Geary Dance Center

Summer Saturdays offers individual classes at $25 per class. The bulk price for the summer session depends on the number of weeks, generally 6-8 depending on the calendar. Extended Care is available only during summer camps, 8am to start of camp and end of camp to 6pm.

FUNdamentals of Dance students who try a class and enroll in that semester receive a $25 credit on their account. FUNdamentals of Dance students are allowed up to 4 makeup classes per semester before being charged $25 for a drop-in class. No charge for FUNdamentals of Dance students.

DANCE TEAM & PERFORMANCE GROUP

Engaging and playful dance classes designed for preschoolers, fostering early development through creative movement, music, and imaginative activities in a fun-filled learning experience.

Dance classes specifically curated for adults, offering a variety of styles and skill levels to accommodate different interests and fitness goals in a structured and enjoyable environment.

Introductory dance classes designed for individuals new to dance, providing foundational techniques and movements in a welcoming and supportive setting, suitable for those starting their dance journey.

A comprehensive dance class focusing on a variety of styles crucial for musical theater productions, including Jazz, Tap, basic Ballet, Contemporary, ballroom dances like Waltz and Salsa, and folk dances such as Square Dance and Irish Clogging, ensuring well-rounded technical development.

For dancers with at least one year of prior dance competition experience. Solos must conform to competition requirements regarding length and GDC requirements regarding skill level and family friendly age-appropriate content, costume and music. Dancers must be on a GDC team and enrolled in GDC classes. Practice and registration fees are separate from the group team fees. Solos and duets can be in any genre the dance competitions accept and are not limited to a max number of competitions.

ages 13-18 must remain currently enrolled in the academic year in at least one classes of level II or above in Jazz, Comteporary or Hip Hop or level III or higher in Ballet or Tap, placement by audition or invitation only. Must commit to 2 practice sessions in both semesters and at least 2 competitions in the Spring Semester.

ages 13-18, must remain currently enrolled in the academic year in at least one class of level I or higher in Jazz, Contemporary or Hip Hop or Level II or higher in Ballet or Tap. Must commit to practice sessions in both semesters and at least 2 competitions in the Spring Semester.

ages 9-12, must remain currently enrolled in the academic year in at least 1 class of level I of higher. Must commit to practice sessions in both semesters and at least 2 competitions in the Spring Semester.

Private Ongoing Group Classes or Workshops: for up to 10 students depending on studio, level, age of students and dance style.

Private Lessons: for 1-2 students to learn choreography for audition, performance or competition.

Geary Dance Center offers private and semi-private lessons to individual students, and the possibility to create a private group class for organizations, school classes or homeschools.

Funk and Jazz Funk are subsets of Jazz. Funk is defined more by street dance and less by technique that can often show Ballet training. Jazz Funk incorporates Jazz technique that is often based on Ballet movements. Both Funk and Jazz Funk incorporate elements of Jazz and Hip Hop; grittier than regular Jazz and incorporating more expansive movements that regular Hip Hop. Both are fun and energetic styles aimed at getting the kids moving while expressing themselves in a current manner.

Contemporary has become a very popular style due to various TV dance shows. Contemporary can blend Ballet, Jazz, Modern Dance forms and Hip Hop technique with a focus on inner expression. Designed for the dancer who wants a more introspective dance style that can also improve technique, flexibility and strength. Different teachers will have different styles and methods, we always suggest new dancers try a class first to find the class that speaks to them. Contemporary differs from Modern Dance in that there is no strict adherence to any one technique style such as Cunningham, Graham, Limon etc.

Musical Theater tells a story through song and dance. The Musical Theater Jazz class combines Jazz dance, acting and age-appropriate songs from Broadway, TV or movie musicals. Singing is optional and not a requirement of the class. Musical Theater Jazz is perfect for your animated dancer! Younger dancers (ages 7-10) will focus on acting, learning basic Jazz movements and creating a piece that tells a story using music from non-gender specific, age appropriate musicals, such as Matilda or Shrek the Musical . For the Teen and Tween dancer, we will explore the stylistic characteristics of various well-known choreographers, such as Bob Fosse ( Chicago ), Jerome Robbins ( West Side Story ), and Agnes de Mille ( Carousel ).

