Robert Thomas Dancenter South

Get your feet tapping and making noise with our adult tap classes! Our skilled instructors will walk you through the essentials of tap technique, including basic steps, rhythms, and syncopation, whether you’re a novice or have some experience. Dancers of all levels will be challenged and inspired by the classes, which are held in a friendly and encouraging setting. You may develop your rhythm, coordination, and musicality by learning to tap dance. Discover tap dance’s delight and resonant force with us!

Step back in time and learn the moves of the Swing Era with our adult swing classes! Whether you’re a beginner or have some experience, our experienced instructors will teach you the basics of various swing styles such as Lindy Hop, East Coast Swing, and more. You’ll learn proper footwork, styling and technique in a fun and supportive environment. Dancing is a great way to stay active, meet new people and improve your social skills. Join us and make it a date night or come solo and make new friends. Sign up for our adult swing classes today!

Release your inner performer with our adult jazz classes! Our knowledgeable instructors will walk you through the fundamentals of jazz technique, including isolations, turns, jumps, and more, whether you’re a beginner or have some expertise. You’ll be given the chance to execute choreographed routines that you’ve learned to cheerful music. Enhancing your physical fitness, coordination, and musicality via jazz dance is a terrific idea. Classes are held in a friendly and encouraging setting. Come learn about the passion and expression of jazz dancing with us!

Feel the excitement and fun of Irish dancing with our adult sessions. Our skilled instructors will teach you the fundamentals of Irish step dancing, including the basic steps, footwork, and style, whether you’re a beginner or have some expertise. Additionally, you’ll learn a variety of traditional Irish dances and get the chance to perform at events and showcases. Meeting new people and being active are two wonderful benefits of dancing. Come learn about the rich cultural history of Irish dance with us!

Prepare to groove and move with our adult hip hop classes! We will walk you through the latest hip hop moves and styles while also helping you improve your strength, coordination, and confidence, whether you are a beginner or have some experience. Classes are held in a high-energy, welcoming atmosphere designed to challenge and inspire dancers of all levels. Sign up today to experience the joy and freedom that hip hop dancing brings.

Step out of your comfort zone and into the world of ballroom dance! Whether you’re a complete beginner or have some experience, our instructors will teach you the basics of a variety of ballroom styles such as Waltz, Tango, Rumba, and more. You’ll learn proper technique, footwork, and styling in a fun and supportive environment. Dancing is a great way to stay active, meet new people and improve your social skills. Join us and make it a date night or come solo and make new friends. Sign up for our adult ballroom classes today!

Unleash your inner dancer with our adult ballet class. Beginners or experienced dancers build strength, flexibility, and grace as our experienced instructors guide you through the fundamentals of ballet technique. Classes are held in a friendly and supportive environment, and they are designed to meet the needs of adults of all ages and skill levels. Discover the beauty and discipline of ballet with us.

Our tumbling classes are designed to teach students the fundamentals of tumbling, including basic skills such as rolls, cartwheels, and round-offs. Each student is regularly monitored by our knowledgeable instructors to make sure they are challenged and making progress at a pace that is right for them. As they improve, students will master increasingly complex moves including back handsprings, tucks, and layouts. We have classes for all skill levels, from beginners to advanced tumbling. We have a class for everyone, whether your child is just starting out or has been tumbling for years. Our classes are designed to help students improve their tumbling technique, coordination, and overall ability. Here at RT Dance, we believe tumbling is an excellent way for our dancers to improve their strength, coordination, and flexibility. These classes are about more than just learning new skills; they are also about boosting confidence and self-esteem.

Solo classes are available to Dancenter Dancer members and the student must be approved by the director. Your student will train and practice a routine with an instructor and perform at our annual Expo! If you are interested in this particular discipline, please send us information on what you are looking for–what is the age of the student, what previous dance experience they have, are you wanting a group class or private instruction? We will do our best to work with you, to provide what you need.

