Creative Dance Classes For Ages 3.5-5
Wayne Rutledge
These adorable creative dance students are taking their bows, having just performed for their families in our in-house dance recital.
Does your child love to move when you play music? Play music and they will dance around the room. The best Creative Dance activities and lessons engage your child's imagination. Expanding their movement vocabulary in our creative dance classes is so beneficial. We make learning fun and that is why this is a perfect preschool activity for your child. Our creative dance classes work on things like developing body awareness, loco-motor skills, strength, and flexibility.
We introduce your child to movement concepts such as levels and directions in space, pathways, and qualities of movement. Your child will see, feel, and experience moving fast, slow, sharp, smooth, strong, light, etc. For example, they will take one movement that feels very familiar in their body, and with the instructors guidance, make it into a dozen different movement variations. They’ll try it high, low, backwards, upside down, with a partner, etc. It’s all wrapped in fun creative themes and it opens up unlimited possibilities to move, express, and relate to the world around them.
Does your child love to move when you play music? Play music and they will dance around the room. We use repetition in movements to build memorization with the brain-body connection.
Girls wear black cotton tank leotard, pink footless tights, and bare feet.
No skirts/tutus please! Except for special skirt days.
Boys wear black shorts or sweats, white t-shirt, and bare feet.
These items can be picked up at Centerstage Dance Shop, 5261 University Way NE
or ordered online at Discount Dance Supply and use school code TP120018.
Class Schedules & Studio Locations
Summer Session
Spring Session
Winter/Spring Session
"Just as is true in the best preschool activities, the quality of the creative dance teacher makes all the difference." Elizabeth Chayer, Founder & Director
Dakota Crist, Assistant School Director, Teacher/ Office Manager
Shoreline/Wedgwood
Dakota Crist teaches dance and serves as the Shoreline Office Manager for American Dance Institute.
Dakota relocated to Seattle in 2013 and holds a BFA in Dance from Cornish College of the Arts. She received her early dance education at the Creative Dance Center in Helena, MT.
As a young dancer, she attended Joffrey South, American Academy of Ballet, and Ballet West's summer intensives. Her love of dance drove her train pre-professionally with Ballet Montana and as a company trainee with Sacramento Ballet.
After graduating from Cornish, Dakota shifted her focus to dance education. She has been teaching dance since 2009 and has taught for ADI since 2018.
Ainsleigh Orwin, Teacher/ Office Manager
Greenwood/Magnolia
Mommy Daddy & Me, Pre-Ballet, Creative Dance, Jazz, Ballet, Jazz, Modern
Currently finishing up her last year at UW, she has expanded her love for dance by exploring improvisation and choreography.
Ainsleigh has performed in 3 UW Dance Concerts and recently choreographed, filmed, and edited a dance film for the 2021 Dance Majors Concert.
She has taught summer classes and camps in her hometown and with Metropolis Dance in the Seattle area. Ainsleigh graduates this June from the University of Washington with two degrees - one in Dance and one in Biology.
Aside from dancing and teaching, Ainsleigh loves to go on hikes and nature walks, travel (pre- COVID), sing, and play with her roommate’s puppy!
Emma Rubbert, Teacher, Shoreline
Emma Rubbert, originally from Olympia, Washington, started training in ballet at Studio West Dance Academy. She has danced in many classical ballet productions, including the Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Giselle, Cinderella, and more.
Emma spent her summers training at ballet summer intensives around the country, such as Oregon Ballet Theatre, Ballet West, and Ballet Austin.
In March 2020, Emma began training with former Pacific Northwest Ballet...
principal dancers Lindsi Dec and Karel Cruz.
Emma has shifted her focus from pursuing professional ballet after being offered a ballet contract to teaching and attending school.
Emma attended the University of Washington, where she pursued a B.A. in political science and international security and a minor in international affairs in Russia, Eastern Europe, and Asia.
She is excited to teach for the American Dance Institute.
Emma enjoys traveling, hanging out with friends, attending football games, and chilling nights in front of a cozy fireplace.
Ivy Anderson, Teacher,
Ivy Anderson has been dancing for 17 years, many of those years also serving as a teaching assistant and Instructor. Ivy will teach Mommy/Daddy and Me, Creative Dance, Pre-Ballet, and Hip-Hop at our Magnolia location.
Olivia Fink teaches for the American Dance Institute
Olivia Fink, Teacher,
Olivia Fink has 15 years of dance experience in the styles of ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and hip hop. She will teach Ballet and Tap at our Magnolia locations.
"Hi all! My name is Olivia, and I am so excited to be joining the American Dance Institute in the Fall.
I am originally from Denver, Colorado and moved to Seattle to pursue my undergraduate degree. I graduated this last Spring, and now I'm looking forward to this new adventure of teaching. I have 15 years of dance experience within the styles of ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and hip hop. My two favorite styles of dance are jazz and tap. Other than dancing, I enjoy rock climbing, reading, and hanging out with friends and family."
Testimonial
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"Enroll your children in the American Dance Institute and relax. "
"It was here, at the American Dance Institute, that we, as parents, realized that we could relax and enjoy watching the growth of my daughter's dance skills. She was never made to feel that she wasn't good enough. She was always excited to come, every time. I think it is partially due to the culture here which is welcoming, comfortable and has an inviting atmosphere for children of all ages, genders, for adults and parents, everybody. It is like a neighborhood community school."
Ebba Lucander- Entrepreneur, Activist, ADI Parent for 5 years
What Parents Think About The American Dance Institute?
Where Do Children Learn Confidence, Self Expression, Discipline & Passion?
Where Are The American Dance Institute Dance Studios Near Me?
Six spacious dance studios in four locations including Greenwood, Wedgwood, Magnolia, and Shoreline.
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