Vanessa Vargas

Vanessa Vargas has been dancing since she was 4 years old. During her dance career, Vanessa has had the opportunity to train with several well-respected instructors throughout Southern California. Vanessa is a former award winning competition team dancer and soloist for the North County Dance Arts Studio. During this time, she was also a 4-year member of the Rancho Bernardo Hight School Dance Team. in 1999, Vanessa relocated to Orange County to pursue academic success. As a member of the nationally recognized & award-winning Orange Coast College and Cal State Fullerton Dance Teams, Vanessa and the rest of her team enjoyed top titles in the UDA and USA Dance Championships. Vanessa received her AA degree from Orange Coast College and her B.A. in Dance from California State University Fullerton. While at Cal State Fullerton, Vanessa’s studies included dance, history, choreography, performance, kinesiology, pedagogy, modern and ballet. Vanessa was extremely active in the Dance Department as a performer and a choreographer. A proven winner and competitor, Vanessa earned two scholarships related to her studies and was one of the a select few chosen to travel with CSU Fullerton’s Dance Department to compete in the American College Dance Festivals in Bellingham, Washington (2005) and Sacramento, CA (2006). Vanessa is currently an instructor for Danceology and teaches Ballet. When she’s not teaching at the studio, Vanessa is performing wiht Unity Dance Ensemble. (Photo Credit, Natalia Del Carmen Photography)

Ms. Vanessa’s Class Descriptions

Jazz Funk

Little dancers have fun bopping to the beat in Jazz Funk! We start with cardio jumping jacks and lots of plies to warm up the legs and body. Flexibility is important. We spend at least 20 minutes teaching correct stretching techniques to even our littlest dancers. Once the class is warmed and stretched, we introduce splits, turns, and leaps! Across the floor and standing in windows, dancers have the chance to show their tricks off during Free Dance. The entire hour will be focused on teaching proper jazz technique with the balance of creative movement for their young bodies. The highlight of every Jazz Funk class is learning the choreographed routines that the dancers perform for their families and friends. Each class they learn a little dance which means every week there is an opportunity to shine!

Beginning/Intermediate Ballet

Proper ballet etiquette is emphasized from the moment young dancers enter the studio. We offer a warm and inviting ballet class that is balanced with the necessary structure and discipline of this fine art. We start each class, standing in first position, working on port de bras (movement of the arms). Following port de bras, the class will move to the barre. Barre work is important to teach posture and feet positions. In Beginning and Intermediate Ballet, dancers will learn to stand in first, second, fifth, and parallel positions. We make stretches on the floor fun, while pushing each dancer to make their bodies as flexible as possible. Across the floor, the dancers will work on ballet walks and runs, chasses, battements, leaps, and turns. Challenging, yet graceful choreography is introduced each week to encourage the young dancers to memorize and count to music. Every class concludes with curtsies and stickers: a reward for the pretty little ballerinas!