Dance On
ARTS EDGE
At Arts Edge, our goal is to provide the highest quality dance training, adhering to a curriculum in a way that builds formation of character so that each student grows, not only physically as a dancer, but strives for standards of excellence that are applicable to all areas of life.
In 2010 we started with a dream.
A dream of creating an arts education facility that provided the very best performing arts education in a warm family environment. With the support of The Florida Ballet we assembled the very best teaching staff in the area. Those who not only have a deep love for their art form, but a vested interest in the success of your children.
We feel so blessed to be surrounded by such amazing, supportive people, from the parent's who entrust us with their child's dance education, to our amazing faculty and above all the incredible children that dance at Arts Edge. As we continue to grow, we will never forget our mission and why our school was created.
To each and every smiling face and pair of dancing feet, never let that sparkle in each of you fade. Work hard and dream big!
Monday - Thursday: 3:30pm-8:00pm
Friday: 4:00pm-6:pm
Arts Edge School of Dance and Theatre
406 Old Hard Rd.
Fleming Island, FL 32003
904-278-3858
Our 2021 - 2022 Season runs from Aug 16, 2021 - June 11, 2022.
Siblings receive a 10% discount.
Fees and tuition rates are the same as last year.
Annual Registration Fee: $20 per student, Non-refundable, due upon registration.
Recital Fee: $100 Non-refundable for first child, $25 each additional child. This is to cover recital costs (venue rental, printing, props, etc.) For this you will receive 2 recital tickets and your choice of a recital DVD or Blu-Ray.
Costume Fees: $75 per costume
Company Fees: All dance company fees are separate and in addition to tuition.
Late Fees: A 10% late charge will be added to your account if not paid in full by the end of the month.
Returned Checks: Will be charged a $35.00 returned check fee.
There are many factors that can determine which age groups and levels are best for a child - personality, natural ability, and experience broadly describe some of them. Students thrive in widely differing situations. We encourage you to trust the instructor's recommendation and allow your child's skills to unfold at a natural pace.
It is important to follow the required dress code so that the instructors can teach efficiently. A uniform look allows the instructor to quickly and easily see the students' movements and not be distracted by loud colors and patterns. The dress code allows the instructor to make accurate and appropriate corrections. We also ask that all students wear a cover-up in and out of the studio for their safety from unwanted attention from outside sources. Hair for ballet classes is always in a bun on the crown of their head. Hair in other dance classes should be pulled back in a ponytail and all hair should be away from the face. A cloth headband is great to hold bangs or short hair. ONLY stud earrings are allowed, NO other jewelry. These things will contribute to getting the most out of class.
This 45 minute class is designed to expand on the natural joy of movement and creativity for three to five-year-old students. After basic warm-ups, isolations and stretches, the students practice steps across the floor and in patterns. Special lessons and class themes are designed to build imagination and expressiveness in the students' movement. Rhythm and music skills are taught through specific exercises.
Dress Code for Girls: Pale Pink leotard, pink tights (no underpants should be worn under tights) and pink ballet shoes in leather or canvas. PLEASE, NO SKIRTS. Hair should be in a bun.
Dress Code for Boys: White T-shirt, black sweatpants or long shorts and black ballet shoes.
This class offers young students the opportunity to explore more than one dance form. Classwork consists of more complex and detailed movement than in previous classes, while still allowing time for fun, creative exercises.
Dress Code: Same as pre-primary A & B.
Students move through the levels offered in the order listed below. This depends on such things as natural ability, learning style, focus and attendance. Students may move through the syllabus at differing rates. Not all levels are offered in all styles of dance. Please speak to your instructor if you have questions about the appropriate level
Level I: Beginner (1-2 yrs)
Level II: Advanced Beginner (2-3 yrs)
Level III: (3-4 yrs)
Level IV: Advanced
This centuries-old dance form is known for its grace and beauty which requires tremendous discipline, strength and flexibility. Based on clearly defined positions of the body, training requires patience and repetition for many years to acquire the strength and refinement necessary to master this beautiful art form. It is required that students taking ballet at this level be enrolled in two ballet classes per week. Students wishing to work on pointe, are required to take three classes per week.
Dress Code for Girls: Black leotard, pink tights, pink ballet shoes, hair in a bun on the crown of their head and hair away from their face.
Dress Code for Boys: White T-shirt, black sweatpants, tights (with dance belt) and black ballet shoes.
Pointe work is an essential part of upper-level ballet training. Classes are offered by teacher recommendation only and three ballet classes are required.
