeth has performed with the Windmere Ballet and Fellow Performance Group.Elizabeth now performs with the DDC adult troupe. Elizabeth has taught at Steps in Stamford, the Dance Club at Sacred Heart Academy in Stamford and at The Children's House Montessori School in Malaysia
- Jim Clark - Jim has performed in many Broadway shows such as West Side Story, Funny Girl, Pippin, and Hello Dolly.While living in Japan, Jim taught Musical Theater at Osaka College of Music for 10 years and taught at the Takarazuka Musical Theater Company. Jim currently teaches "Fosse" workshops throughout New England and Theater dance at Naugatuck Valley Community College.
- James Gombos - Sensei James Gombos is a 3rd degree black belt in the art of Shaolin Kempo Karate. He has been studying various types of Martial Arts for over 20 years and has taught many students through out Fairfield County.
- Luis Lopez - Luis provides one of the few studios in the State of Connecticut, with his specialty in Modern Style Salsa. Luis Lopez from Latin Moves Dance Studio in Stamford. I was born and raised in Stamford, CT and have been in business for over 10 years. I host and event that expresses our Latin Salsa Culture here in Connecticut. The Connecticut Salsa Fest - www.ctsalsafest.com Hosting our 4th Annual CT Salsa Fest on May 30-31, 2008, at the Hilton Hotel - Stamford, CT. This is an event people will look forward to coming year in and year out. Luis specializes in: Modern Style Salsa/Club style, Group Salsa On1 & On2, Private Instruction available by appointment for Single/Partner/Groups. Youth Salsa Classes, Choreography Classes.
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