Learn and improve through private coaching with the most professional instructors. Get one-on-one instruction that will take your dancing to the next level. Dance requires an equal amount of cognitive focus as well as physical strength. The demanding yet evolving art-form allows individuals to express themselves creatively through movement, while enabling them to adapt movement that possesses a rhythmical pattern and fluid motions that allure to an audience either onstage or on film. Private coaching can help you polish your skills in specific areas of dance.

Grab a partner and dance in a harmony of movements! Partnering dance involves one dancer providing guidance, support, or both, for the other dancer. Dance partnering technique appears in various forms in many types of dance and is an essential part of all partner dances. Contact the studio if you are interested in learning partnering skills for yourself or your dancer. We will evaluate your readiness, discuss goals, and provide opportunities. These opportunities may take the shape of small group classes to individual focus sessions.

Take the stage with musical theater classes at the Robert Thomas Dancenter. Musical theater conveys emotion, humor, pathos, love and anger through songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance! Prepare to dazzle the audience with amazing stories and beautiful dancing. Join your friends at the dancenter for the performance of a lifetime!

Our instructor training prepares the next generation of dance educators to spread knowledge and joy of dance to future students and carry on excellent Robert Thomas Dancenter studio training. Demonstrators, Assistants, Associate Instructors, Graduate Instructors. Applications are accepted into the training program by director approval only.

Bharatanatyam is one of the classical dances of India whose origin can be traced back to the fifth century AD. It is a composite art that incorporates elements of music, drama, poetry, color and rhythm. Bharatanatyam compositions are based upon South Indian Classical (Carnatic) music and reflect the complexity of life and human experience. The dance tells stories of mythology and folk heroes and can depict the full range of human emotion. The pure dance aspect of Bharatanatyam is graceful, powerful, beautiful and is often depicted in the carvings found in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist temples. The Guru Sumana Sriram has been trained in the Kalakshetra style by her gurus Natyacharya S Aravind and Smt Vasantha Aravind, Koothambalam (Chennai, India) and subsequently in the Tanjore Style by Smt Smitha Magal, Silambam (Columbus, OH). Since her Arangetram(first solo performance) in 1988, Sumana has given several solo and group performances in India and the United States. Sumana founded Sudhalaya School of Dance in Ames IA. She follows structured and disciplined teaching in dance as learnt from her gurus. Students are also taught slokas and theory of Bharatanatyam. Exposure to Indian mythology and culture is an integral part of the classes

Explore the evolution of dance throughout history with our dance history class. Our experienced instructors will take you on a journey through time, exploring the origins and development of various dance styles and their cultural significance. You will learn about the major figures and movements that have shaped the world of dance, from ballet and contemporary dance to hip hop and swing. This class will deepen your understanding and appreciation of dance as an art form and cultural expression. Perfect for dancers, choreographers, history buffs and anyone interested in the cultural evolution of dance. Join us and discover the rich history of dance.

Become the visionary. Go behind the scenes to coordinate unique dance routines with your friends at the dancenter. Choreography classes help you learn to create and refine pieces audiences will remember. Professional instructors will help you express your artistry. Perform the routine of your dreams.

Boys & Men’s Classes for males in Grades 3rd through 5th, 6th through 8th, High School, College. Assemble in a specially provided class where they learn with peers, studying basic ballet and contemporary dance. Great fun and great exercise, and since the current class is on Tuesday, it ends with “Taco Tuesday”. Try it for your young men.

Express yourself with belly dancing classes at Robert Thomas Dancenter. Add expressive skills to your dancing repertoire by learning the arm movements and exhilarating hip hits of belly dancing. Gain balance, strength, coordination and confidence through a dance style that is empowering and fun.

Our tumbling classes are designed to teach students the fundamentals of tumbling, including basic skills such as rolls, cartwheels, and round-offs. Each student is regularly monitored by our knowledgeable instructors to make sure they are challenged and making progress at a pace that is right for them. As they improve, students will master increasingly complex moves including back handsprings, tucks, and layouts.

Solo classes are available to Dancenter Dancer members and the student must be approved by the director. Your student will train and practice a routine with an instructor and perform at our annual Expo!

Grab a partner and dance in a harmony of movements! Partnering dance involves one dancer providing guidance, support, or both, for the other dancer. Dance partnering technique appears in various forms in many types of dance and is an essential part of all partner dances.

