Dance Academy

Register for Arts Castle Dance Academy

About the Dance Program

The Arts Castle Dance Academy (ACDA) offers professional instruction in a fun, non-competitive environment. We believe everyone should have an opportunity to dance. The ACDA is unique in offering many avenues for students to learn and enjoy dancing while working with a busy schedule and budget. The Dance Academy year runs from late August to May and concludes with a Spring Show.

ACDA seeks to awaken the joy of dance in our students with a combination of quality technique and personal expression. We feel that this objective is best met within a supportive, family-friendly environment, open to dancers of all age and abilities, and cultivated by a nurturing, professional team of instructors. Ballet, tap, jazz, tumbling and combo classes are offered annually.

In addition, The Arts Castle Youth Dance companies provide additional performance opportunities for dedicated dancers. For younger dancers, The Arts Castle offers quarterly Pre-Academy classes. Come join us and enjoy the art of dance!

---

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.

---

Dance Academy Schedule and Class Descriptions – 2022-2023

---

Ballet & Pointe

Ballet 1

Miss Lauren

Ballet 1 is a 30-minute class for ages 5 through 8. This class is for beginner dancers or dancers who have completed Combo classes. Students are required to wear black-capped sleeve leotards and standard pink ballet tights with the proper ballet shoes (recommended by the teacher).

Prerequisite: None

Ages: 5 – 8

8/25/2022 – 5/11/2023 | Thurs., 5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | 30 min.

Ballet 2 & 3

Miss Lauren

Ballet 2 & 3 is a 45-minute class for ages 6 through 10. This is for dancers who have completed Ballet 1, or have been placed in this class by their teachers. Dancers may spend two or three years in Ballet 2 & 3, unless the teacher determines that their skills allow them to move up to Intermediate Ballet. Students are required to wear black-capped sleeve leotards and standard pink ballet tights with the proper ballet shoes (recommended by the teacher).

Prerequisite: Completion of Ballet 1 or Teacher Recommendation

Ages: 6 – 10

8/25/2022 – 5/11/2023 | Thurs., 6:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. | 45 min.

Boys Ballet

Miss Lauren

Boys Ballet is a 45-minute class for ages 5 through 10. This class is for beginner dancers or dancers who have completed Combo classes. Students are required to wear black or white shirt, black leggings or tight pants, black socks or tights, and black ballet shoes.

Prerequisite: None

Ages: 5 – 10

8/25/2022 – 5/11/2023 | Thurs., 6:45 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. | 45 min.

iNTERMEDIATE BALLET

Miss Lauren

Intermediate Ballet is a 60-minute class for ages 8 through 12. This class is by teacher recommendation as long as students that have completed Ballet 1, 2, and 3. Students are required to wear black-capped sleeve leotards and standard pink ballet tights with the proper ballet shoes (recommended by the teacher).

Prerequisite: Teacher Recommendation

Ages: 8 – 12

8/25/2022 – 5/11/2023 | Thurs., 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. | 60 min.

---

adult ballet

Miss Lauren

Adult Ballet is a 75-minute class for ages 18+. This class is a fun low-pressure Ballet class for adults of all ages! You do not need any previous experience. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned dancer, this is a great class to join! AS A CLASS, you will determine if you would like to perform in the Holiday Dance Recital! (Recital Fees Required). Wear something comfortable such as fitted clothes, e.g., leggings and tank tops, socks or tights, and leather or canvas ballet shoes.

Prerequisite: None

Ages: 18+

10/06/2022 – 5/11/2023 | Thurs., 4:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. | 75 min.

Jazz

advanced Jazz

Miss Jessika

Advanced Jazz is a 45-minute class for ages 10+. This is a teacher recommended class, geared toward students with 3 to 4 years of experience in Jazz. Students are required to wear black leggings, black shorts [finger tip length], black-capped sleeve leotard (no hoodies or baggy sweatshirts), and nude turning shoes.

Prerequisite: Teacher recommendation

Ages: 10+

8/23/2022 – 5/9/2023 | Tues., 8:00 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. | 45 min.

---

Musical Theater

Jr. Musical Theater

Miss Jessika

Jr. Musical Theater is a 45-minute class for ages 6 through 11. This class is for students who are new to Musical Theater and have not been placed in Sr. Musical Theater. Musical Theater is a form of Jazz and Broadway-style dance with an emphasis on personality and acting out a character to a specific piece of music. Students are required to wear black leggings or shorts, black leotard or comfortable t-shirt, and tan jazz shoes.

Prerequisite: None

Ages: 6 – 11

8/23/2022 – 5/9/2023 | Tues., 5:15 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | 45 min.

SR. Musical Theater

Miss Jessika

Sr. Musical Theater is a 60-minute class for ages 12 through 18. This class for advanced dancers placed in Senior Musical Theater. Musical Theater is a form of Jazz and Broadway-style dance with an emphasis on personality and acting out a character to a specific piece of music. Students are required to wear black leggings or shorts, black leotard or comfortable t-shirt, and tan turning shoes (tan character shoes may be requested).

Prerequisite: Teacher recommendation

Ages: 12 – 18

8/23/2022 – 5/9/2023 | Tues., 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. | 60 min.

