Class Descriptions
New dance student? Find the new student's instructions here.
Dance classes and styles
Discover the dance classes and styles in the VKTY curriculum on this page. The descriptions are very concise and our teachers are happy to tell you more about the backgrounds of the different dance styles and the culture associated with them during the classes – feel free to ask for more! Please also note that each teacher has their own style of teaching, so even dance classes with the same name can be different from each other.
There are also many different training groups in the curriculum. The training groups are very goal-oriented and they can be joined only through auditions.
Hiphop
Hip hop is an energetic and versatile dance style. All hip hop classes practice techniques, including various hit dances from the 80s to the present day, isolations that require precise control of body parts, and the basic hip hop techniques of bounce, rock and groove. Hip hop classes can include both choreography and freestyle, and the proportions of these vary depending on the class and the teacher.
Dance is one part of hip hop culture that is constantly alive and developing. Hip hop culture is thought to have started in New York in the 1970s, from where it has spread to the world through films and music videos, among other things. In Finland, hip hop has been taught in dance studios since 1984.
Breakdance
Breakdance is a physical and fast street dance style, that is known for its acrobatic moves. The style includes also so called Toprocks—moves performed while standing—and Footwork—moves that are danced squatted down or on all-fours. Breakdance might be the most known street dance style and nowadays it can be seen competed in even in the Olympics!
Breakdance was the first street dance style and it was born in the beginning of 1970’s in Bronx, New York within Afro-American and Puerto-Rican communities. The movement vocabulary of Breakdance is rooted in different African dance styles like Capoeira and it has been affected by the popular culture as well. Breakdance, and especially Toprocks, are the origins of the Hiphop-dance.
Minibreak
Minibreak classes are for the smallest ones in the family. On these classes children get to move, play and get to know breakdancing for example by moving on the floor. The teaching in Minibreak classes is child-oriented and the goal is to develop children’s motor and social skills. These classes provide a good base for a dance hobby and sports for the future. Dance is a communal hobby that helps children to make new friends. We have a supportive and positive athmosphere in the children’s dance classes at VKTY!
Commercial
In commercial classes you get to dance like they do in music videos! In these classes the focus is on practicing dance choreographies to songs from different genres, usually the freshest pop-music, hiphop and R&B.
The practices and choreographies on commercial classes are influenced by the teacher’s dance style. Commercial is not a dance style with its own specific technique, but instead it draws inspiration from other dance styles and trends including hiphop, dancehall, vogue and waacking. Commercial represents often sharp and high-energy movement language and strong performing presence.
Choreography
In choreography classes, you’ll learn different choreographies based on various hiphop, street, and club dances. The idea is to use choreography as a method to learn about movement quality, technique, and to understand different intentions in dance, while focusing strongly on musicality and developing your dancer identity and self-expression.
House
House is a fast-paced dance style that developed in the clubs of New York and Chicago. Clubs in big cities have been meeting places for partygoers from different cultural and dance backgrounds, and each has brought their own dance influences to the dance floor. Thus, house combines features from many different dance styles, such as tap, salsa, breakdance, capoeira and various African dances.
House is a very physical, but also very danceable and musical dance style. House dance is characterized by body use, fast footwork and floor work. Classes teach all aspects of house dance and also focus on finding the dancers’ own, free movement language.
K-pop
K-pop refers to South Korean pop music and the fan culture that surrounds it. K-pop is centered around various idols and idol groups, who are often artistically multi-talented. K-pop dances imitate the choreography of these idols and groups’ music videos, which are known for their sharp, synchronized movements, expressive gestures, and spectacular formations. K-pop is energetic and meticulously crafted, and it draws inspiration from many different dance styles.
Showjazz
Showjazz is a versatile performance dance style that combines influences from various dance styles such as contemporary and jazz dance. As the name suggests, showjazz emphasizes not only dance technique but also strong expression and musical interpretation. The choreographies can also be storytelling in nature.
In showjazz classes, dancers learn a wide range of fundamental dance techniques (including jumps, pirouettes, and step sequences) while also practicing emotional expression through movement.
Street
Street dance is an umbrella term that covers all street dance styles (for example hiphop, breakdance and popping). The terms street and hip hop are often used interchangeably, though street dance itself is not a single dance style but rather a collection of various street dance genres.
On our street dance classes, depending on the teacher, a few or more street dance styles are being explored during the semester. The classes focus on learning the techniques and choreographies of these different styles.
Ministreet
Ministreet dance classes are for the smallest ones in the family. On these classes the children get to move, play and get to know different street dance styles. The teaching in ministreet classes is child-oriented and the goal is to develop children’s motor and social skills. These classes provide an excellent foundation for exploring different dance styles and physical activities later on. Dance is a communal hobby that helps children to make new friends. We have a supportive and positive athmosphere in the children’s dance classes at VKTY!
Vogue
Voguing is a spectacular dance style. There are several Voguing styles (e.g. old way, new way, femme) and each style has its own typical techniques and movement language. Voguing classes either focus on one style or introduce you to different styles. All Voguing styles are characterized by the extensive use of hand techniques in dance, different poses and a confident attitude.
Voguing is part of the vogue and ballroom culture, which is a rich and diverse subculture – not just a dance style. Voguing, which Madonna raised from the Harlem ballroom scene to a global phenomenon, has taken a lot of influence from the fashion world, among other things. Vogue classes can also cover various ballroom categories related to beauty and fashion, among other things.
Due to its special nature, Voguing is not recommended for children under 12 years of age. If a child under 12 is interested in learning Voguing, it is worth discussing the matter with the class teacher.