Our instructor training prepares the next generation of dance educators to spread knowledge and joy of dance to future students and carry on excellent Robert Thomas Dancenter studio training. Demonstrators, Assistants, Associate Instructors, Graduate Instructors.

Bharatanatyam is one of the classical dances of India whose origin can be traced back to the fifth century AD. It is a composite art that incorporates elements of music, drama, poetry, color and rhythm. Bharatanatyam compositions are based upon South Indian Classical (Carnatic) music and reflect the complexity of life and human experience. The dance tells stories of mythology and folk heroes and can depict the full range of human emotion.

Explore the evolution of dance throughout history with our dance history class. Our experienced instructors will take you on a journey through time, exploring the origins and development of various dance styles and their cultural significance. You will learn about the major figures and movements that have shaped the world of dance, from ballet and contemporary dance to hip hop and swing. This class will deepen your understanding and appreciation of dance as an art form and cultural expression.

Unlock your full potential as a professional quality tap dancer. XL tap classes offer the highest level instruction of the tap dancing art form. Learn the challenging but rewarding steps and rhythms of tap while growing overall skills as a dancer. Move closer to tap mastery with XL classes. XL tap will give dancers skills that will remain through their lifetime. Tap can be enjoyed at any level from beginner to more advanced, small child to “Golden Age” adult (There is a group of performing tap dancers in Arizona that are in their 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s!! And they look great).

Elementary tap is a bridge between Pre-Tap and XL Tap. It builds upon techniques and skills taught in the Pre-Tap classes and prepares the dancer for more involved classes such as XL Tap. Build on your skills and produce “The Sound of America Dancing.” Elementary tap classes take the dancer further and further into the steps and rhythms of the tap vocabulary. Dancers will grow, having been more assimilated into the tap rhythms and styles. Prepare for the proud and rich tradition of professional quality tap instruction with elementary tap classes.

Enjoy tap from day-one with pre-tap classes at the Robert Thomas Dancenter. Pre-Tap classes are your starting point for the All-American art form of tap dance. Tap Dance started in the early American Colonies in the 1800s. Here, young dancers begin their journey to mastering over 150 different steps and rhythms. From day-one , tap is great fun and great exercise. Tap is great fun and good exercise while becoming challenging and rewarding as dancers progress. Take the first step to mastering the marvelously versatile style of tap dancing!

Stretching and Strengthening of neck, arms, back, legs’ turnout from hips, thighs, hamstring muscle, ankles and feet. For ballet, and pointe students of all ages!

Bharatanatyam is one of the classical dances of India whose origin can be traced back to the fifth century AD. It is a composite art that incorporates elements of music, drama, poetry, color and rhythm. Bharatanatyam compositions are based upon South Indian Classical (Carnatic) music and reflect the complexity of life and human experience. The dance tells stories of mythology and folk heroes and can depict the full range of human emotion. The pure dance aspect of Bharatanatyam is graceful, powerful, beautiful and is often depicted in the carvings found in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist temples.

Express yourself with belly dancing classes at Robert Thomas Dancenter. Add expressive skills to your dancing repertoire by learning the arm movements and exhilarating hip hits of belly dancing. Gain balance, strength, coordination and confidence through a dance style that is empowering and fun. Contact us to sign up.

Most dancers look forward to dancing en pointe when they are older. The effect is simply beautiful, the essence of grace and poise. If you are one of these dancers, the Dancenter strives to help you reach your goals by providing curriculum that emphasizes safety as well as beauty.

Pointe classes at the Dancenter are traditional Russian-basis dance classes for dancers age 10 and over, and having at least 2 years of ballet training. Each dancer must be evaluated before she may begin Pointe. We offer graded levels of Pointe based on the dancers age, physical development and training.

At the advanced level, Pointe class is an intensive session in which excerpts from female variations from classical repertoire are studied, and virtuosity is mastered.

