Longfellow Dance has a number of fabulous opportunities for dancers at all grade levels. 

2nd and 3rd Grade Dance

Dancers learn beginning Ballet, Jazz, Modern Dance, Creative Movement, Choreography, and World Dance. In Ballet, jazz and Modern Dance this means we focus on 1st, 2nd, 3rd and parallel positions preparing students for more advanced positions and movements as it becomes developmentally appropriate. Students excel with individual and group corrections! They perform in our Hispanic Heritage Festival, at Synergy Assemblies, in our Winter Wonderland Concert, and in our Spring Fling. Every year students in 2nd and 3rd grade participate in Houston Ballet’s “Ballet Talks,” with famous dancers like Lauren Anderson.  We inspire growth and high aspirations by taking young dancers to see professional performances at the Hobby Center in downtown Houston. In select years 2nd grade even participates in “Chance to Dance,” a scholarship audition offered only to 2nd graders through the Houston Ballet. 

4th Grade Dance

Dancers continue learning at advanced levels in Ballet, Jazz, Modern Dance, Creative Movement, Choreography, and World Dance. This means that they focus on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th positions, as well as parallel. We work closely to align our curriculum to not only meet elementary standards for HISD, but exceed them so students are able to move on to schools like, Pershing, Meyerland, and Kinder HSPVA. 4th Graders perform in our Black History performance, at Synergy Assemblies, in our Winter Wonderland Concert, our Spring Fling and in our annual Nutcracker performance. Dancers in all grades look forward to their first year in our Nutcracker as they have grown up watching and enjoying it. 4th graders revel in their first Nutcracker performance and look forward to when they will choose how their next year’s Nutcracker performance will be different form all the years before. Like 2nd and 3rd grade students continue to be inspired and challenged by partnerships with the Houston Ballet and Houston Hobby Center. They participate in “Ballet Talks” and seeing professional performances created for more advanced dancers.

5th Grade Dance

5th Grade dancers continue learning at advanced levels in Ballet, Jazz, Modern Dance, Creative Movement, Choreography, and World Dance. This means that they continue their focus on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th positions, as well as parallel. Students move on from 4/4 timing to include ¾ timing, dancing now in 8 counts and in 6 counts. We continue to further our curriculum and move students towards middle school level understanding. I host a yearly meeting preparing both dancers and parents to apply, audition and succeed at schools like Pershing and Meyerland. Our goal is to put our dancers on track to Kinder HSPVA or anywhere they choose to go. 5th graders perform in our Black History performance, at Synergy Assemblies, in our Winter Wonderland Concert, our Spring Fling and in our annual Nutcracker performance. This being their second year in the Nutcracker 5th grade dancers are invited to perform in more advanced dances like the “Waltz of the Flowers” and “Arabian Dance,” both counted in ¾ time. Like in their 4th grade year students continue to be inspired and challenged by partnerships with the Houston Ballet and Houston Hobby Center. They participate in “Ballet Talks” and seeing professional performances created for more advanced dancers. We know they can’t stay forever, but once you’re a Longfellow Dancer you are always a Longfellow Dancer. We invite alumni back to share their experiences, encourage others, and lead the way toward greater success for those that follow.

Additional Opportunities at all levels

Dance Ensemble: All students in Grades 2-5 have the opportunity to audition for Dance Ensemble, our advanced dance group. Our Dance Ensemble group performs at HISD events throughout Houston representing our school at Dance Montage, The Elementary School Dance Festival, and many more. Dance Ensemble dancers are invited to audition for speaking and acting rolls in performances like the Nutcracker. They participate in behind the scenes rehearsals for these shows and learn technical theater in addition to Dance and Theater. Additionally, Dance ensemble members challenge their skills and understanding of dance through field trips and dance experiences. Dance Ensemble students in grades 2nd and 3rd are invite to participate in advanced level performances and events usually reserved for our older dancers. We welcome your student to audition!

All City: Dancers grades 2-5 are invited to attend Houston’s All City Dance Auditions every year! We encourage dancers even in the lower grades to audition so they get used to the process and prepare themselves to be a part of it as they develop their dance skills. Since Ms. Gingell has been Director of Dance at Longfellow, we have placed 2 or more dancers into All City each year. We want your dancer to be one of them!

Houston Rodeo: Each year Ms. Gingell teaches a developmentally appropriate dance to grades 2nd through 5th. She auditions each class as a whole to participate in the Houston Rodeo. Every grade level has the opportunity to wow her with their accomplishments, but only one grade level can go! Who will it be this year? The grade level that auditions the strongest will perform at the rodeo, tour the livestock, and enjoy food and fun together.