progress program levels

From total beginner to professional dancers - there’s a place for you in the spotlight, no matter your experience. Our level system ensures everyone receives the training, support, and show choreography that will help them shine in their best light in studio and onstage in their performances.

The following level structure is for our PROGRESS program. Our EXPRESS and COMPANY programs do not have levels, and are by audition only.

students new to luminesque

If a student is new to the Luminesque program, they have the option of enrolling in a BEGINNER level course or an INT/ADV (Intermediate/Advanced) level course.

BEGINNER is for people who have limited to no dance experience, and is designed to give students a strong foundation of technique, injury prevention, and confidence with performing.

INT/ADV is for people who have dance experience, and is designed to introduce the Luminesque curriculum, performance prep process, and fill in any gaps in necessary injury prevention and heels dance technique.

HOW NEWTOLUMI LEVELS ARE DETERMINED

Students self-assess their level, and there is no audition or placement required. Suggestions may be made to switch levels within the first few weeks of the program, should a student appear to be in the wrong level (at risk for injury; or considerably ahead).

NEWTOLUMI classes are:

• 90-minutes once per week for the 5-month term (incl. tech + choreography)

• Taught by one main instructor plus one special guest workshop per term

• Provided additional resources/support about our curriculum/show process

• Given the opportunity to perform 1-2 pieces in all show dates in their given cast

progress program alumni

If a student has been in a Luminesque program before, they have the option of enrolling in one of three core Progress levels:
the KITTEN HEELS, the PUMPS, or the STILETTOS.*

*Although our levels have cheeky high-heel inspired names, these aren’t literally the shoes you’ll wear when you’re dancing.

HOW CORE LEVELS ARE DETERMINED

While the three levels roughly translate into Beginner/Intermediate (Kitten Heels), Intermediate/Advanced (Pumps), and Advanced/Professional (Stilettos), there are a number of factors that go into deciding which level is a good fit for you. These include but aren’t limited to:

• How much energy (focus, stamina, attention, etc.) do you have to give your class?

• How familiar are you with performing heels dance onstage and in-studio?

• How consistently do you demonstrate good injury prevention in heels?

• How familiar are you with heels dance technique and vocabulary?

• How much individual attention and/or constructive critique do you desire (if any)?

• How self-aware are you regarding your own artistry, embodiment, and limitations?

• How committed are you able to be in class and outside of class time (to practice, etc)?

• How dedicated are you to your team’s development (or are you focused on your own journey)?

By default, everyone returning to Luminesque is eligible to enroll in KITTEN HEELS classes.

If a student wishes to move from a NEWTOLUMI or KITTEN HEELS course, into a PUMPS or STILETTOS level - they must either attend a free Placement Class, or submit a request for a Placement Expert to attend one of their regularly scheduled Progress classes before the end of term. They will then directly receive a recommendation on which level would be the best fit moving forward.

Our levels are not like grades in school, where after a certain period of time you move to the next one. Many students choose the level that’s right for them and happily dance with the same cohort year after year. Our teachers work hard to ensure everyone - regardless of level - receives new challenges and learns new skills with every new term.

BY APPLICATION COURSES

Since we have over 400 students in our program, there are often differences in the focuses and abilities of students within each of the core levels.

We occasionally offer Annual Progress courses (same class cohort for a whole year) or By Application courses.

These courses are reserved primarily for students who have been dancing with Luminesque for a long time at the same level, and who desire to dance with other students with the same level of commitment and/or experience with Luminesque. We accept applications before registration launches, and then students who are determined by our Placement Experts to be a good fit will receive invitations to enrol. Applicants who do not receive an invitation are still eligible to enrol in any other class at their usual level.

more about the core levels