Most dancers look forward to dancing en pointe when they are older. The effect is simply beautiful, the essence of grace and poise. If you are one of these dancers, the Dancenter strives to help you reach your goals by providing curriculum that emphasizes safety as well as beauty.

Beginning Pointe is designed to first strengthen a dancer’s legs, feet, ankles, and core in preparation for their future strength in and mastery of the discipline. A transition to dancing on pointe shoes will follow when dancers, and their bodies, have successfully mastered basic core, foot, and ankle drills. When dancers are ready to wear their shoes, the Dancenter will assist in scheduling pointe shoe fittings for them.

Solo classes are available to Dancenter Dancer members and the student must be approved by the director. Your student will train and practice a routine with an instructor and perform at our annual Expo!

Learn and improve through private coaching with the most professional instructors. Get one-on-one instruction that will take your dancing to the next level. Dance requires an equal amount of cognitive focus as well as physical strength. The demanding yet evolving art-form allows individuals to express themselves creatively through movement, while enabling them to adapt movement that possesses a rhythmical pattern and fluid motions that allure to an audience either onstage or on film. Private coaching can help you polish your skills in specific areas of dance.

Grab a partner and dance in a harmony of movements! Partnering dance involves one dancer providing guidance, support, or both, for the other dancer. Dance partnering technique appears in various forms in many types of dance and is an essential part of all partner dances.

Take the stage with musical theater classes at the Robert Thomas Dancenter. Musical theater conveys emotion, humor, pathos, love and anger through songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance! Prepare to dazzle the audience with amazing stories and beautiful dancing. Join your friends at the dancenter for the performance of a lifetime!

Bharatanatyam is one of the classical dances of India whose origin can be traced back to the fifth century AD. It is a composite art that incorporates elements of music, drama, poetry, color and rhythm. Bharatanatyam compositions are based upon South Indian Classical (Carnatic) music and reflect the complexity of life and human experience. The dance tells stories of mythology and folk heroes and can depict the full range of human emotion. The pure dance aspect of Bharatanatyam is graceful, powerful, beautiful and is often depicted in the carvings found in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist temples. Sumana Sriram has been trained in the Kalakshetra style by her gurus Natyacharya S Aravind and Smt Vasantha Aravind, Koothambalam (Chennai, India) and subsequently in the Tanjore Style by Smt Smitha Magal, Silambam (Columbus, OH). Since her Arangetram(first solo performance) in 1988, Sumana has given several solo and group performances in India and the United States. Sumana founded Sudhalaya School of Dance in Ames IA. She follows structured and disciplined teaching in dance as learnt from her gurus. Students are also taught slokas and theory of Bharatanatyam. Exposure to Indian mythology and culture is an integral part of the classes

Express yourself with modern dance classes! Learn a variety of techniques such as contractions, falls, and floor work to express yourself in this early 20th century dance style. Modern dance class focuses on developing a student’s skills of self-expression and creativity. Let artistic expression shine and join your friends at Robert Thomas for modern dance classes.

Lyrical dance is a dance style that blends elements of ballet and jazz dance. It is generally a little more fluid than ballet and somewhat faster, although not as rapidly executed as jazz dance. A lyrical dancer uses movement to express strong emotions, such as love, joy, or anger. Dancers often perform to music with lyrics. The lyrics of the chosen song serve as inspiration for the dancers’ movements and expressions. Music used for lyrical dance is typically emotionally charged and expressive. The music genres used in lyrical dance include pop, rock, blues, hip-hop, ethnic and world music and different forms of “downtown” contemporary music, such as minimalism. Movements in lyrical dance are characterized by fluidity and grace, with the dancer flowing seamlessly from one move to another, holding finishing steps as long as possible. Leaps are exceptionally high and soaring, and turns are fluid and continuous.

Experience the most advanced instruction of the rich American art form of jazz dance through XL Jazz classes at the Robert Thomas Dancenter. Fulfill your fullest potential while our professional instructors build on jazz skills learned in previous classes. Our instructors will uplift you to the dance of your dreams!