In order to take this class, you have to take a ballet or modern class as well (exceptions made for High School Juniors and Seniors with the approval of the teacher). This class focuses on creative self-expression, breaking rigid constraints of classical ballet and stretching beyond traditional modern dance techniques. The class is challenging with an emphasis on expression and exploring new movement. The students will have to go deeper into the quality of movement in order to change their usual and stereotyped gestures into a more personal way of moving.
Dress Code: No shoes, black leotard, convertible pink, black or caramel. Stirrup tights, jazz pants or capris over Leo.
Hip Hop is a high energy street dance that evolved in urban areas across the country over the past 30 years. Class includes a warm-up, development of hip hop movements, vocabulary and a combination that are tailored for the dancer's respective ages.
Dress Code: Leotard-no color restriction, black, pink or Caramel tights. You can wear a tank or t-shirt over a leotard, jazz pants or capris.
Jazz classes expose students to many forms that make up this diverse genre of dance. Students will study classic jazz technique, musical theater, lyrical jazz, contemporary/modern jazz movement and hip hop influenced styles. Jazz classes consist of warm-up center work and traveling progressions. These are all designed to increase flexibility, strength, and technique. Classes will also include learning pieces of choreography and developing performance, confidence and expression.
Dress Code: Black leotard and black, pink or Caramel tights. Jazz pants or capris can be worn over Leo. Tan jazz shoes.
The emphasis of this class is on performing the modern dance techniques of Lester Horton, Jose Limon, and Martha Graham. Modern dance principles include centering, alignment, gravity, breath, contraction, release, fall and recovery, suspension, floor work, balance and off-balance, tension and relaxation. This class will also explore improvisational techniques and partnering. The concurrent study of ballet is highly recommended to develop clarity of the body lines and strength.
Dress Code: No shoes, black leotard, convertible pink, black or Caramel tight or stirrups. Jazz pants or capris over Leo.
Classes teach technique aimed at achieving good, clear sounds while encouraging individual expression through rhythm. Dancers learn about musical structure and develop improvisation skills.
Dress Code: Leotard-no color restriction, black, pink or Caramel tights. You can wear a tank or t-shirt over a leotard, jazz pants or capris.
Class Description Art class exposes students to many mediums to create their own works of art. Many of our projects will focus on subjects of a seasonal theme while employing methods that have been used by the Masters. Based upon the skill level of the students, introduction of detail work is encouraged. Many of our projects require more than one class time to complete. Aprons are provided for use in class. This class is open to mature 6-12 year olds demonstrating the ability to follow instruction.
Dress Code: Students may wear clothing of their choice knowing that we will use various mediums. Be aware that we do provide aprons however you may want to wear clothing that is not “school worthy”. Shoes are required to be worn during class. Hair up and away from exposure to paint is recommended.
Heather has been teaching dance for over 20 years. She began dancing in high school, studying under Bill Hotaling (Manhattan Dance Project), in Utica, NY. She continued her dance education at SUNY Brockport where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance, graduating with honors. There, she studied with Tim Draper (Rochester City Ballet), Randy James (Randy James Danceworks), Clyde Morgan, Susannah Newman, Sondra Fraleigh, and Matthew Clark, among many others. While at Brockport, she performed and toured with the school's two performing companies, DANSCORE and SANKOFA. After graduation from Brockport, she taught dance and theater to ages three through adult with Kim Picard Pellicer in Jacksonville, FL from 1995-1999. Heather then spent the next 5 years running the dance program at Berwick Academy in Southern Maine and choreographed for the Portsmouth School of Ballet. She has also continued her studies in dance at Bates Dance Festival, The Florida Dance Festival, and The Portsmouth Percussive Dance Festival where she has taken Master Classes with Robert Atwood, Terry Creach, Clyde Evans Jr., Danny Buraczeski and Gabriel Masson. Since returning to the Jacksonville area, Heather has worked for various dance schools in the area and has received several choreography awards for her work. Heather has taught at Douglas Anderson School of The Arts and she is currently a member of the Faculty at St Johns Country Day School and Florida Ballet, as well as Arts Edge. She has been a member of The New Hampshire Dance Alliance and is currently a member of The National Dance Educators Organization, The Florida Dance Educators Organization and The Florida Dance Association. Heather Olschewske is an ABT certified teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through level 3 of the ABT National Training Curriculum. She is fully committed to advocating the importance of Arts Education in our schools and the important role the Arts play in the growth and development of our children. She is equally excited to be a part of bringing quality dance training to the area.
