Modern Dance ⋆ Adults, Teens, Kids ⋆ American Dance Institute

Modern Dance

Seattle & Shoreline

No Snootiness allowed : )

Modern dance students performing for Phinneywood Art Walk at American Dance Institute, Greenwood.

About Our Modern Dance Classes For Adults

Our modern dance classes for adults are taught with contemporary dance class influences at American Dance Institute.

Classes start with a simple and effective warm-up to build strength and to stimulate core connections and body awareness. The warm up is followed by phrase work focusing on directional and weight changes, rhythm, and Laban Fundamentals (i.e. time, space, effort, etc.) If you don't know what this means we will teach it to you!We offer dance classes for advanced, intermediate, and beginning students.

Choosing Your Level

Adult Modern I: Starts at the very beginning. It is designed for students who have never taken a modern dance class before or have studied modern dance so long ago that they want a complete refresher course.
Adult Modern I.5: For students who have had 4-6 months of recent modern dance training.
Adult Modern II: Have been studying modern dance recently and or consistently for a year of more.
Intermediate: An intermediate is fairly accomplished dancer who is well versed in movement vocabulary and has the ability to learn complicated dance combinations readily.

Class Schedule

We will offer live-streamed and in-studio classes through the Summer sessions. Any in-studio classes will adhere to Washington Department of Health COVID-19 guidelines. Masks are optional for vaccinated individuals.

Summer 2021 Class Schedule

June 28 - August 29, 2021

In-Studio Class Schedule

Our State Of The Art Live Streaming Technology.

ADI's State of the art live streaming technology

Mihkai Wickline in an onine ballet class at home.

The Quality Online Class Room Experience - At Home

All studio broadcasts are via hard wire ethernet connections to insure best streaming quality.
Large TV screens allow teachers to clearly see their students.
Teachers give student corrections very effectively.
Excellent voice quality allows students to clearly hear teacher.
Excellent music transmission quality allows students to hear music in real time (without lags).
Students are able to see and chat with their classmates to maintain and grow friendships.

Dennis Landmesser

We asked Dennis Landmesser, how he liked his live streamed class today with instructor Dakota Crist.

The class today with Dakota was more than I could have hoped to expect. I don't know what to rave about more, the quality of the production or the excellence to the class. Dakota thought to ask at the start of class if there were any injuries which was especially meaningful to me today because I have a sore knee. Her instructions were clear and complete and made perfect sense. The corrections were thoughtful and meaningful. Dakota is golden and to be highly valued.

Since March, I've suffered through six months of ZOOM frustrations. ADI has excelled in solving that misery. I could have been watching a high definition BlueRay with Dolby sound.

Thanks for asking,

Dennis Landmesser

In addition to modern dance for adults, American Dance Institute also offers teen modern dance classes (ages 11-14), and children's modern dance classes (ages 8-11).

The readers of Fresh Chalk have voted American Dance Institute the Best Seattle Dance Classes.

American Dance Institute - Greenwood reviews on Fresh Chalk

Check out Fresh Chalk, Seattle's exciting new referral app for trustworthy reviews!

In these one minute videos, watch American Dance Institute's Intermediate Modern Dance students rehearse for a recent Phinneywood Art Walk performance

See more Modern dance performances here.

Meet Your Modern Dance Instructors

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Kara Burrows

Rebecca Barney

Cassie Johnson

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American Dance Institute modern dance students Anna & Jessica. They are wonderful people. Come take a class with them.

New Beginner & Returning Dancers

We surveyed 150 discerning Seattle & Shoreline area dancers why they take dance classes. Here are their most insightful responses and you can watch them in the video too. 

I dance to set my body free.
I dance to put my mind at ease.
I dance to express my deepest self.

I dance to keep my life in balance.
I dance to fill my world with joy.
I dance to feed my soul.

listen to What adult students think about American Dance Institute's classes & teachers :)

Instructor Kara Burrows

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24 customer reviews.

Classes Kara Teaches

Ballet. Pointe, Contemporary

Testimonials/Comments

"I love her musicality and how she personally connects with us - the adults in her class. I like that she is firm with the kids but also inspiring."

I love coming to class, it's always challenging, but Kara is always patient and willing to explain and re-explain if needed.

Dedicated to students and ballet.

Kara makes all classes super fun and never lets anyone get frustrated. No matter what the issue is you feel you're facing, Kara will help knock it aside by any means necessary.

Energetic, smiley, invested and skilled. She uses good analogies when trying to explain moves.

Bright and energetic. A joy to learn from.

Encouraging and kind

Constructive feedback, positive energy, encouraging

Kara has 16 additional ratings of 'Consistently Awesome-5 stars'

Kara's Bio

Kara Rochelle (Dominick) Burrows received her early training at Ballet Basics from Connie Benson, and at Ballet Idaho Academy in Boise, ID under the direction of Jeff and Cathy Giese and Lisa Moon.

In 2006, she was graduated Suma Cum Laude from the Cornish College of the Arts. At Cornish, Kara performed in works by Sahra Slipper, Deb Wolf, Donald Byrd, Pat Hon, Jose Limon, Martha Graham and others.