Elementary Jazz is a bridge between Pre-Jazz and XL Jazz. It builds upon the fundamentals taught in Pre-Jazz and prepares students for more advanced movements and choreography in XL Jazz. Grow as a jazz dancer and prepare for the professional quality training of XL jazz. Dancers move closer to jazz mastery and embrace the wonderful variety of jazz styles such as, classic jazz, musical comedy, lyrical, Latin , blues, rock, funk, modern, hip hop and other forms of street dance.

Experience the magic of jazz from day-one with pre-jazz classes at the Robert Thomas Dancenter. Young dancers start their journey through the long rich history of jazz with the help of our professional instructors. Learn proper body alignment, coordination and retention of movement while becoming more rhythmically articulate. In any given jazz class there are three objectives which are the focus of the class: Strength and Flexibility Locomotor movement combinations Specialized or Technical combinations While covering the three main objectives of the jazz class, the students also have the opportunity to explore the many different styles of jazz. By the end of the year, the jazz class has covered the basics, and is able to incorporate the different styles of jazz in an annual dance performance.

Irish Dance traces its rudimentary history as far back as the times of the Druids and the Celts and has evolved ever since. Students have the opportunity to study the graceful soft shoe discipline at the Dancenter. Our instructors’ dance schools in the Midwest. In addition to numerous individual components, steps, combinations, and ceilli (group) dances, dancers will learn how to identify various types of Irish music, including reels, jigs, and more. A variety of music (traditional and contemporary Irish and non-traditional music) is used for learning, executing practice drills, and perfomances. In addition to studio classes, dancers at the Advanced Beginner level and above are invited to audition and perform with the Irish Performance Team. Mastery of rhythm and timing is the goal for beginning students, as well as the advanced. This mastery is built upon with the addition of new and more complicated steps and types of dances as the student progresses. It all comes together in choreographed selections for the annual recital.

Irish dance is believed to have started when the Celts arrived in Ireland over 2,000 years ago. Today, the most common form of Irish dance is the Munster style which has been formalized by An Coiminsium le Rinci Gaelacha – the Irish Dancing Commission. Irish step dancing falls into two broad categories based on the shoes worn: hard shoe and soft shoe. All students start with a minimum of one year of soft shoe training, and when invited, will be able to start hard shoe training along with the continuation of soft shoe classes.

Hip Hop is a high-energy, and fun dance style that is a great way for dancers to stay active and develop their own unique style. It is characterized by its high-energy movements, strong rhythms, and use of popular music. Students will learn a variety of techniques such as popping, locking, and breaking. This class is great for students looking for an energetic and unique experience.

Bharatanatyam is one of the classical dances of India whose origin can be traced back to the fifth century AD. It is a composite art that incorporates elements of music, drama, poetry, color and rhythm. Bharatanatyam compositions are based upon South Indian Classical (Carnatic) music and reflect the complexity of life and human experience. The dance tells stories of mythology and folk heroes and can depict the full range of human emotion. The pure dance aspect of Bharatanatyam is graceful, powerful, beautiful and is often depicted in the carvings found in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist temples.

Solo classes are available to Dancenter Dancer members and the student must be approved by the director. Your student will train and practice a routine with an instructor and perform at our annual Expo!

Creative movement is a class structured different than other disciplines to promote self-awareness, individuality, and independent thinking. The goal of this class is to make divergent thinkers that can solve problems in a way that is best suited to their own ability. In class, the exercises are often formatted as games or projects and all movement is generated by the students. The opportunity for personal choice in the activities challenges the students to think for themselves and be recognized for their unique ways of moving. The class also teaches the elements of dance to provide a tool box for creating a piece of work. For example, the qualities of movement are: smooth, sharp, shake/vibratory, sustain & collapse, and swing. Given a quality of movement the dancers can move their body to emulate the quality at a given level (high, medium, or low) and at a given tempo (fast, medium, slow). To make a creative environment, the class will often play off visual imagery. Whether that is recalling a memory, or having physical objects in the classroom to spark ideas. In past years, the class has been a vehicle for teaching non-dance related topics. For example, the students have created dances about volcanoes, the water cycle, clouds, and pollution in the environment. These dances were created by first learning facts and then translating those facts into a universal language: dance.

