Musical Theatre/Jazz Dance (Grades 5-12)
This beginner to intermediate-level course will teach you the coordination and grace it takes to tell a story through dance. This class does not culminate in a big show with fancy costumes … instead it focuses on your own journey in your body. Remembering (or learning) to love to move.
The class consists of warm up, flexibility and strengthening exercises, fundamentals of jazz dance technique, fundamentals of ballet technique, terminology, dance combinations incorporating elements of technique, across the floor combinations highlighting elements of jazz and ballet techniques. All set to the energetic and lovable songs from everyone's favorite musicals.
Instructor: Cory Douylliez-Willis
Mondays from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Winter and spring term: January 8-May 13
No class the week of spring break: March 25-29
Meets in The Warehouse, 211 N Lewis St, Staunton VA
Please wear comfortable, form-fitting movement clothes. Split-soled jazz shoes are optional, otherwise you can be barefoot. No jewelry. Bring a water bottle!
You’ll be billed $55 every month for five months. The timing of your billing is based on when you make your first purchase. You can view our cancellation and refund policy here.
Meet your instructor
Cory Douylliez-Willis is currently the dance instructor for Charlottesville High School in Charlottesville, Virginia. He has extensive experience in contemporary, jazz, ballet, tap techniques and is a certified Acrobatic Arts instructor. His professional career began in Atlanta, Georgia when he booked his first tour at the age of seventeen. From there he continued working as a dancer for six years in the Atlanta area doing music videos, television, flash mobs, commercials and other stage productions!
He went on to perform as a principal dancer for the Atlanta Opera's Aida at the Cobb Energy Centre- choreographed by Rosa Mercedes. After studying dance at Brenau University, Cory taught and choreographed for several local dance schools around the northeast Georgia region including: Oconee Youth School of Performance, Southern Dance connection, The DanceLoft, Dance FX Athens and many others. He has fifteen years of experience with pre primary, primary, elementary, middle school, high school and college level students.
One of the highlights of his teaching career has been serving as an Adjunct professor at Piedmont College in Demorest, Georgia. He has also choreographed several shows with Piedmont including: Sweet Charity, White Christmas, and A Chorus Line. One of his fondest memories of Piedmont was having the honor of choreographing North Georgia Theatre's production of Merrily We Roll Along under the direction of Kathy Blandin. Cory currently lives in Staunton Virginia with his husband and fur babies. When he isn't teaching or choreographing, he enjoys hiking, art, running and all things spicy food! He is also very active in community theatre in the Shenandoah Valley.
Cory takes pride in teaching students proper and safe dance techniques, and helping them feel confident in their abilities and themselves. He believes that teaching technique through progression based skills alongside creative movement and improvisation allows for exciting exploration while maintaining structure, proper alignment, and form.
