Welcome to Dance IQ
It’s More Than Dance
Dance IQ is based on a curriculum created by a Dance Education Specialist with a Masters of Arts in Dance Education. Dance IQ is a dance center aimed at creative and composition-based movement.
Dance IQ’s mission is to bring an inclusive program to all children combining creativity, a sociocultural theoretical framework, brain-based dance and community through the art of dance. Dance IQ uses interactive movement to deepen the cognitive and kinesthetic learning experience of children and adults.
The studio’s intention is to unite all children through dance while creating 21st century learners and leaders.
Creativity
Creativity is based on the emotional development of expression through the medium of the human body in motion. The student is free to express how he or she feels whether you are dancing to music, telling a story, dancing in silence or even being still.
Social Interaction
Through creating a safe and entrusting dance space the students feel comfortable working and expressing themselves in a group. The students are learning and developing a social integration through cooperation, compromise and willingness to grow. By allowing the student to freely make these choices the student uses problem-solving and critical thinking. By using “Somatics” in the teaching process, the student experiences paying attention to self, which helps you be more sensitive to others.
Brain-Based
Aids children with learning differences such as ADD, ADHD and mild autism. The junction of sensory pathways and neuroscience, vestibular stimulation and balance, stress reduction through building deeper and socio-emotional intelligence. Starting at a young age, for example, a three-year-old child doing somatic movement dance patterns can help develop neurological patterns in the brain. The developmental patterns move through a sequence from increasing breathing to differentiating between whole body and all possible coordinations – spinal flexibility, coordination for jumping, hopping, skipping and leaping or throwing a ball!
Technique
All classes transition gradually with technique and choreographic concepts behind the dance forms. Each class follows National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) standards. Certified dance professionals with the highest quality in technique will teach injury prevention, stretching, and muscle development. The child will learn the kinesthetic muscle awareness of his or her body as well as make the cognitive connection with “why” we dance a certain way.
Fun
Without fun, the passion of movement will disappear and cause “burn-out.” By incorporating fun with creativity, and dedication a student will feel empowered with the journey of movement.
All-Inclusive
At Dance IQ we value an all-inclusive, student-centered approach to teaching dance. At Dance IQ the student is the owner of his or her movement and creation. Dance requires the individual to be focused and present while feeling the freedom of movement through space. The dancer will experience empowerment, confidence, and creative knowledge while aesthetically communicating through movement. At Dance IQ we value children and adults for who they are today and the potential for teamwork, cooperation, compromise and willingness to grow.
“Three of my four children (1 boy and 2 girls) studied dance under Mrs. Jacob. She is an extraordinary dance instructor. She engages them and teaches them so many aspects of dance. Mrs. Jacob exposed them to different cultures, techniques, dance terminology (even in French) and many genres of dance. Probably most importantly, she also choreographed beautiful dance routines and performances in which every child felt special and important.”Kisha Holt
Explore Programs
Classes at Dance IQ are scaffold in a transitional design to allow for challenges appropriate for each child’s level and dance experience. All classes are conducted under the National Standards of the National Dance Education Organization.
Creative Movement Lab Classes
Creative movement is an inclusive, non-gender form of dancing where you are free to express how you feel whether you are dancing to music, telling a story or even dancing in silence. Creative Movement is an energetic class where dynamic pedestrian movements such as skipping, galloping, rolling, jumping and alligator scoot (contralateral and homologous movement which aids the sensory pathways in the brain) are mastered and introduced to elements in space with levels and pathways.
Musical Theater
Musical Theater classes are an opportunity to incorporate song, dance and acting in one class. The students will understand and apply what it takes to put on a show through the production all the way to the performance.
Brain-Based Dance
Aids children with learning differences such as ADD, ADHD and mild autism. The junction of sensory pathways and neuroscience, vestibular stimulation and balance, stress reduction through building deeper and socio-emotional intelligence.
Traditional Dance Forms
All classes are taught with a Certified Dance Education curriculum and NDEO Standards. The student will learn the kinesthetic muscle awareness of his or her body as well as make the cognitive connection with “why” we dance a certain way.
Founder and Director
Alisa Jacob has taught dance for over 30 years. She has a Masters of Arts in Dance Education and is an active member of the National Dance Education Organization.
Alisa is a certified instructor for BodyMind Dancing™ somatic dance education. Her experience in higher education includes dance instructor of tap and hip-hop at Florida International University from 2002-2006 and K-12 dance director, after-school musical theater director, and choreographer at American Heritage School – Plantation in Broward 2009–2017.
Alisa studied and performed professionally in Barcelona, Spain. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, Alisa taught tap, jazz, and ballet in London, England. Her studies eventually brought her to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she completed her Bachelors of Arts in Broadcast Journalism and Dance in 1992 and her Master of Arts in Dance Education in 2017.
“Miss Jacob is an excellent dance teacher! My son who is 7 has had her for 2 years as well as my daughter who is 13 at American Heritage. Their experience with her was incredible. My son would come home and tell me how much fun he had at dance which blew me away because he’s ALL BOY who loves sports!”Graciela Tetta
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Creative Movement?
Many teachers and parents ask to define what creative movement is? Creative movement is an inclusive, non-gender form of dancing where you are free to express how you feel whether you are dancing to music, telling a story or even dancing in silence. Creative Movement is an energetic class where dynamic pedestrian movements such as skipping, galloping, rolling, jumping and alligator scoot (contralateral and homologous movement which aids the sensory pathways in the brain) are mastered and introduced to elements in space with levels and pathways. The medium is the human body in motion. There is no right or wrong way to move. It is up to the student to create his or her movement and be the owner of this empowering feeling. By using BSTER, an array of open range movement can occur, and the student creates artistic possibilities of any sort.
What is BSTER?
Through guided dance concepts taught by the instructor, the students explore Body, Space, Time, Energy, and Relationships. For example, an instructor could say, “How can you vary your gallop by changing the levels, pathways, and energy (sustained, vibratory or percussive).” By including interpersonal relationships, the students can create movement with another student or in groups by interchanging contrasting levels or energy. By allowing the student to freely make these choices the student uses problem-solving, sociocultural relationships and critical thinking.
“If you are looking for your child to be inspired, look no further than Ms. Alisa Jacob. My daughter, while in sixth grade, had the privilege of being one of Ms. Jacob’s dance students at American Heritage School. During that time, Ms. Jacob provided a warm and friendly learning environment along with a challenging dance curriculum. She inspired my daughter to reach higher, push herself, and most importantly believe in herself. Ms. Jacob believed in my daughter so much, she arranged an audition for her with the high school dance teacher. The following year, as a seventh grader, my daughter went on to dance with the high school students. Had it not been for Ms. Jacob, I do not believe my daughter would be where she is today. Ms. Jacob saw the potential in her. In my opinion, there are so many dancers out there that could stand to be inspired by Ms. Jacob. I am so glad and forever grateful that my daughter was one of them.”
Renee Weidner with much gratitude