Westlake HS Fine Arts
Cultivating tomorrow's greatest artists
We offer MANY dance options for the Westlake student!
~Exploratory Classes
~Dance Pathway
~Blue Reign Danceline
~Westlake Dance Ensemble
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Dance at Westlake...
EXPLORATORY CLASSES
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Beginning level dance classes, open to all students as an PE elective credit.
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Courses Include:
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Dance 1 - For beginning dance students, designed to increase the student’s knowledge of basic ballet, modern, and jazz dance techniques, vocabulary and performance.
Dance Composition -For beginning dance students, designed to increase the student’s knowledge of how to create movement for performance.
Dance Pathway -
This pathway develops students for college dance program entry or career in the dance and entertainment industry. Focusing on performance skills and technique development in the areas of Ballet, Modern, Jazz, and Hip-Hop, students graduating from this pathway are prepared to enter collegiate conservatory programs in the dance major, OR enter directly into the professional dance industry. Students in this pathway are expected to develop, time management skills, healthy lifestyle habits, creative thinking skills, and personal focus and discipline. Dance Pathway students are encouraged to participate in additional classes and performance groups to assist in reaching their career goals (Dance Team, Dance Company, Private Studios).
Careers in this field are:
Stage Performer, Film Performer, Commercial Performance, Choreographer, Dance Producer/Director, Dance Company Performer, Stage Production, Technical Theater, and Dance Educator.
As of 2025, the national average salary for dance professionals in the US is around $71,263 per year, with the top earners making $145,000 annually.
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Pathway Courses -
A sequential curriculum of dance classes open only to students who choose dance as their career path. Classes fulfill a Fine Art credit.
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Jazz 1 - 1st Year
(all Freshmen Dance Pathway students begin here)
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(Teacher Placement Required)
(Teacher Placement Required)
(Teacher Placement Required)
IB Dance: 3rd or 4th Year
(Open to All IB students - Teacher Placement Required)
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Students must successfully pass 8 semesters of Dance Pathway courses, with 4 of those semesters above the 200 level) to receive the GaDOE Diploma Seal. Students who complete the Westlake Dance Cord Requirements will receive an additional cord at graduation.
