Merge Dance Studio "Where Dance and Fitness Merge"
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Open House and Registration:
June 22, 2013 - 3:00-5:00pm

2013 Summer Classes:

July 8 – August 22, 2013
(Please Note: We will be closed July 29th – Aug. 1st for summer break.)


Class Schedule:

Click Here for the 2013 Summer Class Schedule

2013-2014 Classes:

Sept. 4, 2013 - June 16, 2014

Class Schedule:

Click Here for the 2013-2014 Class Schedule

You may register for classes at any time, even mid-session, by filling out and mailing in or bringing in the registration form, along with your tuition, which can be found on the Registration & Tuition page. 

Please let us know if we do not yet offer a class that you'd be interested in taking. Thank you for your interest! 

Scroll down to view class descriptions, class attire, and studio policies.

2013-2014 Calendar:

June 22, 2013 – Open House & Registration – 3:00-5:00pm
July 8, 2013 – First Day of Summer Classes
July 29, 2013 – Aug. 1, 2013 – Closed – Summer Break
Aug. 22, 2013 – Last Day of Summer Classes       
Aug. 24, 2013 – Open House & Registration – 1:00-4:00pm
Aug. 28, 2013 – Open House & Registration – 5:00-8:00pm
Sept. 4, 2013 – First Day of Fall Classes

Sept. 21, 2013 – Merge Dance Company Auditions
Nov. 4 – 9, 2013 – Observation Week
Nov. 27 – Nov. 30, 2013 – Closed - Holiday
Dec. 2, 2013 – Beginning of 2nd Session
Dec. 23, 2013 – Jan. 4, 2014 – Closed – Winter Break
Feb. 24 – March 1, 2014 – Observation Week
March 10, 2014 – Beginning of 3rd Session
April 14 – 19, 2014 – Closed – Spring Break
May 26, 2014 – Closed – Holiday
June 16, 2014 – Last Day of Classes for the 2013-2014 Year
June 17 – 21, 2014 – These days will be used for make-up classes, dress rehearsal for the recital and the annual recital, exact dates TBA. 
   

Class Descriptions:

Mommy/Daddy & Me: Enjoy some time with your little one! Mommy/Daddy & Me is a fun-filled class that allows students and parents to interact in a playful environment. Through stretching and movement exercises, children will be encouraged to explore movement in fun ways while improving their gross motor skills and musicality. (This class can be for nannies too!)

Creative Movement: This class introduces young children to music and movement. It fosters imagination and creativity and children are encouraged to explore movement in fun ways. It also gives children an understanding of the classroom community, improves their social skills, and develops their fine motor skills all while they have fun!

Pre-Ballet & Tap: Learn the basics of ballet and tap in this combination class. This class teaches proper technique to build strength, flexibility, musicality, and provides the foundation for the other forms of dance. Students are introduced to the basics in ballet barre and center work and the syncopation of tap sounds. Students will receive a 1/2 hour of training in ballet and a 1/2 hour of training in tap. 
*Pre-Ballet & Tap 1 = 1st year of Pre-Ballet & Tap
*Pre-Ballet & Tap 2 = 2nd year of Pre-Ballet & Tap


Ballet, Jazz & Tap (ages 7-9): This fun 1 1/2 hour class combines all the technique of ballet, jazz and tap into one class for our 7-9 year old students. Students will learn ballet barre and center work, jazz technique (turns, leaps, jumps, etc.), and the syncopation of tap sounds. Students will receive a 1/2 hour of training in ballet, a 1/2 hour of training in jazz, and a 1/2 hour of training in tap. 

Ballet: A classical dance form demanding grace and precision and employing formalized steps and gestures. Ballet helps develop strength, flexibility, musicality, and provides the foundation for the other forms of dance. Ballet classes consist of a ballet barre, center work, and across the floor combinations.
*Beginner = 0-1 year of experience
*Intermediate = 2-3 years of experience (or more)
*Intermediate/Advanced = 4 or more years of experience


Pointe: Enrollment in all pointe classes is by instructor permission only. Pointe classes are meant for older dancers who are have built up their strength and are looking to pursue ballet further. You must be enrolled in ballet to take this class.


Jazz/Contemporary (ages 10-14): This class combines the techniques of both jazz and modern/contemporary into one class for our 10-14 year old students. Jazz is a form of dance that showcases a dancer's individual style and originality. Jazz dancing is energetic and fun, consisting of unique moves, fancy footwork, big leaps, and quick turns. Modern/Contemporary is one of the most expressive forms of dance which incorporates various styles of movement and improvisation. This style is a mix of ballet and jazz but is much more grounded and earthy and involves floor work and release. Jazz/Contemporary classes consist of a warm up, center work, across the floor work, and learning a combination.

