About ACDA
The Arts Castle Dance Academy
The Arts Castle Dance Academy (ACDA) seeks to awaken the joy of dance with a combination of quality technique and personal expression. This objective is best met within a supportive, family friendly environment, open to dancers of all ages and abilities and cultivated by a nurturing, professional team of instructors.
ACDA offers professional instruction in a fun, non-competitive environment. We believe everyone should have an opportunity to dance. Ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, tumbling and combo classes are offered beginning in August and running through May. For younger dancers, pre-academy classes are offered quarterly. In addition, the ACDA Junior and Senior Dance Companies provide additional performance opportunities for dedicated dancers.
Join us and enjoy the art of dance!
*For those who’ve registered for past seasons please note that we’ve made some changes this year to make registering easier.
• The $95 recital fee is included in the class price so you won’t have to pay for this separately.
• Permission/Health Form has been revised & should be completed online.
• The pre-pay class 10% discount has been included in the yearly class price, paying by the month shows the full class price without the pre-pay discount.
Permission/Health Form | Registration Info & Policies | Order Attire | Brochure
. . .
ACDA Calendar for the 2023-24 Season
**Please note the changes in dates for the Winter Rehearsal and The Nutcracker.**
THE NUTCRACKER
Join us for ACDA version of The Nutcracker! Saturday, December 9th, 2023 at 2:00 PM.
Chappelear Drama Center within Ohio Wesleyan University. Address: 45 Rowland Avenue, Delaware, Ohio 43015.
Tickets: Adults: $5; Children, students, and seniors: $2; Children 2 and under are free.
Schedule and Class Descriptions for the 2023-24 Season
Combo (Ballet & Tap)
A great place for little dancers to begin…
Combo 1
A class for children new to dancing. Dancers are introduced to basic ballet and tap. No Prerequisites.
Miss Jessika • Age: 4-6
Wednesday 4:00-4:30PM
Starts 8/23 Ends 5/08
30 min | $56 mo | $450 yr
REGISTER HERE
COMBO CLASS ATTIRE
• Full-footed ballet tights (pink)
• Short-sleeved high-back leotard (black)
• Skirt (black, white or pink)
• Leggings (black, any length)
• Shorts (black) dancers must wear tights under shorts
• No-tie-full-sole ballet shoe (ballet pink)
• No-tie-Mary Jane tap shoes (black)
• Boys are to wear leggings or shorts (black) with a shirt (black or white)
Ballet
Ballet I
This class is for beginner dancers or dancers who have completed combo classes. No Prerequisites.
Miss Lauren • Age: 5+
Thursday 5:30-6:00PM
Starts 8/24, Ends 5/09
30 min | $56 mo | $450 yr
REGISTER HERE
Ballet 2 & 3
This class is for dancers who’ve completed Ballet 1 or dancers who have completed combo classes. Prerequisite: 2+ years of experience.
Miss Lauren • Age: 5+
Thursday 6:00-6:45PM
Starts 8/24, Ends 5/09
45 min | $66 mo | $531 yr
REGISTER HERE
Boys Ballet
This class is for beginner dancers or dancers who have completed combo classes. No Prerequisites.
Miss Lauren • Age: 5-17
Thursday 6:45-7:30PM
Starts 8/24, Ends 5/09
45 min | $66 mo | $531 yr
REGISTER HERE
Intermediate Ballet
This class is by teacher recommendation and is for students that have completed Ballet 1 and 2/3. Prerequisite: Teacher recommendation.
Miss Lauren • Age: 8+
Thursday 7:30-8:30PM
Starts 8/24, Ends 5/09
60 min | $76 mo | $612 yr
REGISTER HERE
Adult Ballet
This class is for adults with or without experience in Ballet. The instructor and class will decide whether they will perform in the Winter and Spring Show. No Prerequisites. Recital fee not included.
Miss Lauren • Age: 18+
Thursday 4:15-5:30PM
Starts 8/24, Ends 5/09
45 min | $55 mo | $445 yr
REGISTER HERE
BALLET CLASS ATTIRE
Students must be in proper attire, tights, leotards, and ballet shoes.
• Full-footed ballet tights (pink)
• Short-sleeved high-back leotard (black)
• Split sole ballet shoes (ballet pink)
• No skirts, tutus, shorts, leggings or t-shirts are to be worn during class
• Hair needs to be placed in a tight bun with no flyaways
• Boys are permitted to wear ballet leggings with a shirt and ballet shoes. All items in black.
Tap Dancing
Beginning Tap
This class is for dancers with little to no tap experience. No prerequisites.
Miss Carrie • Age: 5+
Wednesday 6:00-6:30PM
Starts 8/23 Ends 5/08
30 min | $56 mo | $450 yr
REGISTER HERE
Intermediate Tap
This class is for dancers with 1+ years of tap experience. Prerequisite: 1+ years of experience or completed Beginning Tap.
