NEW at Area Stage Company, are virtual classes! Their virtual classes are the perfect thing to engage your mind, grow your performance skills, and have FUN during these uncertain times. Learn to sing, act, or even dance on your own time, from the comfort of your own home!

ASC now offers virtual group classes and private lessons in all of the below disciplines. All lessons take place using the online conferencing platform, Zoom. Zoom is completely free for you to use. Once your lesson is scheduled, you will receive a URL to the meeting, and a meeting password.

 

Acting Beginner (Typically ages 6-11)

Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays on ZOOM, 4:30-5:30 PM​, price $500/session (cost prorated depending on your start date)

Perfect for young students, or students new to theatre and acting! Students will learn basic theatre vocabulary, character development, and monologue and scene performance techniques throughout the semester. Students will be encouraged to create their own monologues in class based on characters they will create through various theatre games. Once the monologues have been created, students will work on basic concepts such as “the moment before”, objective for the monologue, intention, tactics, how to analyze the monologue and character analysis.

 

Topics covered include:

– Theatre warm-ups and games

– Script analysis (understanding the script/how to approach a script)

– Creativity

– Theatre vocabulary

 

Acting Intermediate (Typically ages 11+)

Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays on ZOOM, 5:30-6:30 PM​, price $500/session (cost prorated depending on your start date)

A more advanced class for slightly older students, or younger, experienced students, this class focuses on monologue and scene work. Students will be challenged with researching the play, analyzing the script, and working with their scene partners to bring the characters to life.

 

Topics covered include:

– Advanced Theatre vocabulary

– Objectives

– Scene work

– Analyzing a script

– Intentions/Tactics

– Character Development

 

Improv

Ages 6-11: Tuesdays and Thursdays on ZOOM, 4:30-5:30 PM​, price $340/session (cost prorated depending on your start date

Ages 11+: Tuesdays and Thursdays on ZOOM, 5:30-6:30 PM​, price $340/session (cost prorated depending on your start date)

This class is an ideal place for students to tap into their “silly side” and to learn to “play” onstage. (Think: “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”) Acting is all about following your instincts, and this class will help students let go of their stage fright and self-consciousness and do exactly that! Class activities will consist of various improv games and exercises designed to increase creativity and strengthen foundational stage technique.

 

Topics covered include:

– Improv games

– The idea of “Yes, and…”

– Volume and physical commitment onstage

– Letting go of self-consciousness onstage​​​

 

 

 

Advanced Ensemble (Ages 12+, by audition only)

Tuesdays & Thursdays on ZOOM, 4:30-5:30 PM​, price $400/session

This class is for our experienced, skilled, and dedicated students who wish to take their artistry to the next level. This class will focus on developing each student into a triple threat musical theatre performer. The ensemble will also focus on building a repertoire of group musical theatre numbers and will be given as many performance opportunities as possible in the community and beyond. Students will receive discounted, priority registration to our masterclass and audition events with Broadway performers, directors, choreographers, and casting directors. Classes are run in a manner akin to professional rehearsals, emphasizing professionalism, punctuality, and preparedness. The curriculum is developed specifically for each individual group of students, and therefore changes slightly each session.

 

Topics covered include:

– Acting the song

– Audition prep

– Musical theatre scene study

– Musical theatre dance styles

– Singing with an accompanist

– Identifying your “type”

– Song selection

– Musical theatre history

– Analyzing a musical theatre script

 

Advanced Scene Study (Ages 12+, by instructor approval only)

Tuesdays & Thursdays on ZOOM, 6:30-7:30 PM​, price $400/session

This class is young actors who have experience performing in multiple productions, or who have taken Acting Intermediate (or equivalent), and wish to deepen and expand their understanding of their craft. Students will focus on one scene and character throughout the entire session spending extensive time on script analysis, character development, and work with their scene partner.

 

Topics covered include:

– Advanced script analysis

– Advanced character development

– How to research a scene

– Objectives and tactics

 

Ballet

Ages 6-11: Tuesdays & Thursdays on ZOOM, 5:30-6:30 PM​, price $340/session (cost prorated depending on your start date)

Ages 11+: Tuesdays & Thursdays on ZOOM, 4:30-5:30 PM​, price $340/session (cost prorated depending on your start date)

Instructor Irma Becker brings the Royal Academy of Dance curriculum to Area Stage! This is the perfect foundational class for students new to ballet, or to dance in general. Correct body positioning, foundational “building-block” movements, and physical strength and endurance will all be emphasized in both barre and center exercises.

 

Topics covered include:

– Turnout and posture

– At the barre: plié, battement tendu, battement glissé, battement fondue, grand battement, rise, stretch

– Center: Port de bras, balance de cote, relevé, en tournant, saute, pas de chat, chaine turns

– Arm positions: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, open 5th, demi second, demi bra

 

Musical Theatre Dance

Ages 6-11: Mon, Wed, & Fri. on ZOOM, 5:30-6:30 PM​, price $340/session (cost prorated depending on your start date

Ages 11+: Mon, Wed, & Fri. on ZOOM, 4:30-5:30 PM​, price $340/session (cost prorated depending on your start date)

This class emphasizes concepts essential to dance in the musical theatre. Spatial awareness, stage directions, formations, foundational technique, and musicality will all be covered.

 

Topics covered include:

– Stage directions (upstage, downstage, etc.)

– Dance formations and shapes

– Use of spot in turns

– Basic steps: Ball change, chassé, transfer of weight, pivot step, jazz walk, pas de bourrée, slide, crossing step, kick ball change, box step, heel walk.

– Basic positions of the feet and arms

 

Adult Ballet

Tuesdays & Thursdays on ZOOM, 10:00-11:00 AM​, price $340/session

This class is a wonderful introduction to dance for all adults, ages 18 and up. The class is taught primarily at a beginner level, and no experience is necessary. However, if you are a current or former dancer, the class can be adjusted to your level.

 

​Topics covered include:

– Turnout and posture

– At the barre: plié, battement tendu, battement glissé, battement fondue, grand battement, rise, stretch

– Center: Port de bras, balance de cote, relevé, en tournant, saute, pas de chat, chaine turns

– Arm positions: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, open 5th, demi second, demi bra

 

Adult Fitness

Mondays & Wednesdays on ZOOM, 10:00-11:00 AM​, price $340/session

Stuck working from home? Stay fit with this fun, engaging class for adults of all ages!

 

For more fun things to do in Miami this week, check out the latest issue of Fun10Miami. 

Tess Abney is a freelance writer who was born and raised in the Quad Cities. She spends most of her time attempting to successfully raise three boys. In her free time, writing is her passion. Whether it is sharing local events and businesses with readers or sharing her thoughts on life, she finds comfort in the way words can bring people together.