On-Campus

Pre-Pro Week 1 Level 3-5

Tyler Junior College Dance Academy

Program Description

IntermediateAcademy of Dance3-4Months

Choose from One Week or More!

Open to all future & current pre-professional students. Register for 2025-2026 levels*.

*future students register for Level 1-2

Ballet Level 3-5 Pre-Professional

This class is designed for the serious Beginning Pre-Professional student. Dancers will be introduced to the Cecchetti technique and must attend both classes each week. Audition and/or placement test with the director and ballet mistress is required prior to enrollment in the class.

Dates: 6/8 - 6/11
Time: 11:00-12:30 p.m.
Location: Ornelas Center
Instructor: Ms. Karsyn, Ms. Joslyn, & Ms. Sarah

Pointe Conditioning Level 3-5

This modern class is designed for the serious Beginning Pre-Professional student, designed for your dancer just beginning in modern dance. They will be introduced to the Graham and Horton techniques through creative movement and choreography. Level 1 dancers must register in order to be fully enrolled in the Pre-Professional Division.

Dates: 6/8 - 6/11
Time: 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Location: Ornelas Center
Instructor: Ms. Karsyn, Ms. Joslyn, & Ms. Sarah

Modern Level 3-5 Pre-Professional

Dates: 6/8 - 6/11
Time: 2:00-3:30 p.m.
Location: Ornelas Center
Instructor: Ms. Karsyn, Ms. Joslyn, & Ms. Sarah

Dance Conditioning Level 3-5

This strength and conditioning class geared towards beginning dancers is an important part of a dancer’s schedule that not only will improve technique and performance, but will give them a weekly check-in with their teacher to assess growth and address concerns. Dancers are encouraged to engage in discussion to plan new movement strategies that will fill in any potential holes in their training. The dancers will work on strength, endurance, explosive power, coordination, control and stability with the goal of creating a longer dance career and a healthy body. The time to develop their own potential during each semester will help them with the physical demands of dance. Each body is unique in its needs and developmental stage, so both modifications and progressions are discussed. This course is required for full enrollment in the Pre-Professional Division.

Dates: 6/8 - 6/11
Time: 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Location: Ornelas Center
Instructor: Ms. Karsyn, Ms. Joslyn, & Ms. Sarah

PRE-PROFESSIONAL DIVISION

Dancers wishing to enter the program are generally 8 years old by the beginning of the fall semester and have taken at least one full year of recreational classes with the Academy of Dance.

ADMISSION INTO THE PROGRAM

In the spring, prospective dancers are invited to audition in front of the Program Director, Ballet Mistress, Academy Director, and Dance Conditioning instructor and will be evaluated based on dancer readiness. Readiness is defined as the mental attentiveness, focus, and proper participation in class as well as physical readiness for the rigor of the four classes a week that Pre-Professional dancers participate in. Additional spaces may be granted to incoming dancers upon audition or the discretion of the Director.

Dancers wishing to enter the program above Level 1 or midway through the academic season must have a placement evaluation to determine their level in both ballet and modern. Placement evaluations are scheduled through the Pre-Professional Division Director, Shurrell Wiebe and Ballet Mistress, Thereza Bryce-Cotes.

PROGRAM ADVANCEMENT

Placement and advancement throughout the Pre-Professional Division is based on many factors, including a student’s strength, physical development, commitment, mastery of material, maturity, attendance record and artistic development as assessed by their teachers, choreographers and Director(s). In each case, a dancer’s ability to safely execute the class material is the paramount consideration, even above a dancer’s age. Due to this, it is not uncommon for dancers to repeat levels more than once, or to progress at rates different from others in their age group.

General Guidelines

All Dance classes begin in the fall and progress through the spring and summer session. Do not register for a higher level in the spring or summer. For beginner and lower-level classes, new students should enroll according to the age requirements. New students with previous training and any student with questions regarding proper class placement should call Carolyn Hanna at 903-510-2483 or email chan3@tjc.edu for information. Director’s approval is required for all Pre-Professional course enrollments.

Enrollments are accepted on a “first come, first served” basis. ENROLL EARLY TO GUARANTEE ENTRY, as the dance program limits class sizes, and classes will be closed when enrollment quotas are met. Late enrollments after the session begins will be accepted on a space-available basis only.

We reserve the right to cancel classes not meeting enrollment quota, for 80% refund or transfer into another dance class. Class schedule may be subject to change.

For information about dress code, class guidelines, pre-professional requirements, parking and more, please see our Academy page at www.tjc.edu/academyofdance. Upon registration, you will also receive our Academy of Dance Parent & Student Handbook with even more details.

$50 off available if enrolled in 3 or more classes