Miss Jessika • Age: 8+
Monday 4:45-5:30PM
Starts 8/21 Ends 5/06
45 min | $66 mo | $531 yr
REGISTER HERE
Advanced Tap
This class is for more advanced tappers with at least three years of tap experience. Prerequisite: Teacher recommendation: this class will be added to the schedule upon interest.
Miss Jessika • Age: 10+
Day and Time TBD
Starts TBD Ends 5/1
45 min | $66 mo | $531 yr
REGISTER HERE
TAP CLASS ATTIRE
• Nude transition tights (light suntan)
• Short-sleeved high back leotard (black)
• Leggings (black, any length)
• Shorts (black) must wear tights under shorts
• Beginner: no-tie Mary Jane tap shoes (black)
• Other levels: see teacher recommendation
• Any ACDA t-shirt
Jazz
Beginning Jazz
This is a class for Jazz dancers with no previous experience. No prerequisites.
Miss Carrie • Age: 5+
Wednesday 5:30-6:00PM
Starts 8/23 Ends 5/08
30 min | $56 mo | $450 yr
REGISTER HERE
Advanced Jazz
This class is geared toward dancers who have had at least 1 year of Jazz and want to improve their skill levels. Prerequisite: 1+ years of experience or completed Beginning Jazz.
Miss Jessika • Age: 10+
Tuesday 8:00-8:45PM
Starts 8/22 Ends 5/07
45 min | $66 mo | $531 yr
REGISTER HERE
JAZZ CLASS ATTIRE
• Nude transition tights (light suntan)
• Short-sleeved high back leotard (black)
• Leggings (black, any length)
• Shorts (black) – must wear tights under shorts
• Beginning Jazz: jazz shoes (caramel)
• Other jazz levels: turning shoes (nude)
• Any ACDA t-shirt
Musical Theater
Musical theater is a form of Jazz and Broadway-style dance with an emphasis on personality and acting out a character or a piece of music.
Junior Musical Theater
This class is for students new to musical theater or who have not yet been placed in Senior Musical Theater. No Prerequisites.
Miss Jessika • Age: 6+
Tuesday 5:00-5:45PM
Starts 8/22 Ends 5/07
45 min | $66 mo | $531 yr
REGISTER HERE
Senior Musical Theater
This class is for dancers with previous experience in dance or who completed Jr Musical Theater and have been placed in Senior Musical Theater. Prerequisite: Teacher recommendation.
Miss Jessika • Age: 12+
Tuesday 6:00-7:00PM
Starts 8/22 Ends 5/07
60 min | $76 mo | $612 yr
REGISTER HERE
MUSICAL THEATER CLASS ATTIRE
• Nude transition tights (light suntan)
• Short-sleeved high back leotard (black)
• Leggings (black, any length)
• Shorts (black) dancers must wear tights under shorts
• Any length dance skirt (any color)
• Junior level: jazz shoes (caramel)
• Senior level: turning shoes (nude)
• Character shoes (nude)
• Any ACDA t-shirt
Lyrical
Lyrical dance utilizes jazz, ballet and modern dance techniques as a basis for movement and creative expression.
Beginning Lyrical
This class is for dancers who are new to lyrical. No Prerequisites.
Miss Carrie • Age: 5+
Wednesday 6:30-7:00PM
Starts 8/24 Ends 5/09
30 min | $56 mo | $450 yr
REGISTER HERE
Intermediate Lyrical
This class is for dancers with 1 or more+ years of lyrical. Prerequisite: completed beginning lyrical or previous experience.
Miss Jessika • Age: 8+
Monday 5:30-6:15PM
Starts 8/21 Ends 5/06
45 min | $66 mo | $531 yr
REGISTER HERE
Advanced Lyrical
This class is for dancers with 3+ years of experience & by teacher recommendation. Prerequisite: Beginning, Intermediate Lyrical or previous experience.
Miss Jessika • Age: 10+
Tuesday 8:45-9:30PM
Starts 8/22 Ends 5/07
45 min | $66 mo | $531 yr
REGISTER HERE
LYRICAL ATTIRE
• Beginning Lyrical- Convertible Pink ballet tights
• Nude transition tights (light suntan)
• Short-sleeved high back leotard (black)
• Leggings (black, any length)
• Shorts (black) must wear tights under shorts
• Any length dance skirt (any color)
• Any ACDA t-shirt
• Beginning Lyrical- Hanami shoes (pink), other levels- turning shoes (nude)
Tumbling & More
New this season- Intro to Hip Hop!
Tumbling 1
This class is for beginning tumblers. No Prerequisites.
Miss Carrie • Age: 5+
Wednesday 7:00-7:30PM
Starts 8/23 Ends 5/08
30 min | $56 mo | $450 yr
REGISTER HERE
Turns. Leaps & Jumps
This class is open to all dancers wanting to work on their technique and required for company dancers who are not taking ballet classes. No prerequisites. This is a non-recital class (no recital fee, no recital fee included).
