Welcome to our dance family! The Community Dance School at Joy of Motion Dance Center provides a welcoming and non-judgmental atmosphere for our young students. With an average student/teacher ratio of 8:1 in our studio classes, the focus and emphasis can be on each dancer’s progress, health, and well-being, as well as the development of both mind and body.
Founded in 1976, Joy of Motion is a nonprofit charitable arts organization, which unites dance professionals, students, and audiences by providing exceptional dance education and performances that stimulate a universal love of dance.
Class Levels
At Joy of Motion, we encourage students to develop at their own pace and fully master skills before progressing to the next class level. Students may take several sessions or years to master a particular level, thus class level numbers do not indicate years of study. Likewise, repeating a level does not necessarily indicate a lack of progress.
The Year at Joy of Motion
Our youth students enroll in multi-week “series” classes, designed to be age-appropriate in style and material covered. Youth series classes follow the school year-long format and are divided into a 13-week Fall session, a 12-week Winter session, and a 9-week Spring session.
Session Dates & Closures
Fall Session September 11 – December 17 (13 weeks)
*Fall Break: November 20 – 26. No series classes.
Winter Session January 8 – March 31 (12 weeks)
Spring Session April 8 – June 9 (9 weeks)
*No series classes will be held for Spring break (April 1 – 7) and Summer break (June 11-17); Monday classes will not meet on Memorial Day
Summer Session June 18th – August 26th (10 weeks)
*Wednesday classes will not meet on Independence Day, and will run June 20-Aug 29
No classes are held at any Joy of Motion location on the following dates.
November 23, 2017, Thanksgiving Day
December 24, 2017, Christmas Eve
December 25, 2017, Christmas Day
December 31, 2017, New Year’s Eve studios close @ 2:00pm
January 1, 2018, New Year’s Day
April 1, 2018, Easter
May 28, 2018, Memorial Day
July 4th, 2018, Independence Day
September 3rd, 2018, Labor Day
Preparation for Class
- Arrive early in order to be focused and ready to dance!
- Please bring a water bottle — hydration is important!
- Do not bring any gum or candy
- Label your child’s belongings with their name in case anything is lost or misplaced
- Please visit the restroom before class begins
- Please sign in at the front desk before every class.
- Be sure to demonstrate respectful class etiquette according to your instructor’s directions
- Parents of students ages 3+ should remain outside of the classroom at all times. Remember that if your child can see you, it may be distracting
- Parents of 2-year-olds will go into the classroom with their students
- Parents of dancers under the age of 6 should remain on the premises at all times
Class Attire
Make sure to wear outerwear + street shoes to the studio and change into your dance shoes after you arrive. This protects our valuable dance floors and keeps them clean and safe for our dancers.
Wear attire and shoes appropriate for the dance style. For more information regarding style-specific dancewear, please see your class description and recommendations.
Make-up Policy
If a youth class is canceled or a student has to miss class for any reason, they may take a make-up class. Please schedule your make-up class with your studio staff. If you have any additional questions, please contact us.
Class Communications (or How to Get Important Information)
Studio communications regarding schedule changes and class updates are transmitted through our email service. We strongly encourage you to sign up for our mailing list through the website or in the studio with desk staff, so that you do not miss vital information about your child’s class. Not sure if you’re subscribed? Please check with studio staff to confirm. Weather-related closures are posted on our website.
Please consult with studio management on how best to connect with your student’s instructor. Our faculty members are eager to connect with you too; however, many of them teach back-to-back classes and are unable to meet in between. Our studio staff are happy to help facilitate a conversation!