---

Lyrical

Beginning Lyrical

Miss Carrie

Beginning Lyrical is a 30-minute class for ages 5 through 9. This class is for dancers who are new to Lyrical. Students are required to wear convertible pink ballet tights, black leotard, black or pink skirt, and white hanami ballet shoes.

Prerequisite: None

Ages: 5 – 9

8/22/2022 – 5/8/2023 | Mon., 5:45 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. | 30 min.

Lyrical 2

Miss Jessika

Lyrical 2 is a 30-minute class for ages 6 through 10. This class is for dancers who have completed Beginning Lyrical or have at least 1 year of Lyrical experience. Students are required to wear tights with shorts or a skirt (long or short), black leggings, black leotard or comfortable shirt, and tan turning shoes.

Prerequisite: 1 year of Lyrical experience

Ages: 6 – 10

8/23/2022 – 5/9/2023 | Tues., 4:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. | 30 min.

---

Combo Classes

COMBO 1

Miss Jessika

Combo 1 is a 30-minute class for ages 3 and 4. This class is for children new to dance. Dancers are introduced to basic Ballet and Tap. Students are required to wear standard pink ballet tights, a black capped-sleeve leotard, no-tie pink ballet shoes, no-tie black tap shoes. Boys: Black jazz shorts or ballet leggings, black shirt.

Prerequisite: None

Ages: 3 – 4

8/22/2022 – 5/8/2023 | Mon., 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | 30 min.

COMBO 2

Miss Jessika

Combo 2 is a 30-minute class for ages 4 and 5. This class is for dancers who have completed Combo 1. Dancers are introduced to basic Ballet, Tap, and Tumble. Students are required to wear standard pink ballet tights and a black capped-sleeve leotard, no-tie pink ballet shoes, no-tie black tap shoes. Boys: Black jazz shorts or ballet leggings, black shirt.

Prerequisite: None

Ages: 4 – 5

8/24/2022 – 5/10/2023 | Wed., 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | 30 min.

Combo 3

Miss Jessika

Combo 3 is a 45-minute class for ages 5+. This class is for dancers who have completed Combo 2. Dancers are introduced to basic Ballet, Tap, and Tumble. Students are required to wear standard pink ballet tights and a black capped-sleeve leotard, no-tie pink ballet shoes, no-tie black tap shoes. Boys: Black jazz shorts or ballet leggings, black shirt.

Prerequisite: None

Ages: 5+

8/24/2022 – 5/10/2023 | Wed., 4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. | 45 min.

---

Tumbling Classes

Beginning tumbling

Miss Carrie

Beginning Tumbling is a 30-minute class for ages 6 through 8. This class is for beginner tumblers. Students are required to wear a black leotard or t-shirt that can be tucked in, black shorts/leggings, and no shoes or socks are required.

Prerequisite: None

Ages: 6 – 8

8/24/2022-5/10/2023 | Wed., 7:15 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. | 30 min.

---

Turns, Leaps, and Jumps

Turns, Leaps and Jumps

Miss Jessika

Turns, Leaps, and Jumps is a 60-minute class for ages 8+. This class is open to all dancers who want to work on perfecting their technique. This class is required for dancers who are enrolled in Junior and Senior Company classes who are not taking a Ballet class. Turns, Leaps, and Jumps is a non-recital class.

Prerequisite: None

Ages: 8+

8/22/2022 – 5/8/2023 | Mon., 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. | 60 min.

Company Classes

junior Company

Miss Jessika

Junior Company is a 60-minute class for ages 8+. This class is by teacher recommendation only and dancers are selected during tryouts. 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.

Students are required to wear a black leotard or ACDA shirt, black shorts with tan tights or black leggings underneath, and tan turning shoes (unless otherwise requested by their teacher).

Prerequisite: Placement Audition

Ages: 8+

8/22/2022 – 5/8/2023 Mon., 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. | 60 min.

Senior Company

Miss Jessika

Senior Company is a 60-minute class for ages 12+. This class is by teacher recommendation only and dancers are selected during tryouts. 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.

Students are required to wear a black leotard or ACDA shirt, black shorts with tan tights or black leggings underneath, and tan turning shoes (unless otherwise requested by their teacher).

Prerequisite: Placement Audition

Ages: 12+

8/23/2022 – 5/9/2023 | Tues., 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. | 60 min.

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 will be attending Columbus College of Art and Design in the fall.

---

Jessika Wickenheiser
(Miss Jessika)

Jessika is a dance instructor and choreographer who has taught in Lewis Center, Westerville and Sunbury area. At a young age Jessika had a passion for dance 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 her dancing progressed she earned spots on the studio’s competition teams dancing in jazz, tap and lyrical competitions.

Jessika was also an award winning competition soloist in lyrical and contemporary dance. Jessika’s love of the performing arts expanded when she began studying voice. She performed for four years as a member of her award winning high school choir and performed in multiple church and community musical productions. She also danced and sang as a member of the award winning WHS Ensemble.

Jessika has also instructed adults and children as a certified Zumba and dance fitness instructor and lead classes throughout central Ohio for the last five years. Jessika currently resides in Galena Ohio with her husband and two sons. Jessika is excited to share her passion of dance and the arts, and to inspire a new generation of young dancers.