Classes at South Shore Dance Alliance provide dancers, ages 7 & up, with a solid foundation of dance technique and training. For those dancers who take part in our Junior (ages 7-11) or Senior (ages 12 & up) Company, there will also be numerous true performance opportunities throughout the year. SSDA classes offer you the best training available from the region’s top instructors and choreographers.

A New Location for SSDA!

Our SSDA studios are located in downtown Griffith at the Franklin Center (the former Franklin Elementary School and also home to the Griffith YMCA), 201 N. Griffith Blvd., Griffith, Indiana 46319. For a map, see our Contact page.

Registration for classes is open and ongoing. Class schedule, tuition info, and class descriptions are below. Please stop by the studio, call 219-513-9368, or email us with any questions. Download a schedule here.

Class Descriptions & Levels

Ballet Vaganova Technique Ballet technique is fundamental to dance and provides the solid foundation for success in all other techniques and genres. All dancers should consider ballet and development of strong ballet technique as core to success in dance.  

Modern Dunham Technique: (Amansu Eason) Was developed by Katherine Dunham, Dunham Technique draws on classical ballet as well as traditional African/Caribbean movement, forging a cultural link between Africa and North America. This codified movement vocabulary focuses on the isolation of individual body parts, in preparation for execution of a polyrhythmic movement structure that is reminiscent of African dance and music. Dunham Technique is an eclectic fusion of movement researched in Jamaica, Martinique, and Haiti with ballet and modern dance, blended into a system of body isolation and syncopation that gives the body an impressive range of movement.

Lester Horton Technique: (Joshua Ishmon) Developed by Lester Horton in the 1930’s and 40’s as a major codified modern dance technique reputed to fortify, stretch, and strengthen the human body. The basic warm-up uses flat backs, primitive squats, descent and ascent, lateral stretches, release swings and deep lunges. The shapes that will be used throughout the training in Horton technique are emphasized.

Martha Graham Technique: (Joshua Ishmon) Developed by Martha Graham in the 1920’s Graham technique stresses the “contraction and release” movement of the torso. This technique divides the class into 3 equal segments; floor work, standing work in the center, and combinations that travel across the floor. The floor work develops a strong expressive torso as the source of movement with simple breathing exercises that build to contraction and release exercises in various positions; combinations in the center and across the floor stress strength, transference of weight and expressiveness.

 Tuition Schedule

Single Class Fees:
1.5 hour classes: $20
1 hour classes: $15
 
10- and 20- class
cards available
 
Multiple class discounts
Company member discounts

Cash, Check, Credit Card

*Class cards valid for 3 months from date of purchase

• Open enrollment is ongoing

• Monthly, class card, and singe class enrollment is available throughout the year..

• Cash, checks, and credit cards accepted, make payable to South Shore Dance Alliance

• School only closes on official Gary Community School Corp. holidays or for weather days

• Make up classes are student's responsibility

• Schedule subject to change

Buy class cards online at the SSDA Online Store!

Class Levels

Beginning: Little or no prior dance training starts with the basic terminology and movement.   Intermediate: one or more years of dance training, should have a good understanding of basic terminology and movement.
Advanced: Dancers at this level should be moving towards the professional level if they are not there already dancing professionally, and should be comfortable with all levels of terminology and movement.