For those students who do not wish to commit to a full program, do not have time in their schedule to come more than once a week or have had a late start in dance, this is the level for them to best achieve their goals. Our recreational dancers receive the same attention to excellence in technique and artistry that is given to our Academy students but with the expectations, corrections and choreography that is appropriate for the once a week student. In a fun and safe environment with classes geared towards correct technique and creative expression, the quality of our instruction really shows in the quality of our recreational dancers. We have had many, many students start with us as very young once a week students taking one or more styles of dance and stay with us until they graduate from high school. Our program provides that much enjoyment and sense of accomplishment for the once a week recreational student. One hour classes are offered in ballet, jazz, lyrical jazz and tap. Ages 8 to 18.

We offer kid friendly, G rated Hip Hop that is safe, fun and energetic with moves and music that are always age appropriate.

This is for the more serious student who not only wants a full program of dance but wants to become part of our top award winning competition teams and dance companies. Our prestigious, professional Ballet Academy is part of this division.

Our Ballet Academy offers a unique professional training program based on the Artistic Director's years of training at San Fransico Ballet and professional dance career in Jose Limon and Martha Graham Dance Companies. This curriculum is a blend of the best of the major schools of ballet, Royal Academy, Cecchetti, Russian Vaganova and French; combined with the most up to date research on the effect of ballet training on growing bodies. The result is a syllabus that creates dancers safely and without affectations who can perform both the classical and contemporary repertoires that are a part of most ballet companies today.

Our dancers are tested each year to ensure they are achieving all the technical and artistic requirements of their current level before they are allowed to advance to the next level. All of our dancers in this program whether they want to become professional dancers or simply wish to have a professional dance experience, are expected to achieve a professional level of excellence in technique and artistry. They must not only do the steps well but learn to connect to the music and the feeling of the movement to express what is in their their heart and soul. Dancers progress through level 1 to 7 and then to Pre-Professional 1,2 and 3. At level 2 at least two classes a week in ballet are required and those requirements increase as the dancer progresses higher through the levels.

Our ballet program also creates jazz, Broadway, contemporary, lyrical and modern dancers of the highest caliber producing many top award winners. Our dancers on the professional track have been chosen for many of the top professional summer ballet programs including the Bolshoi Academy, Pacific Northwest Ballet and Huston Ballet. The Academy also offers private coaching for the pre-professional who wishes to take part in The Youth American Grand Prix competition or is interested in adding the extra polish that is needed to audition for a major professional ballet company. Classes are also offered in jazz, contemporary and modern. The Academy is for ages 8 to 18.

We also have scholarships for boys 8 to 18 in ballet and contemporary dance.

Our dance companies and competition teams require more than learning steps. They require commitment, dedication, passion, hard work, an eagerness to learn and a lot of extra effort. What the student gains from this experience is priceless to them as dancers and individuals. These groups do not only instill values and discipline but offer a fun and safe environment where students can express themselves creatively through dance. A quality dance education based on the highest standards of excellence in technique and artistry provided by a knowledgeable teaching staff has made Art of the Dance and its' Dance Companies and Competition teams synonymous with training the finest dancers in the area. We have three dance companies Ballet LA, Art in Motion Contemporary Dance Theater and our jazz ensemble Rhythm in Motion. All companies perform at malls, fairs and other venues as well as their own show in March, A Concert of Art In Motion, along with other dance professionals from the community. All groups do 2 competitions a year. Auditions are held in May for the following season. If you are interested in joining any of our companies after the audition date, please call and talk to the artistic director about a possible late admittance audition.

Special Needs Dancers

Kaleidoscope Therapies offers dance/movement based services to alternative learners.  Their clients experience the joy of dance in a positive environment, supported by an instructor trained in sensory integration, behavior modification and other intervention techniques demonstrated to be effective for a range of developmental disabilities.  Individual and group services are available.  Please go to their web site kaleidoscopetherapies.com for further information.