AFHS Dance Program
Under the direction of Ms. Sydney Potter students at Apex Friendship High School have the opportunity to explore dance for the first time or extend their love of dance to the classroom.
There are four levels of dance available to students at AFHS. Dance I, Dance II, Proficient Honors Ensemble, and Advanced Dance Company. All classes focus on the development of dance technique, choreography, performance, exploration of different dance styles, dance history, and more.
As part of the curriculum, students work in class to develop choreography for a showcase at the end of each semester. The lengthy process includes choreography, feedback, revision, lighting design, costume design, and more. It is highly collaborative and allows students to evolve their skills in creativity, communication, and critical thinking. In dance at AFHS, students are not only advancing their dance movement skills, but they are learning to create and produce dance while also understanding the importance of community along the way. In the fall we have a Winter Showcase. In the spring we have an Honors Concert, solely dedicated to the Honors courses to promote their hard work, and then a Spring Showcase featuring the whole program.
In addition to classes, Apex Friendship Dance offers students the opportunity to be a part of a nationally recognized Dance Honors Society that celebrates outstanding merit, leadership, and academic achievement through participation in dance within the AFHS dance community and beyond. There are also opportunities to join student-led dance clubs such as Bollywood and Step dancing.
Stay Connected With Us
INSTAGRAM: @apexfriendshipdance TWITTER: @AFHSDance
Link to AFHS Fine Arts Website
Course Descriptions
Dance I | Beginning
Dance I is a beginning-level course that introduces students to the foundations of dance. Students will learn movement skills, develop their dance technique, and begin to build a strong dance vocabulary. We will dive into different styles of dance and spend time focusing on their origins. Students will also learn basic choreographic principles and apply them through various independent and collaborative dance studies. Throughout the course of the semester, we spend time producing work for a dance performance at the end of the semester! Materials Fee $25 per semester.
Dance Ensemble | Proficient (Honors)
In this class, students train to strengthen and progress their dance skills with a primary focus on Modern, Contemporary, and Jazz techniques. Through this course students are encouraged to take ownership of their dance journeys and strive to progress their technical and choreographic skills. Units of study include showcase choreography, focus on evaluating and analyzing dance, deeper exploration of the choreographic process, continuation of skill development, preparation for dance performances, and more! Material Fee is $40 per semester. Audition Only.
Dance II | Intermediate
This course continues the development of intermediate movement skills and choreography through an enhanced application of modern dance techniques. Students apply technical skills from a variety of dance forms to enhance performance at an intermediate level. Teacher. Material Fee is $30 per semester. Recommendation is a prerequisite for this class.
Dance Company | Advanced Dance (Honors)
Proficient/Advanced (Dance Company) is the highest, most rigorous level of dance at AFHS requires excellence in technical performance willingness to grow a deep aesthetic awareness. In this class, students train to strengthen and progress their dance skills with a primary focus on Modern, Contemporary, and Jazz techniques. Students are also equipped with choreographic processes to create work both independently and collaboratively, producing high-quality work that has meaning and depth. Students are motivated to make connections across the broad umbrella of dance and how it relates to the world around them and use their knowledge to investigate dance beyond a surface level. Students will demonstrate dance literacy through research-based projects and dance criticism. Materials Fee is $50 per semester for Company members. Audition only.
Independent Study
Available by Teacher recommendation only, the student works independently in a specialized area of concentration selected by the student with the dance teacher's approval. A student must have a sponsoring teacher and must have arranged a program of study prior to registering for this course
NHSDA x AFMS
Once a month, AFHS’s chapter of the National Honors Society for Dance Arts goes over to Apex Friendship Middle to collaborate with their dance club and lead a dance class!
