Christine Curtis started dancing at the age of four and has not stopped since.  She has studied ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, lyrical, and modern under a variety of teachers in Iowa, and after moving to Grand Marais, she expanded her love for dance with Renee Moe and Sterling Dance.  She has studied under and taught for Sterling Dance and the Lenna Stever Dance Company, and she is excited to help dance continue in Cook County.

Breana Johnson is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls with a Dance Education minor. Her love for dance began at the age of three, following in her older sister’s footsteps. She has studied tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, theatrical, lyrical, and modern, and has the pleasure of dancing and helping with different companies, including Stuart Pimsler Dance & Theater, Sterling Dance, and Lenna Stever Dance Company. She is excited to instill her love for dance into the community.

Lesli Higgins is a returning instructor and she will be teaching Hip Hop class for 8th-12th graders! Her bio will be posted soon.

Youth Ballet (Ages Prek-Grade 1): During these classes, dancers will take an in-depth look at ballet techniques followed by fun improvisational movement exercises.

Youth Ballet/Jazz Combo Classes: This combo class starts with ballet, focusing on developing technique, strength, and flexibility through the use of ballet barre, across the floor, and center exercises. Jazz will include classic jazz techniques combined with modern, contemporary, theatrical, and lyrical jazz movements, as well as fun improvisational activities. Ballet shoes are required. Jazz shoes are optional.

Teen- Adult Classes

Beginning Ballet: This class focuses on developing ballet technique through classic ballet barre exercises with strength and flexibility training through ballet-inspired exercises. No previous ballet experience is necessary

Intermediate Ballet: This class continues to develop and strengthen ballet techniques through classic ballet barre exercises and adds strength and flexibility training through ballet-inspired exercises. Previous ballet experience is required.

Beginning Tap: This class teaches basic tap movements combining both Broadway and rhythmic style tap dancing.  Dancers will participate in tap barre, across-the-floor movements, and center floor exercises. No tap experience is required. Tap shoes are required.

Intermediate Tap: This class continues to develop a dancer’s tap skill through more advanced movements and faster tempos. Previous tap experience required. Tap shoes are required.

Multi-Level Adult Jazz: This class teaches classic jazz techniques combined with modern, contemporary, theatrical, and lyrical jazz movements, as well as improvisational activities. Dancers do not need any previous dance experience. Jazz shoes are optional. 

Items Not Allowed

The following things are not allowed in class: gum, snacks, jewelry, crowns, wings, etc.). While adorable, they are often a distraction.

Clothing, Hair Style, and Shoes

Ballet classes: Leather or canvas ballet shoes are required, split sole shoes are recommended for dancers 4th grade and older. Dancers’ shoe color should correlate with the style of costume they will perform in: pink for the dress option and black for the pant option. The shoes should not have ribbons or sequins, and they should not look like house slippers. Dancer’s hair should be in a bun, if long, or clipped back out of the face, if short. Dancers may choose between a leotard, pink tights, and a skirt or black sweatpants and a white shirt. Adult ballet dancers, please wear clothes that allow your form to be seen, and hair pulled back. No street clothes for dance classes.

Tap classes: Tap shoes are required. We recommend clothes that are easy to move in and pants that are not too long as they interfere with tapping.

Jazz classes: Jazz or ballet shoes may be worn but are not required. Barefoot is fine, but no socks. Dancers may wear workout clothes, leggings, or shorts, but no jeans or street clothes. Hair, if long enough, should be pulled back away from the face in a ponytail or bun.

Do you need shoes? The Y has a free (or goodwill donation) box of shoes. Ask the front desk to look through it. Do you have shoes you are no longer using? Please consider donating them, as it helps make dance accessible to everyone.

Check-In at the Desk

Upon arrival for class, all participants are required to stop at the YMCA Member Services desk. Members can scan in and other class participants must sign in on the visitor registry. Please have your dancer use the restroom and finish snacks in the lobby before class

Drop-Off and Pick-Up

Guardians must wait with your dancer in the hallway by the weight room before class. This mitigates congestion and street shoes in the studio. Instructors will meet dancers in the hallway and escort them to class. Guardians must wait in the hallway until the instructor brings down the dancers from the studio for pickup. Guardians are encouraged to wait in the lobby or lower areas so dancers are not distracted by people looking in the studio window. Dancers should be focusing on the instructors!

Senior Solo Policy requires that dancers complete three consecutive dance years in high school in order to be eligible for a Senior Solo dance in the performance.

The Spring performance dates are May 11th, 12th, and 13th, 2023. The performance requires the commitment of multiple afternoon and evening rehearsal times between May 3 and May 13th. A schedule of the required times for each dance class will be provided closer to the performance time. 

Participants will be required to purchase a costume if they are dancing in the performance. In 2023, the costume fee will be included in the registration process for the session and scheduled to be paid on the first day of class in January. Families that are interested in a payment plan can contact the YMCA to register and set up payment drafts to cover the program and costume fees over a period of time. Dance costume fees are not eligible for discounts or financial assistance.

Not Performing

Participants need to notify the instructor if they are choosing not to perform by February 12th. If the staff is informed prior to the deadline, the costume fee can be refunded. After that date, a costume will be ordered for the dancer and payment will be required. Dancers can remain in class if they are not performing. However, as the session progresses, a large amount of class time is dedicated to practicing the performance piece.