Motion Arts Dance Studios - Dance studio in Maplewood, New Jersey
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Motion Arts Dance Studios

Verified
Address

202 Maplewood Avenue

Maplewood, New Jersey 07040

Opening Hours
  • Monday: 3:45 - 8:30 PM
  • Tuesday: 3:30 - 8:30 PM
  • Wednesday: 3:45 - 8:30 PM
  • Thursday: 3:30 - 8:30 PM
  • Friday: 4:00 - 7:00 PM
  • Saturday: 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM
  • Sunday: Closed
8 programs

About Motion Arts Dance Studios

Motion Arts Dance Studios, located in Maplewood, New Jersey, welcomes dancers of all ages to explore their passion through a diverse range of movement and personalized dance education. Under the dedicated guidance of Owner and Artistic Director Alexa Astarita, the studio fosters a nurturing and welcoming environment where individuals can discover the transformative power of dance. Alexa, with over 15 years of teaching experience and extensive performance credits including at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, specializes in early childhood dance, jazz, ballet, modern, and partnering. Motion Arts offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to nurture talent from the youngest beginners to advanced students. Programs include Pre-Dance (ages 2.5-3) focusing on spatial awareness and motor skills, foundational Ballet with opportunities for Pointe work, Creative Movement exploring core dance elements, Modern dance encouraging freer movement, and Contemporary dance integrating improvisation. High-energy Jazz classes, dedicated Jumps and Turns classes, and Tap are also offered. A Strength and Stretch class provides essential cross-training. For individualized attention, private and semi-private lessons (accommodating up to three students) are available, ideal for newcomers or supplementing group classes. Summer Dance Camps engage children with rigorous technique in modern, ballet, and jazz, alongside fun activities, crafts, games, and outdoor breaks, culminating in a showcase performance. Motion Arts is committed to making dance accessible, creating a space where everyone feels loved and appreciated as they learn and grow through movement.

Styles offered at Motion Arts Dance Studios

Programs from Motion Arts Dance Studios

8 programs available

Classes

Strength and Stretch

This conditioning class provides the more serious dancer with a cross-training experience that supports her work in technique classes.

Jumps and Turns

An extension of our Jazz program, Jumps and Turns allows dancers to dive more deeply into their center and traveling work. This class focuses on strength, control, and stamina, asking the dancer to display more dynamic and technically advanced steps.

Jazz

Jazz classes are centered around upbeat, fast-paced movement! The Jazz dancer will learn about isolations, leaps and turns, weight shifts, and more advanced rhythmic structures such as triplets. Students will be asked to demonstrate both subtle and bold movement, encouraging a sense of artistry and performative expression. Our Jazz program also focuses on muscular strength and development, so conditioning exercises will be a part of each class.

Contemporary

Contemporary further expands concepts from modern dance and asks dancers to push past the boundaries of their foundational technique. Improvisational tasks and partnering phrases encourage students to explore their capabilties and creative expression, gaining a better understanding of their voice as individual movers and discovering how various dance techniques evolve and inform each other.

Modern

Modern builds upon foundational ballet technique, but expands into bigger, freer movement phrases. Dancers will discover twists and spirals in the spine, the importance of the head-tail connection, inversions, and floorwork. Our modern program is centered in Limon, Graham, and Horton technique, but students will be exposed to a broad range of styles within the modern framework.

Creative Movement

Creative Movement classes serve as an introduction to modern dance. Students focus on the three elements of dance: space, time, and energy. Through guided improvisational activities, students will develop their individual movement styles and will be given the opportunity to choreograph their own dance phrases as they gain the tools to view dance through a more artistic lens.

Ballet

Ballet provides essential foundational technique to our dancers. Students will work at the barre, in center, and across the floor to develop muscular strength, hone their fundamental technique, and gain an appreciation for classical artistry. With a huge focus on anatomical awareness, our ballet teachers guide their students towards an empowering knowledge of their body. Dancers may opt to pursue further ballet studies in our Pointe track, beginning in Pre-Pointe, and, after passing their evaluation, progressing from Intro to Advanced Pointe. Our goal in our ballet program is not perfection, but rather progression.

Pre-Dance

Pre-Dance is for our youngest dancers, ages 2.5-3. This class allows students to explore their creativity with a combination of basic ballet technique and imaginative play. The focus is on body part recognition, spatial awareness, and development of gross motor skills. Small class sizes allow dancers to benefit from direct attention from their instructor. All Pre-Dance classes are taught by the Artistic Director, Alexa Astarita, who has specific training in working with the very young dancer.


Frequently Asked Questions

How do I contact Motion Arts Dance Studios?

Call Motion Arts Dance Studios at (973) 327-2528 or visit http://www.motionartsdancestudios.com/.

What city is Motion Arts Dance Studios in?

Motion Arts Dance Studios is in Maplewood, New Jersey.

Is Motion Arts Dance Studios open on weekends?

Yes, Motion Arts Dance Studios is open on weekends — Saturday: 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM.

What days is Motion Arts Dance Studios open?

Motion Arts Dance Studios is open on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday.

Does Motion Arts Dance Studios have Saturday classes?

Yes, Motion Arts Dance Studios is open Saturdays: 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM.