River Oaks Dance

Little Leapers is all about celebrating the wonder of firsts! Their first dance class . . . their first dance outfit . . . . their first skip or gallop . . . their first dance friends! Our classes create a space for you to bond with your child and create memories that will last a lifetime. The first three years of a child’s life is an important period of growth, exploration and wonder. At River Oaks Dance we support children’s physical, cognitive, social and emotional development through the magic of play and make-believe. By situating learning in fun and imaginative settings, Little Leapers lessons set up children for success – in the studio and in life! Grown Up and Me classes are perfect for parents and carers who are looking to fill their days, get out of the house, and introduce their kiddos to new experiences. Little Leapers is loved by moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles, au pairs and nannies and carers! At River Oaks Dance, we’re all about introducing the newest generation of dancers to the wonder and joy of movement, music and make-believe. Our grown up and me classes create a space for you to bond with your child and create memories that will last a lifetime.

New inclusive dance classes at River Oaks Dance. Everyone can Dance is a program that integrates dance, music, and art for neurodivergent and students with disabilities. Our mission is to create an inclusive and fulfilling experience that allows everyone to enjoy the benefits of ballet, such as artistic expression, better posture, coordination, and the development of self-esteem and self-image.

Contemporary dance is a style of interpretive dance that embraces innovation, blending techniques from various genres, including classical ballet, jazz, modern and lyrical dance. Think fluid movements and floor work, creating beautiful lines and movements but less structured, strict and technical than ballet. Contemporary is for the dancer that loves the elegance of ballet but is seeking more freeform movement and expression.

Jazz is the perfect class for your dancer who loves upbeat, energetic movement! This class begins with lots of strengthening and flexibility to perfect the leaps, turns, and sharp movements your dancer will need for this dance style. Combinations traveling across the floor will build your dancer’s technique, while fun end of class combos will piece those steps together to work on transitions between steps, and performance quality. Your dancer is sure to love this exciting class with music they recognize and the steps they’re dying to learn!

Does your child have an interest in musical theatre? Are they already in theatre but just need to fine tune their dance skills to snag those lead parts? In this class, we’ll learn the fundamentals of theatre movement, including classic chorus style combos and basic tap steps. Focus will be on performance, expression, storytelling through song and dance, and dancing cleanly together as an ensemble. Class will be broken into segments of theatre dance and tap with the goal of meshing everything together for a fun Broadway musical number at the end of the session.

We approach hip-hop class teaching fundamental and core values of hip-hop dancing including: popping, locking, breaking, freestyle, etc. and building on these concepts so dancers have the foundations to create choreography. From warming up with rhythms and grooves to free styling with cyphers and dance battles, students will develop their hip-hop style in this high energy, upbeat style of street dance. Participants will also learn some of hip-hop’s original social dances and how they are born directly from the primary prerequisite of the relationship between rhythm and music.

Level 3 students are ready for the next step in their dance journey. Building on the strong foundation of Levels 1 and 2, Level 3 ballet takes dancers to the next level in both technique and artistry. We’ll focus on deepening your understanding of proper alignment, posture, and execution of ballet steps. Barre work will become more challenging, incorporating more complex combinations and footwork. As movements become more demanding, we’ll focus on building the strength and stamina needed to excel in ballet. Now the fun part: We’ll explore the relationship between movement and music, allowing you to express yourself with greater confidence and artistry. You’ll learn longer and more intricate center floor combinations, preparing you for a more prominent role in the end-of-year performance. You’ll continue to develop your storytelling skills, using pantomime and expression to bring classical ballet stories to life. This class is ideal for dancers who have completed Levels 1 and 2 ballet, are eager to be challenged and refine their technique, possess a strong work ethic and dedication to ballet, and want to explore their potential as a dancer and performer.