Creative Movement classes are designed to help students explore and express themselves through movement and dance. These classes focus on basic movement skills such as balance, coordination, and spatial awareness. They also allow students to choose their own movements based off of visual imagery and topics.

Contemporary dance is a style of expressive dance that combines elements of several dance genres including modern, jazz, lyrical and classical ballet. Dancers strive to connect the mind and the body through fluid dance movements. Contemporary dance stresses versatility and improvisation, unlike the strict, structured nature of ballet. Dancers focus on floorwork, using gravity to pull them down to the floor. The dance genre is often done in bare feet. Contemporary dance can be performed to many different styles of music.

Contemporary dance is a style of dance that incorporates elements of several other dance genres such as modern, jazz, lyrical, and ballet. It often utilizes unconventional movements and is known for its expressive, emotive, and fluid style. These classes are high-energy and expressive, and are a great way for dancers to explore their own creativity and develop their own unique style.

Combination dance class is a type of dance in which students learn a variety of dance styles or techniques at once, rather than focusing on just one style. Dance styles include jazz, ballet, tap, and tumbling.

Combination dance class is a type of dance in which students learn a variety of dance styles or techniques at once, rather than focusing on just one style. Dance styles include jazz, ballet, tap, and tumbling.

Combination dance class is a type of dance in which students learn a variety of dance styles or techniques at once, rather than focusing on just one style. Dance styles include jazz, ballet, tap, and tumbling.

Bharatanatyam is one of the classical dances of India whose origin can be traced back to the fifth century AD. It is a composite art that incorporates elements of music, drama, poetry, color and rhythm. Bharatanatyam compositions are based upon South Indian Classical (Carnatic) music and reflect the complexity of life and human experience. The dance tells stories of mythology and folk heroes and can depict the full range of human emotion. The pure dance aspect of Bharatanatyam is graceful, powerful, beautiful and is often depicted in the carvings found in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist temples. Sumana Sriram has been trained in the Kalakshetra style by her gurus Natyacharya S Aravind and Smt Vasantha Aravind, Koothambalam (Chennai, India) and subsequently in the Tanjore Style by Smt Smitha Magal, Silambam (Columbus, OH). Since her Arangetram(first solo performance) in 1988, Sumana has given several solo and group performances in India and the United States. Sumana founded Sudhalaya School of Dance in Ames IA. She follows structured and disciplined teaching in dance as learnt from her gurus. Students are also taught slokas and theory of Bharatanatyam. Exposure to Indian mythology and culture is an integral part of the classes

Experience the Magic of Character Dance. Embrace rich traditions through character dance classes at the Robert Thomas Dancenter. Found on the largest stage of Broadway musicals and movies, character dance displays and honors the rich folk dancing traditions of the world. Grow and improve your skills as a dancer while getting a taste of history. Sign up for a character class today.

Are you planning a special occasion and would like some ballroom dance lessons? Let the Dancenter help you! We offer private ballroom lessons for couples. Please contact the Dancenter for information.

Experience the Magic of Ballroom Grab your friends at the dancenter for a dance! Ballroom is a social style of dance most often done with partners at the biggest moments of your life. Prepare for weddings, formals, social events through ballroom classes at Robert Thomas Dancenter. We offer a traditional ballroom class, along with different styles covered in short combination sessions. Learn the art of ballroom and let your emotions flow with your friends at the dancenter.

Robert Thomas Dancenter has been dedicated to providing accelerated pre-professional quality ballet instruction for its students from our inception in 1978. We call it “XL Training”. Classes at the Dancenter are traditional Vaganova/Concchetti based dance classes for dancers age seven through adult.

Elementary Ballet is a bridge between Pre-Ballet and XL Ballet. It builds upon techniques and skills taught in the Pre-Ballet classes and prepares the dancer for more involved classes such as XL Ballet or our Iowa Youth Ballet program.

Pre-Ballet at the Dancenter is ballet for the very young. Although your child’s body is not ready for the more rigorous exercise of the older children, there is much they can learn even at age 3. Indeed, there are many skills that are better taught at an early age.