During Middle School dance, the students learn technical skills related to ballet, tap, jazz, modern, character and folk dancing. Through this training students develop muscle strength and flexibility as well as grace-in-movement. Students are taught formal compositional elements such as tempo, form and rhythm. The students also learn dance as a component of history and human experience through ethnic and cultural originations. Students create and organize movements during class. They also learn to appreciate the aesthetics of dance through their observations and critiques of performances.