Miss Jessika • Age: 8+
Monday 7:30-8:30PM
Starts 8/21 Ends 5/06
60 min | $65 mo | $526 yr
REGISTER HERE
Intro to Hip Hop
This class is an introduction to Hip Hop dance and a class for all skill levels. No Prerequisites.
Miss Jessika • Age: 8+
Tuesday 4:00-4:45PM
Starts 8/22 Ends 5/07
45 min | $66 mo | $531 yr
REGISTER HERE
HIP HOP CLASS ATTIRE
• Baggy or loose sweatpants or joggers; any length leggings or shorts (black)
• Tennis shoes with clean soles
• Any ACDA t-shirt or other tee
TUMBLING CLASS ATTIRE
• Nude transition tights (light suntan)
• Short-sleeved high back leotard (black)
• Leggings (black, any length)
• Shorts (black) must wear tights under
• No shoes are allowed on the mats
• No t-shirts or baggy clothing permitted
Company Classes
junior Company
Junior Company is a 60-minute class for ages 8+. This class is for younger students who are serious about dance and are willing to stay focused and work hard during class.
Dancers are required to take Turns, Leaps, and Jumps (or a Ballet class) but can take both. Must be willing to participate in any volunteer opportunities, parades or performance opportunities that may be scheduled throughout the year.
This class is by teacher recommendation only and dancers are selected during tryouts.
Prerequisite: Placement Audition
Miss Jessika • Age: 8+
Monday 6:30-7:30PM
Starts 8/24 Ends 5/09
60 min | $76 mo | $612 yr
REGISTER HERE
Senior Company
Senior Company is a 60-minute class for ages 12+. This class is for students who are serious about dance and are willing to stay focused and work hard during class.
Dancers are required to take Turns, Leaps, and Jumps (or a Ballet class) but can take both. Must be willing to participate in any volunteer opportunities, parades or performance opportunities that may be scheduled throughout the year.
This class is by teacher recommendation only and dancers are selected during tryouts.
Prerequisite: Placement Audition
Miss Jessika • Age: 12+
Tuesday 7:00-8:00PM
Starts 8/24 Ends 5/09
60 min | $76 mo | $612 yr
REGISTER HERE
COMPANY CLASS ATTIRE
• Nude transition tights (light suntan)
• Short-sleeved high back leotard (black)
• Leggings (black, any length)
• Shorts (black) dancers must wear tights under shorts
• Junior Co: jazz shoes B80 (caramel)
• Senior Co: turning shoes (nude)
• Any ACDA t-shirt
Dance Academy Instructors
Carrie Blust – (Miss Carrie)
Carrie has been dancing for 18 years. She grew up in Sidney, Ohio and is currently residing in Delaware, Ohio. Carrie graduated from Bluffton University with a Bachelors in Education and currently is an Intervention Specialist. Carrie has been trained in ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, lyrical, acro, modern, and musical theater. Carrie began dancing at Sharon’s School of Dance and later became a member of the Sidney Dance Company. Carrie is excited to be a part of the Arts Castle team and for the opportunity to share her love for dance with others.
Lauren Cox – (Miss Lauren)
Lauren has exclusively studied classical ballet for fifteen years. She has performed in several productions, including The Nutcracker, Aladdin, Mary Poppins, The Little Mermaid, and Peter Pan. She loves all forms of dance and hopes to try new styles in the future. She teaches ballet to young students from her home, and is so excited to start teaching at the Delaware Arts Castle. She loves all things art and attends The Columbus College of Art and Design.
Jessika Wickenheiser – (Miss Jessika)
Jessika is ACDA’s Dance Coordinator, choreographer and instructor, who has worked with the Delaware Arts Castle for the last three years.
Previously Jessika instructed dance in Lewis Center, Westerville and the Sunbury areas. Jessika had a passion for dance at an early age and began formal dance instruction at age 4. She enrolled at Dance Rhythms Studio, where she studied ballet, tap, jazz, gymnastics, lyrical and hip hop. As Jessika’s dancing progressed, she earned spots on the studio’s competition teams dancing in jazz, tap and lyrical competitions.
As a certified Zumba and dance fitness instructor, Jessika instructed adults and children and led classes throughout central Ohio for five years. Jessika currently resides in Galena. Jessika is excited to share her passion for dance and the arts and is incredibly thankful to be a part of The Arts Castle community.
About The Arts Castle
The Arts Castle is dedicated to nurturing the creative energies of the residents in Delaware County and surrounding areas by offering full access to a variety of multi-arts experiences such as classes, workshops, performances, exhibitions, and special events.
The Arts Castle was founded with a grassroots effort by the community and for the community. We are recognized as one of Ohio’s premier community teaching centers for the arts. Join us by taking a class, visiting an exhibit, or participating in one of our special events.