Hip-Hop is an energetic dance style that evolved from the urban African-American culture in the latter half of the 20th Century. Hip-hop includes various moves such as breaking, popping, locking, krumping and gymnastics forms. Improvisation, expression and personal interpretation are essential to hip-hop dancing. Hip Hop has developed many different styles within its genre and gives non-dancers a socially acceptable way to express themselves individually with movement. Hip Hop is an excellent dance style to introduce to boys and anyone who wants to express themselves in a non-gender specific style.

Tap developed in 19th Century America from a mix of Irish clogging, African and African-American movements and vaudeville. Using special shoes with metal plates, the tap dancer can create multiple sounds and rhythmic patterns with their feet. Tap improves balance, coordination, rhythm, focus and is great for those kids who respond to music by creating their own percussion. Each level will introduce styles and steps from different eras.

Jazz is a fun, upbeat dance style developed in America during the 20th Century from African and African-American social dance styles, vaudeville and ballet. It has become one of the most popular dance styles because of its versatility, energy, style and dedication to individuality. Jazz styles can range from classic clean lines to funky urban, to modern to comic. Dancers will learn to control individual body parts (isolations), to express themselves in their movements and how to work both as a group and individually. Jazz is a great introduction to dance and terrific for kids who want to mooove!

Bollywood is an upbeat and dynamic style that blends Jazz and Hip Hop with traditional South Indian movements. Bollywood originated in the Indian film industry as a high energy way to propel the storyline. The dance style became popular outside of the film industry and is its own genre today. Great for kids who like to mooove and learn a little about another culture.

The class will focus on classic choreography from full-length ballets such as Sleeping Beauty, Les Sylphides, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. Dancers will learn about the different eras, styles and training methods in Ballet as well as the history of Ballet’s development from folk dance and fencing to a style performed exclusively before the royal court to that of entertainment. The class will focus on how to restage solo choreography to a group and vice versa as well as how to restage choreography for different technique levels. Choreography will be amended for ballet shoes and varying technique levels. Students who are on pointe may take the class in pointe shoes with approval of the instructor.

Pointe is the epitome of Classical Ballet and can only be achieved once a dancer has reached a certain technique level. At Geary Dance Center, Pointe is not required but is available to those dancers who wish to study it. Prerequisites for Pointe are a minimum of 2 Ballet technique classes a week for at least a year before going on pointe. Once on pointe, the dancer must attend at least 2 Ballet technique classes a week to remain on pointe. GDC has no required pointe shoe maker, style or shade of pink and encourages each dancer to find the best shoe for their foot. Brooke Byrne, co-owner of GDC, will accompany the dancer to their first pointe shoe fitting. Do boys go on pointe? They can, and pointe work is often recommended for boys who need to improve the strength and flexibility of their feet, want to experience a different level of training or plan on doing any Ballet choreography.

The study of Ballet is a gradual process as the student must learn to control his or her movements and postures from tiny little-used core muscles while retraining the larger muscles that we already use every day. Excellent Ballet training requires the opposite of almost any other athletic endeavor in that it must be focused and disciplined from the beginning of its study, gradually increasing the abilities and movement vocabulary, making sure that the student has a clear understanding before continuing on. This also means that Ballet is excellent training for almost any other style of dance and many sports.

FUNdamentals of Dance for preschoolers and Kindergartners ages 2-6: FUNdamentals I/II: ages 2-4 with in-class participation of adult caregiver as needed by the child. FUNdamentals II/III: ages 3-5 without caregiver. FUNdamentals III/Pre-Ballet, III/Jazz-Tap: ages 4-6 without caregiver. Designed for children not yet enrolled in Kindergarten or Kindergartners who may benefit from more time in the FUNdamentals program before moving to Creative Movement, Ballet I, Beginning classes in Jazz, Tap, or Hip-Hop.

FUN III is exclusively for kids in Pre-K, TK and Kindergarten. They receive the same instruction as the FUN II/III kids but everything is slightly accelerated to reflect their preparation for more academic instruction when they enter Kindergarten.

This class is for kids who are comfortable in a group situation without the presence of their caregiver. FUN II/III will focus on extending the attention span of the dancers, encouraging understanding and memory while moving, and increasing their comfort with non-concrete imagery using age-appropriate ballet stories.

This class is best for our youngest and wobbliest dancers as well as dancers who are quite shy or working on separation from the caregiver. The caregiver accompanies the child to the extent the child needs – everything from participating fully to stepping back and being available for crowd control to sitting and watching the class.