She has been a dance ambassador and model for Lululemon Athletica in Bellevue, WA. She danced for three seasons with Ballet Bellevue, and in 2012, was a demi-soloist in their original production of “Handel’s Messiah: Opera Ballet.”;In Seattle, she danced for six seasons with Dance Contemporary, directed by Tesee George, and two seasons with Lilianna Koledin and Jessica Schroeder as part of the LKJ Project.

She has performed in numerous, well-known Seattle showcases, including:
Seattle International Dance Festival’s Spotlight on Seattle, Evoke Productions: Full Tilt, MOVE Tacoma, Chop Shop Bodies of Work.

Kara is in her ninth year teaching ballet, pointe, and contemporary at American Dance Institute in Seattle, WA.

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Yes, ballet teachers laugh. Kara Burrows, long time ballet instructor with American Dance Institute, laughs during class and perfectly embodies serious instruction and a fun spirit. This is American Dance Institute.

Ballet dance classes, contemporary dance classes, modern dance classes

Ballet and Contemporary dance teacher Kara Burrows with American Dance Institute student Rachel, participants in Seattle Summer Streets festival.

Kara Burrows teaching a ballet class at american dance institute seattle

kara borrows, ballet dance class teacher for american dance institute performing in a local dance performance.

Dance teacher, Kara Borrows, with American Dance Institute performing in a local dance performance.

kara-burrows-with-her-jr.-Ballet-dance-class-students-back-stage-durring-greenwood-phinney-artwalk-performance

Kara Burrows waits with her Jr. Ballet students just before their performance at a Greenwood Phinney art walk event.

Instructor Rebecca Barney

Rebecca Barney, ballet dance classes, ballet dance studio, adult ballet dance classes, Adult Ballet Dance Classes

21 customer reviews.

Rebecca teaches:

Jazz

Contemporary

Adult Ballet

Teen Ballet

Testimonials/Comments

For kids and adults alike, Rebecca is a creative, engaged, inspiring instructor. She clearly has high expectations for her students and it's exciting and rewarding to work hard in her classes. She's a lot of fun and does a terrific job.

Lisa Stiffler
ADI Parent & Student

She is great at knowing when to make corrections without being overwhelming. She's a great dancer to watch and is always able to demonstrate proper form.

A. T.
ADI Student

I always took home something new from her class regarding muscle groups used for various positions, very detailed in explaining movement and I like how she is keen on teaching you the right way if she sees you not getting it. She will focus on you but also involve the rest of the class. I think her choreography at the end of the year is very good.

Miranda F.
ADI Student

Rebecca is really great about breaking down the steps and technique for beginners!

Bobbi T.
ADI Student

She's knowledgeable and supportive!

Irene H.
ADI Student

She has high expectations of the dancers and teaches technique well.

Stella B.
ADI Student

Becca is wonderful.

Melissa K.
ADI Parent

“Great with the kids, knowledgeable.”

Mark W.
ADI Parent

13 additional students rated Rebecca 'Consistently Awesome-5 stars'.

Rebecca's Bio

Rebecca has been teaching dance at American Dance Institute since 2010.

She was graduated Cornish College of the Arts with a Bachelor Fine Arts degree.

Rebecca Greenfield began her formal Ballet training at Southwest Washington Dance Center with Hugh Bigney and continued her education with Dean Speer, Jehrin Alexandria, and Stephanie Saland.

She has completed summer intensives with Summer Dance Lab, Northwest Dance Intensive, Spectrum Dance Theater, and Strictly Seattle.

Rebecca worked closely under the mentorship of Danielle Brosco and danced with Brosco’s company Blacken Tan Dance for over ten years including performances at the “Seattle Fringe Festival” and “12 Minutes Max” for On the Boards.

She performed a work by Donald Byrd in Seattle’s “Dance This! 2010” and recently completed a season with 127th St Dance.

Over the last 10 years, Rebecca has taught ballet, pointe, partnering, hula and modern. She was a co-director of S.W.D.C’s production of “The Nutcracker” for 5 years.

Interesting Facts

Rebecca was graduated Cornish College of the Arts with a Bachelor Fine Arts degree.

She was a Co-Director of South West Dance Company's production of 'The Nutcracker' for 5 years.

She recently completed a season with the 127th Street Dance company in Seattle.

Rebecca has performed in many Seattle iconic performances.

Rebecca Barney dance instructor for american dance institute participating in a core building exercise.

Working out in a contemporary dance class.

dance teacher rebecca barney cornish college of the arts graduation photo

Rebecca's graduation photo from Cornish College of the Arts.

Modern Dance

Seattle & Shoreline

About Our Modern Dance Classes For Adults

Choosing Your Level

Class Schedule

Summer 2021 Class Schedule

June 28 - August 29, 2021

In-Studio Class Schedule

Summer Schedule

June 28 - August 29, 2021

Modern Dance in Greenwood

Adult/Teen Modern I

Adult/Teen Intermediate Modern

Modern Dance in Magnolia

Adult/Teen/Junior Modern I & II

Adult Modern Dance

in Wedgwood

Modern Dance in Shoreline

Our State Of The Art Live Streaming Technology.

The Quality Online Class Room Experience - At Home

Dennis Landmesser

Meet Your Modern Dance Instructors

New Beginner & Returning Dancers

Instructor Kara Burrows

Classes Kara Teaches

Testimonials/Comments

Kara's Bio

Instructor Rebecca Barney

Testimonials/Comments

Rebecca's Bio