Level 1 students are ready to build strength, stamina and confidence in their movement. They will build on their skills acquired in pre-primary and primary ballet but with a higher expectation. They begin joining steps to create more complex movements. Imaginative expression doesn’t stop here and in fact we believe it’s even more important to allow student this age to express themselves. Dancers will have an opportunity to use pantomime, expression and their ballet steps to act out different classical ballet stories at the end of class and as they prepare for larger roles in their end of year performance. Level 2 students have completed Level 1, are ready to be challenged and put forth more effort to discover the dancer they will become. Level 2 dancers should attend class twice per week in order to build strength, stamina and confidence in their movement and prepare for future pre-pointe class.

Primary students are ready to begin a more structured ballet class. The fundamentals learned in the pre-primary level are continued and further developed in this level. Quality of movement and coordination will increase with the addition of more complex movement while keeping imagination and fun in the class. Students will learn ballet terminology and be able to remember and perform short dance sequences independently.

Pre-Primary classes are 45 minutes and separated by age. These classes educate young children in dance focusing on flexibility, balance, rhythm, musicality and spacial awareness in a positive, fun and imaginative environment while learning to express themselves in a creative way through music and movement. Students will gain a solid foundation of basic ballet technique gaining greater understanding as they progress through this age group.

Leap N Learn is a 45 minute class beginning to build a strong foundation in dance with a focus on pre-ballet and continuing creative movement concepts. Our developmentally appropriate curriculum creates a fun and encouraging environment where children excel and are prepared to begin Pre-Primary Ballet.

Ready, Set, Leap! is designed for young dancers to progress from their Little Leapers Grown + Me class to an independent class. This creative movement based class will introduce your child to the wonderful world of movement and music. Studies show that stimulation in the form of movement and sensory experiences during the early developing years is crucial. Listening to music and developing awareness of the body and basic motor skills, learning to listen and follow instructions and developing imaginative dance play are the focus of this class.

Whether flying in outer space, going to the circus, playing in the park, dancing like the animals in the zoo, or growing a magical garden, each child will be captivated when they attend a Little Leapers class with River Oaks Dance. Grown-ups will be amazed at how useful each lesson is to their child’s development and love every second of class as they share many smiles and giggles with their little one.

Dance with Me Intellidance class is a playful and creative approach to movement education in the early years. Our program is based on current best practices and recommendations in early childhood development and education, coupled with child and caregiver-approved fun! Dance with Me combines exploration and discovery with dance, music and play designed to nurture our littlest dancers, while strengthening the child-caregiver bond!

Everyone can Dance presented by Goodsmith is a program that integrates dance, music, and art for neurodivergent and students with special needs. Our mission is to create an inclusive and fulfilling experience that allows everyone to enjoy the benefits of ballet, such as artistic expression, better posture, coordination, and the development of self-esteem and self-image.

Learn a new dance routine, practice your favorite moves, or just have fun and enjoy the music! We'll guide you through a fun and energetic dance class tailored to your group's skill level. You'll be twirling and spinning in no time!

Summer classes are KEY to helping dancers maintain (and improve!) their skills, flexibility, and strength. Training all year round is what makes our dancers unstoppable. This mini intensive will focus on building a strong foundation in ballet technique and going beyond ballet to explore contemporary dance. This session is perfect for the more serious dancer who wants to maintain their training over the summer while exploring a new style of dance. Dancers will bond with friends as they learn beautiful pieces of dance art to showcase at our end of week celebration.

Summer mini-sessions are a perfect way to keep dancers moving! We have two mini class sessions this summer – Fridays or Saturdays in June and August. Choose one or both. Our curriculum develops conceptual thinking with each and every exercise which means our dancers are not only going to thrive in the studio, they are set up for success in school and in life.

At River Oaks Dance, we believe dance is more than just movement—it’s a way to build confidence, creativity, and lifelong friendships. Whether your child is taking their very first steps into the world of dance or refining their technique, we have the perfect class for them. Spots fill quickly, so don’t wait—secure your dancer’s place today! Get ready for some dance-tastic fun!