Our FUN classes are designed to reinforce early education concepts and introduce basic movement skills in a fun, energetic and age-appropriate manner. This teacher driven class is directed to all learning styles and gives all kids different moments to express themselves or observe from a distance depending on their personality and comfort level.

Students who would like to accelerate their learning process are recommended to try private lessons, which can be tailored to the child’s skill level and needs.

Online enrollment by parents is limited to beginning level classes, summer camps and adult classes.

Beginning Level Classes by STYLE

Beginning Level Classes by AGE

Children in pre-school and Kindergarten who try a FUNdamentals of Dance class will receive a $25 credit with enrollment in the FUN program during the same semester.

Geary Dance Center offers recreational dance classes to children ages 2-18. GDC enrolls new students year round but bases its syllabi on an academic year broken into two semesters.

Children who enroll in the full session of Summer Saturdays and enroll in the following Fall Semester classes will receive a $25 credit towards Fall Semester enrollment. This applies to new students only. Credit will not be extended to enrollment in a following semester.

FUNdamentals of Dance class for preschoolers and Kindergarten students. This applies to new students only and only for semester classes, not Summer Saturdays. Credit will not be extended to enrollment in the following semester and only applies to FUNdamentals of Dance classes.

Ballet II for ages 7-10

Junior Team for ages 9-12

FUNdamentals I/II for ages 2-4

Beginning Ballet for ages 5-7, K min

Hip Hop/K-Pop I/II for Teens

Tap III/IV for ages 11+

Ballet III/IV

Contemporary II for ages 11+

Ballet III/IV for ages 11+

Tap I for Teens

Jazz I for ages 8-13

Pointe. Mon Ballet III/IV required

Beginning Hip Hop for ages 8-10

Ballet I

A focused dance session to conclude the day's movement instruction, reinforcing learned material and preparing for the upcoming rehearsal.

Beginning Hip Hop/K-Pop for ages 8-10

FUNdamentals II/III for ages 3-5

Beginning Contemporary for ages 9-12

Ballet I for ages 7-10

FUNdamentals III/Pre-Ballet for ages 4-6

Beginning Jazz for ages 5-7

Musical Theater Jazz for Kids for ages 7-10

Beginning Hip Hop for ages 5-7

Beginning Hip Hop/K-Pop

Beginning Contemporary for ages 9-13

Hip Hop III for ages 13+

Beginning Ballet for Teens for ages 11+

Hip-Hop II /K-Pop for ages 10+

Tap I for ages 10+

Beginning Contemporary For Teens for ages 11+

A second dance session offering further opportunities to explore and refine movement, building upon previous instruction and enhancing overall dance proficiency.

A third dance session providing additional practice and instruction, allowing for deeper engagement with choreography and technique development.

A physical training session focused on enhancing dancers' strength, flexibility, stamina, and overall physical preparedness essential for demanding dance routines and performances.

A structured dance session focusing on technique, choreography, and artistic expression, designed to develop dancers' skills and performance quality across various movement styles.

Created for those dancers who want to proceed to the next level in their dance training but can’t commit to the training and time requirements of the competition team. Performance Group is a great idea if the student wants to be on the team eventually. This group will perform for schools, neighborhood associations and social service organizations, minimum of one outside performance and recital each year. Spring Semester commitment only. Practices coincide with the Team practices on Saturdays.

Students must have at least 1-2 years of prior Ballet classes to enroll in this combined level class.

Teen Team for ages 13-18

Pointe. Fri Ballet III/IV required

FUNdamentals III/Pre-Ballet

Beginning Hip Hop

This class is for ages 3-5 and does not require a caregiver. It focuses on the fundamental aspects of dance.

This class is for ages 5-7 and is best suited for rising Kindergarten students. It introduces the basics of ballet.

FUNdamentals II/III

This class is designed for ages 2-4 and can be attended with a caregiver. It offers foundational fun in dance.

Senior Team Practice 2/2 for ages 13-18

Hip Hop/K-Pop I/II for Teens for ages 11+

Beginning Ballet for Teens for ages 11+

Jazz I/II for Teens

Contemporary II/III for ages 11+

Ballet I/II For Teens for ages 11+

Funk For Teens for ages 11+

Jazz I for ages 8-10

Hip Hop III

Check out our Wednesday Summer Teen Ballet classes for kids ages 11 and older.

