Welcome to the YMCA SCHOOL OF DANCE!
We offer 3 seasons of dance each year, with 2 recitals (in May & December):
- Spring Season: January-May
- Summer Season: May-July
- Fall/Winter Season: August-December
Winter/Spring 2025 Dance registration is NOW OPEN! Click HERE to see the schedule and HERE to see the informational flyer.
Head over to Adult Dance HERE for more details of adult dance options.
Offering again in Spring 2025: Adaptive Dance class for students ages 4 and older. See class description below for ALL classes
Classes offered: (typically for fall and spring semesters)
- Ballet
- Character
- Clogging
- Contemporary
- Hip Hop
- Jazz
- Lyrical
- Modern
- Tap
- Intro to Ballroom (ages 18+) will not be offered in Spring 2025
- Swing (ages 18+) will not be offered in Spring 2025
- Adaptive Dance RETURNED FOR FALL 2024 & CONTINUING IN SPRING 2025
Winter/Spring 2025 Pricing
Members: $37 per month / Non-Members: $59 per month
NOTE: Hour-long classes are: Members: $42 per month / Non-Members: $64 per month
Price includes costume for recital.
Adaptive Dance: Members: $25 per month / Non-members: $47 per month (if performing additional costume fee will be added)
Financial assistance is available, and fees are discounted if taking multiple classes and/or multiple family members are taking dance.
Dance Class Descriptions
BALLET
Ballet is one of the world’s most graceful dance styles. Our classes teach the basic techniques of traditional ballet. We can use a variety of music for our classes taking this style from classic to modern. We offer a pre-ballet class that will teach the very basics of the dance while allowing creative movement from each dancer. It is an introductory class that will help open the child’s eyes to the world of dance. Our ballet classes after this will teach more terminology, proper body technique while becoming stronger, more flexible and agile.
JAZZ
Jazz is a form of modern dance. Its movements can be very unpredictable, either being slow and graceful or quick and abrupt with leaps and jumps. This dance class will teach flexibility, coordination, and strength while keeping the rhythm to a variety of music.
HIP-HOP
Hip hop dance refers to a wide range of dance styles such as breaking, popping, locking and krumping. Hip hop involves a lot of free style moves and is practiced both in a dance studio as well as on the street. It is physically challenging with its quick, intentional moves but is very rewarding. We have guys who are on this dance team and love to pop and lock. This class will keep you current with the latest dance moves and keep you cool on the dance floor.
TAP
Tap dancers are known to wear a special shoe with metal plates on the sole. Tap dancers tend to be lighter on their feet while dancing out the melody of a song. Many different types of music can be used for tap.
MODERN
This style of dance centers on dancers’ own interpretations. Modern dance still uses ballet vocabulary and terminology and offers instruction in standard movements and structured steps.
CLOGGING
Forget what you have heard about wooden shoes and hair buns. Clogging is a fast paced dance and has a lot of similarities to tap, but has a different style. Tap dancers tend to be lighter on their feet and tap out the melody. Clogging is a heavier sound and taps out the beat. Our shoes consist of a metal double tap instead of a single tap to emphasize the sounds of our feet. We dance to country, pop, hip hop and more.
LYRICAL
This class requires students have at least 1 year of jazz or ballet. Lyrical dance style has its primary basis in ballet, combining the many technical elements of classical ballet with the freedom and airier aspects of jazz, contemporary, and modern dance. Lyrical dance is expressive, simultaneously subtle and dynamic.
CHARACTER
This class requires students have at least 1 year of jazz AND ballet. This type of dance is performed in high heels, which are also required for this class.
INTRO TO BALLROOM SERIES (will not be offered in Winter/Spring 2025 sessions)
This class is for adults ages 18+. No partner is needed and all levels are welcome. In this session participants will learn the waltz, foxtrot, cha-cha, rumba and salsa. Shoes with no tread are needed and heels (for women) are recommended.
SWING (will not be offering in Winter/Spring 2025 sessions )
This class is for adults ages 18+. No partner is needed and all levels are welcome. Single and triple curriculum will be taught, East Coast style. Flat shoe with no tread is suggested, heels are ok.
ADAPTIVE DANCE (RETURNED FOR FALL 2024 & CONTINUING IN WINTER/SPRING 2025 SESSION)
Offered for kids ages 4 and older. Helpers / assistants are welcome in the class. Participant must be toilet independent and understand verbal instructions. Participants will have the opportunity to perform at recitals if they desire (additional costume fee will then be added).
What to wear to class?
Ballet: leotards
All other classes: Tight fitting shirts and leggings.
Girls, please pull back your hair.
No jeans!
If special shoes are required, you can order them through our YMCA when registering.
This project is made possible by the Indiana Arts Commission, Arts United Of Greater Fort Wayne and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
