Afrobeats (1 hour, grades 2-6): is a high-energy class that introduces students to the vibrant rhythms and movements of Afrobeats, blending traditional African dance with modern styles. Designed for all skill levels, the class focuses on building confidence, coordination, and creativity in a fun, inclusive environment. Students will learn choreography inspired by popular Afrobeats music while exploring the culture and history behind the moves. Occasionally, there will be live drum accompaniment! 

Details:

• Fridays, 4-5PM
• January 17th-June 6th (18 weeks)
• $425 (10% discount for siblings!)
  

REGISTER today!

Find your Perch at The Center Dance! 

If you have been curious about Perch & Swoop, The Center’s beloved “pre-preschool” program for toddlers and their caregivers, now is the time to check it out! 

On Tuesday, 9/2 and Friday, 9/5, new families are invited to attend a Perch & Swoop Open House Morning. See our space, meet the instructors, connect with other caregivers, and ask any questions you might have about The Center’s approach to dance education. AND, of course, partake of our legendary homemade muffins (word on the playground is that they’re the best in town). 

Open House classes run from 10-11:30 AM, at 319 Main Street, in Amherst. 

Learn all about the program HERE.

No need to pre-register; simply show up!

We hope to see you there!

Keep it COOL this summer at The Center Dance Studio!

The Center will be hosting 6 different week-long programs this summer for kids entering grades 1-5*
*Ask about our Counselors-in-Training program for students entering grades 6-8.

Part reader/writer’s workshop, part dance your heart out/collaborative choreography, part cool down and dip at the town pool. All camps will culminate in an informal, outdoor performance for family and friends. 

One hundred percent fun.

Midsummer Ballet 
Perfect your plié, design a tutu, paint like Degas. Adapt a scene from The Firebird, cool down with a flying leap into the town pool, then waltz over to Emily Dickinson’s Garden for some barefoot ballet! At The Center’s Midsummer Ballet program for children entering grades 1-3, young dancers will enjoy ballet-themed choreography labs, literature, arts and crafts AND daily technique classes. 

Picture Book Parade
In Picture Book Parade, kids in grades 1-5 will be immersed in the art and artistry of the picture book. We will dwell among the pages of time-honored favorites and explore the works of pioneering new authors (campers can expect a visit from at least one local author/illustrator!). We will craft our OWN picture books, practicing a colorful variety of illustration styles, DANCE our original stories as well as those of published authors, and close out the week with an “author reading” and outdoor performance. As always, hot sunny afternoons will lead us to the town pool!

Fairies & Folklore
At our Fairies & Folklore summer dance program, kids will read classic fairy tales, write their own, and DANCE them all! We’ll build gnome homes, brew ambrosia, scribble spells, and maybe even meet some water nymphs at the town pool. Open to children entering grades 1-5.

Dance Around the World
This summer, your child can dance around the world without boarding one plane. At The Center’s Dance Around the World summer program, kids will learn traditional and contemporary dance styles from across the globe. Each day will land us on a different continent, where we’ll explore the music, literature, art and cuisine from different countries. Be sure to pack a bathing suit! Open to children entering grades 1-5. 

Moving Museum
Venture beyond the frame in Moving Museum, our new summer camp where art comes alive! Campers will navigate Pablo Picasso’s cubist landscapes, try Jean-Michel Basquiat’s crowns on for size, dance to the music of Wasily Kandinsky’s visual symphony, and bask in the brilliance of Sonia Delaunay’s colorful palettes. Each day, we will explore different artistic movements, mediums and masterpieces. At the end of the week, friends and families will be invited to attend an informal exhibition of the campers’ artworks, AND a dance performance inspired by them. Open to children entering grades 1-5. 

August 19th-23rd: Earth Dance 
In this new summer program, campers will explore the water cycle, weather, bugs, plants and more. They will deepen their understanding of nature’s wonders through dance-building, connecting with each other to dance the fury of wild storms, pupate like caterpillars, and grow from tiny seedlings into flourishing a garden. The week will include a visit to a local farm, art-making inspired by the natural world, and lots of outdoor dancing. At the end of the week, friends and families will be invited to attend a performance inspired by the students’ explorations. Open to children entering grades 1-5. 

9AM – 3:30 PM at The Center Dance Studio, 321 Main Street in Amherst, MA

To register, email thecenterdanceschool@gmail.com, call 413-230-1944 or visit our Square Store.
A $100 deposit secures your child’s spot (balance due by July 1st); or pay in full now. 

Introducing Bilingual Ballet, a new beginner adult ballet class where students learn ballet basics and Spanish simultaneously!

This unique combination of movement and language instruction offers an engaging, effective way to enliven both the body and the mind, one Monday evening at a time. Gain strength, flexibility and mobility while promoting neuroplasticity and mental agility! No prior experience necessary. Ballet slippers recommended; bare feet welcome.

Mondays, 7-8PM
January 27th-June 2nd (no class 2/17 or 4/21)

REGISTER for a half session (8 weeks), or full session (16 weeks), OR drop in when you’re able ($20/class).

Vamos a bailar!

