Appalachian Performing Arts

On select dates, adults gather for ballet and clogging classes! These classes are pay-per-session. Please email us for upcoming dates! Must be at least 18 years of age to register. Dress code: Athletic clothing and tennis shoes.

Hip Hop has grown into one of the most influential and popular styles of dance, blending musicality, performance, and street-style techniques. In this class, students will build foundational skills, explore choreography, and develop rhythm, coordination, and confidence. Classes emphasize self-expression, creativity, and performance quality, allowing dancers to bring their own style and personality to every movement. Held once a week, this class is perfect for students who want to have fun, challenge themselves, and experience the excitement and artistry of Hip Hop dance.

Students will explore this creative, emotional, and expressive dance in many of its dynamic styles, learning how movement can tell a story and convey emotion. Classes will also introduce the history of modern and contemporary dance and the pioneers who shaped the genre. Students build on dance fundamentals while learning to improvise, experiment with movement, and connect to music, focusing on technique, strength, flexibility, and body awareness. Through choreography, guided exercises, and improvisation, dancers develop the skills to move fluidly, perform with intention, and express themselves as artists. This class is perfect for students who want to explore new styles, expand creativity, and grow as dancers.

energetic, expressive, and versatile jazz- Jazz combines technique, style, and musicality. Students will learn turns, leaps, steps, and dynamic movement patterns while exploring rhythm, timing, and coordination. Classes focus on strength, flexibility, and proper technique, while encouraging performance quality, expression, and confidence. With engaging choreography set to fun, age-appropriate music, students develop a love for jazz and gain the tools to perform with energy and style. These classes are perfect for students who want to build technique, improve movement skills, and enjoy the excitement and artistry of jazz dance.

Bring the sparkle, energy, and storytelling of Broadway to the dance floor! This class offers instruction in theatre-inspired jazz, including dancing in character, working with props, and presenting a clear storyline or theme within each routine. Fast-paced and dynamic, this class helps students develop performance skills, musicality, expression, and stage presence, all while learning jazz technique in a fun and engaging environment. Classes encourage dancers to connect with the music, explore dramatic expression, and tell a story through movement.

Learn the quick, precise rhythms of this timeless, footwork-based dance in a fun, engaging, and skill-building environment. This class guides students from beginner skills to advanced levels, developing coordination, timing, musicality, and performance confidence along the way. Students will learn through short routines, exercises, and technique-building games, exploring both classic tap styles and modern, contemporary twists. Classes also include lessons on the history of tap dance, giving students an appreciation for its cultural roots and evolution. Students will develop body awareness, rhythm recognition, improvisation, and self-expression, building a strong foundation in the art of tap. With encouraging instruction and age-appropriate guidance, dancers of all levels are inspired to have fun, challenge themselves, and enjoy the exciting world of tap.

Combining athleticism, control, and artistry, this class guides students in creating seamless transitions between acrobatic movement and dance. Students will learn and build on foundational skills while working toward more advanced elements, including walkovers, aerials, balances, and other dynamic movements. Training emphasizes core strength, flexibility, coordination, and safe progressions, helping dancers execute challenging skills with confidence, precision, and grace. Classes also focus on body awareness, performance quality, and artistic expression, allowing dancers to integrate acrobatics fluidly into dance routines. With encouraging instruction and supportive guidance, students are inspired to push their boundaries, master new skills, and develop a deeper appreciation for the athletic and artistic side of dance.

Building on the instruction from Ballet Two, this class prepares students to dance en pointe (in pointe shoes) with proper technique, strength, artistry, and a deep understanding and appreciation of ballet. Classes focus on physical conditioning, memorization, technique, and ballet history, providing in-depth training that develops both the body and the mind. This exclusive class teaches and challenges students who are already dancing en pointe, while also preparing others in training or demi-pointe levels. It requires dedication, discipline, and commitment, and students must pass assessments to be approved for demi-pointe or pointe shoes. The class meets once a week, following Ballet Two, and perfect attendance in Ballet Two is required (make-up lessons are allowed). Admission to this class is by instructor approval only, ensuring students are prepared for the demands, artistry, and technical challenges of pointe work.