Jazz: Jazz is a form of dance that showcases a dancer's individual style and originality. Jazz dancing is energetic and fun, consisting of unique moves, fancy footwork, big leaps, and quick turns. All jazz classes consist of a warm-up, center work, across the floor work, and learning a jazz combination.
*Beginner = 0 - 1 year of experience
*Intermediate = 2 or more years of experience 


Tap: Tap is based on rhythm and musicality. Learn how to produce complex rhythms using just your feet! Tap is a fun and upbeat class. All tap classes consist of a warm-up, center work, across the floor work, and learning a tap combination.
*Beginner = 0 - 1 year of experience
*Intermediate = 2 or more years of experience


Modern/Contemporary: One of the most expressive forms of dance, modern/contemporary incorporates various styles of movement and improvisation. This style is a mix of ballet and jazz but is much more grounded and earthy. This is a fun class full of floor work and release. Modern/contemporary classes consist of a warm up, center work, across the floor work, and learning a modern/contemporary combination.
  
Musical Theatre: This class will include a 1/2 hour of training in jazz and a 1/2 hour of training in tap. Learn all the moves you will need for your next musical theatre audition/performance and have a blast while doing so! Learn fun musical theatre dance combinations while improving your dance skills.

Jazz Funk/Hip-Hop: This class is a blend of hip hop and jazz and is fun for all ages!! It is an aerobic workout set to top 40 music. This is a fun class that includes a warm-up, across the floor work, and a dance combination reminiscent of what you see on MTV music videos. Come have a blast while getting a healthy workout and learning fun dance moves!

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Sleek. Sexy. Powerful. A mix of boxing, Pilates and dance, Piloxing is an exciting, new inter-disciplinary workout. It is a fat torching, muscle sculpting, core-centric interval workout, guaranteed to whip you into shape using a class format that's both fun and challenging. Piloxing blends the power, speed, and agility of boxing with the beautiful sculpting and flexibility of Pilates, and add to that fun and sexy dance moves. Come try this fun, empowering, cardio class today! Piloxing® gloves may be purchased at the studio for $20.00. 

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An exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness-party. Burn fat, calories, and tone your body while having fun! Come join the party and see what all the excitement is about!  


Class Attire: 
For your convenience Merge Dance Studio carries Revolution Dancewear products! We can provide you with dance shoes as well as dance attire at below retail prices. Stop into our office for more information, to get fitted, and to place your order today! We also have Merge Dance Studio t-shirts, printed by ooshirts.com (custom tees), for sale for $15.00. Stop into the office to purchase a t-shirt today!

Mommy/Daddy & Me: Comfortable clothing or dance attire along with bare feet, socks, or ballet slippers

Creative Movement: Leotard, pink tights, pink ballet slippers and hair secured away from face (a ballet skirt may be worn if so desired); Boys - t-shirt, gym shorts or pants, and black ballet slippers

Pre-Ballet & Tap: Leotard, pink tights, pink ballet slippers, black tap shoes, and hair secured away from face (a ballet skirt may be worn if so desired); Boys - t-shirt, gym shorts or pants, black ballet slippers, and black tap shoes

Ballet, Jazz & Tap (ages 7-9): Leotard, pink tights, pink ballet slippers, black jazz shoes, black tap shoes, and hair secured away from face (a ballet skirt may be worn for the ballet portion of the class and jazz pants may be worn for the jazz and tap portions for the class if so desired); Boys - t-shirt, gym shorts or pants, black ballet slippers, black jazz shoes, and black tap shoes

Ballet (ages 10-14): Leotard, pink tights, ballet skirt, pink ballet slippers, and hair secured away from face; Boys - t-shirt, gym shorts or pants, and black ballet slippers

Jazz/Contemporary (ages 10-14): Leotard, jazz pants/leggings or tan/black tights with dance shorts, black jazz shoes, and hair secured away from face (a form fitting tank top may be worn over your leotard if so desired); Boys - t-shirt, gym shorts or pants, and black jazz shoes 

Ballet & Pointe (ages Teen/Adult): Leotard, tights, dance shorts or ballet skirt, pink ballet slippers or pink pointe shoes, and hair secured away from face; Men - t-shirt, gym shorts or pants, and black ballet slippers 

Jazz: Leotard, jazz pants/leggings or tan/black tights with dance shorts, black jazz shoes, and hair secured away from face (a form fitting tank top may be worn over your leotard if so desired); Boys/Men - t-shirt, gym shorts or pants, and black jazz shoes 