Kim teaches drama and dance and is the Technical Director of the Performing Arts Center at St. Johns Country Day School. She is a member of The Florida Association of Theatre Education and the National Dance Education Organization. Kimberly was a founding performing member, choreographer, and Ballet Mistress for Ashland Regional Ballet in Ohio for a span of 18 years before moving to Florida. Her dancing and teaching covers the disciplines of ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, and modern. She has been chosen by such choreographers as Cecil Slaughter (Dayton Contemporary Dance Co.), Joseph Glowick (Cleveland Ballet), Darwin Prioleau (Kent State Univ.), Richard Dickinson (Ohio Ballet), Robert Wesner (Ballet Arizona), and world renowned teacher and coach Laura Alonzo to dance in their ballets. Kimberly holds a Master's Degree in Education, a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and a Bachelor of Music with a concentration in vocal education. Kimberly resides in Middleburg with her husband Michael and her four children, Aleksandra, Michela, Jillian and Jonathon.
Breanna King began her dance training at the age of 9 at Dansations Performing Arts Center in Jacksonville, FL, studying the styles of ballet, jazz, tap and hip hop. Traveling to such places as New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Chicago, Breanna has had the great opportunity to reinforce her training and expand her performance opportunities. Breanna has trained with the "DanceWorks" company at FSCJ under artists and choreographers Rebecca Levy and Talani Torres and artists visiting from Las Vegas Contemporary Dance Theatre, EZ Danza and Trey McIntyre Project. Breanna has worked and performed with MegaMind Productions in shows, "Still I Rise" and "Money, Power, Respect." Miss King has also worked as a dancer and choreographer for the Paradigm Flux Dance Company, a nonprofit dance organization based in Jacksonville. Breanna has continued her dance and artistic education at the University of South Florida, where she has had the opportunity to work with and perform in the works of Jeanne Travers, Andee Scott and Katurah Robinson as well as visiting artists Sarah Gamblin and Donna Mejia. Breanna has just graduated with honors from the University of South Florida in the spring of 2015 receiving a Bachelor's in Fine Arts. She plans to continue seeking opportunities to further expand and share her knowledge, experience, and passion for the arts.
Jenne has been dancing for 25 years, and it is truly her greatest passion in life. She grew up in Coral Springs, FL where she received great foundations of dance training, and then went on to study music for her B.A. and earned two Master's degrees in education at Florida State University. Tap dance is her forte, but she prides herself on training in as many styles as she can. Since living in Tallahassee, Jenne has taught at several competitive dance studios and worked extensively as an intern and assistant teacher with the American Tap Dance Foundation in New York City. Most recently, she has toured as a dancer/singer for the internationally acclaimed band, The Crüxshadows, which has allowed her to travel across Europe, The Caribbean and North America, dancing on international stages. At present, she is the Professor of Tap Dance at Florida School of the Arts and a music teacher for Duval Public Schools.
Chelsea Hurlbut began dancing in Jacksonville, Florida at the age of 5. She trained in many styles of dance including Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, Jazz, Tap and Hip-Hop. She has had the opportunity to participate in Youth America Grand Prix, as well as perform with the Florida Ballet of Jacksonville. In the summer of 2018, Chelsea completed a study abroad program in Paris under the direction of Michael Foley. Here, she had the privilege of taking classes from choreographers all around the world and see 13 performances including works from Crystal Pite, Kyle Abraham, and Kibbutz Dance. Chelsea was a dance instructor at Arts Edge for two years before attending college at the University of South Florida, where she recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Studies and a focus in teaching.
Natasha has been dancing since the age of three, training in Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, Jazz, Hip Hop and Tap. She is a recent graduate of FSCJ with an Associate in Arts degree as a Dance Major. While at FSCJ Natasha performed with Dancework. Natasha is also certified in Acrobatic Arts Module One and has been teaching at Arts Edge for two years.
Elaine teaches art at River Preschool in Fleming Island. Her love of art and art history along with her love of teaching children to express themselves through art has been a treasure to many students over the years. Elaine believes that introducing art and its various mediums is an important part in the growth and development of children. Elaine also offers classes as birthday events and has done several adult classes over the years. Truly there is no age too old to create art. “Art is something that makes you breathe with a different kind of happiness”….Anni Albers. Elaine resides in Fleming Island with her husband Jeff and her two daughters, Meghan and Abigail.