This class builds on strength, technique, and discipline within the world of ballet. Students will stretch, strengthen, and refine their movements while learning classical and lyrical ballet routines. As one of the oldest and most respected forms of performing arts, ballet offers students the opportunity to explore the history of the art form while developing grace, precision, coordination, and performance skills. Classes also emphasize artistry, musicality, and proper technique, helping dancers deepen their understanding of ballet while cultivating confidence, expression, and a lifelong love for dance.

Students explore the exciting world of Southern Appalachian clogging, learning steps and styles from traditional to contemporary. Dancers will develop upbeat footwork, dynamic routines, and precise technique, all while gaining a deeper understanding of the heritage and history of clogging. Classes focus on coordination, rhythm, stamina, and performance skills, helping students build confidence, artistry, and a love for this vibrant dance form. Through engaging instruction and challenging choreography, dancers are encouraged to express themselves, connect with the music, and celebrate the rich traditions of clogging.

This class introduces our youngest students to the joy and rhythm of clogging in a fun, supportive environment. Students will learn beginner clogging steps, basic skills, and traditional figures, all while exploring the rich and exciting history of clogging in Western North Carolina. Classes emphasize coordination, timing, and listening skills, helping dancers build confidence, focus, and a love for movement. With child-friendly instruction, playful exercises, and engaging routines, young dancers are encouraged to express themselves through rhythm, have fun, and enjoy the tradition of clogging.

Your dancer’s first ballet class! This class introduces young students to the grace and discipline of ballet in a fun, supportive environment. Through dance instruction, technique building, and short history lessons, students begin to learn the fundamentals of ballet, including posture, positions, balance, and basic movements. Classes encourage students to stretch, strengthen, and grow, while developing coordination, focus, and confidence. With child-friendly guidance, playful exercises, and age-appropriate instruction, young dancers are inspired to move gracefully, express themselves, and develop a love for ballet.

Watch your dancer discover the magic of movement in our beginner Acro class! Designed especially for young dancers, this class blends dance technique with acrobatic elements that focus on strength, balance, flexibility, and control — all taught in a safe, creative, and confidence-building environment. Students will explore foundational acro-dance skills such as balances, bridges, rolls, and transitions to and from the floor, learning how to move smoothly between dance and acrobatic sequences. Through playful drills and imaginative exercises, dancers build the body awareness and coordination that support all styles of dance. This class is 45 minutes, once a week.

Your dancer’s first jazz class! This class introduces kindergarten-age students to beginner jazz skills and technique in a fun, supportive environment. Students explore jazz fundamentals, including rhythm, isolations, turns, and expressive movement, all set to playful, child-friendly music. Classes also focus on stretching, strengthening, coordination, and basic dance history, helping students build confidence, focus, and a love for dance. Our instructors provide encouraging, age-appropriate guidance, making each class an exciting experience where young dancers can move, express themselves, and have fun.

Your dancer’s first tap class! This class introduces our kindergarten-age students to beginner tap skills in a fun and supportive environment. Along with learning steps and technique, students are introduced to the history of tap and dance, helping them develop an early appreciation for this energetic art form. Dancers will practice tap footwork, explore rhythm, and create fun routines, building coordination, timing, focus, and confidence. Classes also emphasize listening skills, teamwork, and classroom etiquette, giving young dancers a strong foundation for future classes.

This beginner-level class is the perfect introduction for your aspiring dancer! Little dancers will explore beginner ballet and jazz, learning to identify body parts, movement, and direction, while developing coordination, classroom etiquette, performance skills, and the ability to follow instruction—all with the ultimate goal of fostering a love for dance. Classes are taught using a blend of instructional children’s music and selections from many musical genres, helping young dancers develop an early appreciation for music. Our instructors use child-friendly teaching methods, incorporating games, guided instruction, and choreography to create a fun, engaging, and educational experience for every student.

Watch your dancer take their first steps into the world of dance! This beginner-level class introduces our youngest students to movement through simple instruction, beginner dance movement, and playful activities. Students get acquainted with a classroom setting while learning to follow instruction, building coordination, confidence, and a love for dance. Classes include guided dance instruction, hands-on activities, and imaginative play, all at a pace perfect for little learners. A parent or caregiver joins the class, ready to actively participate and assist their dancer, making each session a fun, hands-on experience to share together.