Join The Center Dance onstage this December for an exciting spin on a wintertime classic! It’s A 21st Century Nutcracker – dance styles from across the globe (and right next door!) set to Tchaikovsky’s timeless score.

Auditions are open to the public and will be held at The Center Dance Studio on the following dates:

Sunday, October 5th

• 1:30-2:30 PM: Grades K-1
• 2:30-3:30 PM: Grades 2-3
• 3:30-4:30 PM: Grades 4-6
• 4:30-5:30 PM: Grades 7-12

Thursday, October 9th

• 6-8 PM: college students/adult dancers

All who audition will receive a role!

Additional Audition Information: 

Children ages 3 & 4 are eligible for the role of Sled Dog. This is a simple role which does not require an audition; if your child is interested in participating in the show, please add your name to THIS google doc. A Sled Dog Meet-and-Greet and costume fitting will be held in early December.

21st Century Nutcracker Audition Forms may be completed on the day of the audition. Forms will also be available at the studio beginning Monday, 9/29, for those who would like to fill them out in advance; however, we ask that you please hold on to these until the audition date.

Dancers should arrive at least 10 minutes before the start of their audition, dressed in dance attire (leotards and tights or other stretchy clothing, dance shoes or bare feet), with hair pulled back from their faces.

We encourage folks to consider parking offsite, as the studio parking lot will likely become quite crowded.

Casting information (including specific rehearsal times) will go out via email by Wednesday, October 15th.

Performance Date: Sunday, December 14th (matinee & evening shows)
Performance Location: Bowker Auditorium (UMass)

Rehearsal Information:

• Weekly rehearsals will be held primarily on Sundays at The Center Dance Studio between 1-6 PM, from October 19th-December 7th. 
• Some scenes will rehearse on Saturdays and weekday evenings; specific times will be included on the audition registration form.
• Dress Rehearsal will be held on Saturday, December 13th at the Bowker Auditorium. A schedule for the day will be announced closer to the performance date. It is imperative that all dancers attend this rehearsal.

Questions may be directed to thecenterdanceschool@gmail.com. 

FREEWHEEL: A creative movement class for children in grades K-3. In Freewheel, students’ interests drive inquiry; we will explore the endless possibilities of human movement, emphasizing discovery, experimentation, collaboration and play! Each class will pose a different question (often student-generated!), yielding an improvisational “score” that supports our movement exploration. Dancers will be introduced to some choreography basics, and, as the session progresses, engage in collaborative dance-building.

Fall ’24 Schedule:
Mondays, 4-5PM
September 9th-December 2nd (12 weeks; class will not meet on 10/14)
$285

REGISTER

Summer is for dancing!

The Center Dance is happy to announce two NEW weeklong summer programs for children ages 4-6. Young movers will love coming to the studio each day for dance, art-making, creative play and more! Our themed programs are based on The Center’s unique, literature-integrated approach to dance. The daily agenda will include time for snack and lunch. 

Week 1: August 5th-9th; Carnival of the Animals!
Week 2: August 12th-16th; Ballet Studio (Summer Edition)

Drop-off is at 9AM; Pick-up is at 1PM. 

Cost is $235/week. 

REGISTER

For more information, email thecenterdanceschool@gmail.com.

Another year, Another spring show!

This year’s performance offers two interpretations of Christian Robinson’s award-winning, wordless picture book, Another. The first is a movement story (an embodied learning experience foundational to The Center’s early childhood program) that brings our youngest dancers on their own journey through Robinson’s magical dreamscape. The second is a series of dances created by The Center’s K-12 faculty in collaboration with their students. By studying and reflecting upon Robinson’s visual narrative, our faculty and dancers identified themes, artistic motifs, and concepts that spoke to them, and transformed these ideas into movement. The results are delightful!

We hope you’ll join us in the audience on Sunday, June 9th, at the Amherst Regional High School Theater.

Tickets for our 11AM and 1PM shows can be purchased on our Square Store, or at ARHS on the day of the show (cash, check, and Venmo will be accepted).

Ticket Prices:
Advance: $12/general public, $5 for children 12 and under
At Door: $15/general public, $5 for children 12 and under
FREE for children under 2. 

Physical tickets will NOT be issued; if you have purchased tickets in advance, simply provide your name at the admissions table on your way into the theater. 

Auditorium doors will open 30 minutes before the performance begins. Seating will not be assigned. 

Questions? Contact us at thecenterdanceschool@gmail.com.

CIRCUS! (45 minutes; ages 3-5) You don’t have to run away to join the circus! In our new class for children ages 3-5, we will climb stepping stones, crawl through tunnels, hop through hoops, and dance to the rhythm of the rainbow! Come for the play parachute, stay for the juggling scarves! Kids will develop strength, balance, coordination, and body/spatial awareness in this fun, lively program for young movers. 

Fall ’24 Session
Wednesdays, 1-1:45 PM
September 11th-October 30th
OR
Sundays, 12-12:45 PM
September 8th-November 3rd (no class 9/22)

10% discount available to concurrently enrolled siblings (enter code SIBLING)

REGISTER today!