Senior Team 1/2 for ages 13-18

Ballet I/II class for teens ages 11+ during the Summer Teen Ballet with Monique Brown program.

Ballet III/IV/Pointe/Variations class for teens ages 11+ during the Summer Teen Ballet with Monique Brown program.

Our Teen Accelerated Learning (TAL) Program is for teens or pre-teens ages 11 and older who are absolute beginners or almost beginners with some dance classes when they were much younger. This unique 2-semester program teaches 1-3 levels of a particular style so the dancer can then enroll in a higher level with their peers in less time than if they had enrolled when they were younger. The TAL Program takes into account an older child’s focus, memory and behavior when compared to students ages 5-10 who comprise the majority of dancers in beginning level classes. We offer teen classes in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Funk and Contemporary.

In the Spring Semester we introduce the students to some basic elements of Ballet, Jazz, Tap and Hip Hop to help them understand the different styles and to help the teacher guide the parents to the styles that might be best for their dancer.

New to GDC! Unsure what dance style will appeal to your child? Want a shorter class session than a full semester? We are offering two workshops for ages 3-5 that combine 2 popular and complimentary dance styles within the 45 minute class time.

New to GDC! Unsure what dance style will appeal to your child? Want a shorter class session than a full semester? We are offering two workshops for ages 3-5 that combine 2 popular and complimentary dance styles within the 45 minute class time.

Dance Me A Story dance and art camp has a tuition of $450, which includes a $25 materials fee. Extended Care is available only during summer camps, 8am to start of camp and end of camp to 6pm.

Summer Dance Camp tuition is $500 for the entire camp. Extended Care is available only during summer camps, 8am to start of camp and end of camp to 6pm.

For aspiring Musical Theater artists aged 10+, this camp works on dance, singing, and acting with targeted songs, monologues, and a mock audition. It studies dance styles likely used in musical productions like Jazz, Tap, basic Ballet, Contemporary, ballroom styles such as Waltz and Salsa, and folk dance styles like Square Dance and Irish Clogging.

A delightful dance and art camp designed for younger children aged 4.5 to 7 years old, combining creative movement and artistic expression in a fun and engaging environment.

These summer dance camps offer specialized programs for different age groups, with specific programs for ages 8-10 and another for ages 11 and older, encouraging participation in various dance activities throughout the summer months.

Broadway Boot Camp for ages 10+.

Summer Dance Camps for ages 8-18.

Dance and art camp for rising K to age 7.

Dance camps are an excellent way to keep your kids engaged, active and enthusiastic over the summer break! Our Summer Dance Camps are geared to a beginning/intermediate level and offer styles that may be new for most dancers, even those with several years of dance study. It’s a perfect camp for the dancer who wants to find a dance style that speaks to them. Styles such as Ballet, Pilates-based Conditioning, Lyrical, Afro-Brazilian Modern Dance, Contemporary, West African, Bhangra, Hip Hop, stretch & strengthen, Jazz, Contemporary, Bollywood, Kathak, Musical Theater Jazz, Salsa and more have been offered in the past from GDC staff and guest artists. Campers receive 20 hours a week of dance classes, equivalent to a semester’s worth of learning! We divide the camps by age, 8-10 and 11 and up, with the dance classes and any choreography appropriate for that age group. After the last class on Friday there is an informal showing of the progress the dancers have made.

Broadway Boot Camp for ages 10+

Summer Teen Ballet Intensive for ages 11-19

dance and art camp for rising K to age 7

Online enrollment by parents is limited to beginning level classes, summer camps and adult classes.

Children who enroll in Summer Dance Camps and enroll in the following Fall Semester will receive a $25 credit towards Fall Semester enrollment. This applies to new students only. Credit will not be extended to enrollmnet in a following semester.

Are you a teen Ballet student who wants to get better but doesn’t want to pursue Ballet as a career? Most Ballet intensives are geared towards advanced or pre-professional dancers, but GDC’s camp is a great workshop for the recreational Ballet dancer age 11-19 with at least 2 years of training. Classes are taught by caring and nurturing faculty without regard to aspirations, body type, length of study or flexibility. Learn variations, pas de deux, Character dance, dance history, hair & make-up and nutrition.