Tap: Leotard, jazz pants/leggings or tan/black tights with dance shorts, black tap shoes, and hair secured away from face (a form fitting tank top may be worn over your leotard if so desired); Boys/Men - t-shirt, gym shorts or pants, and black tap shoes   

Modern/Contemporary:  Leotard, jazz pants/leggings or tan/black tights with dance shorts, and hair secured away from face, no shoes are needed for this class (a form fitting tank top may be worn over your leotard if so desired); Boys/Men - t-shirt, and gym shorts or pants, no shoes are needed for this class  

Musical Theatre: Activewear, black jazz shoes or tan/black character shoes and black tap shoes or tan/black character tap shoes, and hair secured away from face; Men -activewear, black jazz shoes, and black tap shoes **

Jazz Funk/Hip-Hop: Activewear, sneakers or jazz sneakers, and hair secured away from face; Boys/Men - activewear, and sneakers or jazz sneakers **

Pilxoing®: Activewear, Piloxing® gloves* (not required), and hair secured away from face, no shoes are needed for this class but sneakers or jazz sneakers can be worn if so desired, yoga mats may be used for the floor section of this class if so desired; Boys/Men - activewear and Piloxing® gloves* (not required), no shoes are needed for this class but sneakers or jazz sneakers can be worn if so desired, yoga mats may be used for the floor section of this class if so desired **
*Piloxing® gloves may be purchased at the studio for $20.00.

ZUMBA®: Activewear, sneakers or jazz sneakers, and hair secured away from face; Boys/Men - activewear, and sneakers or jazz sneakers ** 
**Formal dancewear is also welcome for these classes. 

Studio Policies:

Attendance/Make-ups and Class Commitment: Attendance is crucial to the success of you or your child's dance education and is critical to consistent progress and advancement. Classes are meant to be attended for the entire year to reap all of the benefits. All dancers are expected to be on time to class. Please notify the office in advance of any absences. We encourage students to make up any missed classes. Missed classes may be made up in any class of the same or a lower level and must be made up within the same session that the class was missed. Please note that there are no credits or refunds given for missed classes.

Student Behavior: All dancers are required to act in a respectful manner in class toward the instructor and all of their classmates. Students must keep talking to a minimum and must listen to the instructor. Disruptive behavior may require the instructor to dismiss a student from class. If disruptive behavior continues the director has the right to dismiss any student from the dance program. Disruptive behavior includes, but is not limited to, rude comments towards students, parents and Merge Dance Studio instructors, physical contact with other students and the lack of discipline during class. No food, gum, or drinks, other than water, are allowed in the classroom.

Class Cancellations: Any classes cancelled by the instructor will be rescheduled for make-up. Any classes cancelled due to lack of attendance will not be rescheduled. All students will be notified in advance if a class needs to be permanently cancelled. Any weather related cancellations will be announced on our voicemail, our website, and on our Facebook and Twitter pages. We will always make every effort to remain open if it is safe to do so. Please contact us at 215-266-1311 for updated information.

Tuition: Tuition is non-refundable and non-transferable so please be sure the classes you choose fit your schedule and that you or your child wants to dance. A full refund will be given if Merge Dance Studio must cancel a class. Classes may be joined at any time during a session for a pro-rated tuition fee. Tuition is due during the first week of each new session. There will be a $15.00 late fee charged if payment is not received by the beginning of the third week of a new session. There is a $25.00 charge for any returned checks. There is a non-refundable $15.00 annual registration fee per dancer that is due at the time of registration. Please note that there are no credits or refunds given for missed classes. Missed classes may be made up in any class of the same or a lower level and must be made up within the same session that the class was missed.

Observation: Observation of classes is permitted at designated times only. Prospective students and special case observations must be approved by the director. The training process is sensitive and an outside presence may distract or inhibit the students. Parents of students are required to stay in waiting areas. 

Recital: All fall classes, unless otherwise decided upon, will prepare a dance for the end of the season 2014 spring performance. All students are welcome to and encouraged to participate in this performance. Performing in front of a live audience of their peers and families validates a student's hard work and gives them a way to showcase what they have learned and accomplished throughout the year. More information about the 2014 recital will be made available as the year progresses. 

Privacy: Merge Dance Studio staff is not allowed to give out student or teacher class information, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, or home addresses. 
Merge Dance Studio, 4047 Cresson St., 2nd Floor Rear, Philadelphia, PA 19127, 215-266-1311, [email protected] website security