Classes & Programs / Dance
Youth Dance ClassesYouth Dance Classes
Below is a list of all of our beginning and level one classes which are either age based for ages 6+ and do not require a prerequisite.
Ballet IA
A beginning level of classical ballet technique for ages 7 and up. Students will be introduced to foundational ballet vocabulary through basic barre and center work.
Day/Dates: Wednesdays, May 10-June 14
Time: 6:00-7:00pm
Age: 7 and up
Fee: $72
Instructor: Jess Dienger
New to Ballet? We know that finding dancewear can be hard in our area, but please don't worry. Thanks to donations we are happy to offer families gentled used dancewear to families in need. Please contact our office to inquire at: mca@smumn.edu.
Ballet IB
A beginning level of classical ballet technique for ages 8 and up. Students will continue to build a strong technical foundation as they advance their knowledge of ballet vocabulary through barre and center work. Placement is at the discretion of the instructor.
Day/Dates: Thursdays, May 11-June 15
Times: 4:30-5:45pm
Ages: 8 and up
Fee: $90
Instructor: Jess Dienger
Ballet II
A fast beginning level of classical ballet technique for ages 9 and up. Students will meet twice a week to increase their consistency of training, strength and endurance. Classes will focus on the continuation of expanding vocabulary through more challenging barre and center work. Placement is at the discretion of the instructor.
Days/Dates: May 9-June 15
Times: Tuesdays, 4:45-6:15 pm with Tammy Schmidt
Thursdays, 4:30-5:45 pm with Jess Dienger
Age: 9 and up
Fees: $98
Instructors: Tammy Schmidt & Jess Dienger
Ballet TOO
A fast beginning level of classical ballet technique for ages 9 and up. Class is designed for students not yet ready to commit to training twice a week. Students will focus on the continuation of expanding vocabulary through more challenging barre and center work. Placement is at the discretion of the instructor.
Day/Dates: Thursdays, January 12 - March 16 (No Class March 9)
Times: 4:30-5:45pm
Ages: 9 and up
Fee: $135
Instructor: Rachael Ryan
Contemporary I - A beginning level of contemporary dance for ages 7 and up. Contemporary is an expressive dance genre that combines elements of classical ballet, modern, and jazz. Classes will focus on body and spatial awareness, intentional movement and self-expression.
Day/Dates: Wednesdays, May 10-June 14
Time: 5:00-5:45 pm
Age: 7 and up
Fee: $66
Instructor: Jess Dienger
Beginning Hip Hop
A playful and engaging introduction to the fundamentals of hip hop dance for ages 5 and 6. Students will participate in movement games and high-energy exercises throughout this fun, aerobic class.
Day/Dates: Mondays, May 8-June 12 (No class May 29)
Time: 4:45-5:15 pm
Ages: 5-6
Fee: $50
Instructor: Jess Dienger
Hip Hop I/II
Hip Hop I - A beginning level of hip hop dance for ages 7 and up. Students will engage in movement games and high-energy exercises while learning basic technique vocabulary throughout this fun, aerobic class.
Hip Hop II - A fast beginning level of hip hop dance for ages 9 and up. Students will expand upon basic technique vocabulary, increase endurance and flexibility, and be introduced to several subgenres of the dance form, such as popping, locking and breaking. Placement is at the discretion of the instructor.
Day/Dates: Mondays, January 9 - March 13 (No Class January 16)
Time: 6:15-7:00pm
Age: 7 and up
Fee: $99
Instructor: Jess Dienger
Tap I
A beginning level of rhythm tap for ages 7 and up. Students will engage in rhythm games and tap exercises to build a strong technical foundation.
Day/Dates: Tuesdays, May 9-June 13
Time: 4:30-5:15pm
Age: 7 and up
Fee: $66
Instructor: Jess Dienger
Tap shoes available in most sizes available through our free tap shoe lending program.
Tap II
A fast beginning level of rhythm tap technique for ages 9 and up. Students will engage in exercises to increase articulation of sounds, promote musicality and expand tap vocabulary. Placement is at the discretion of the instructor.
Day/Dates: Wednesdays, May 10-June 14
Time: 4:10-4:55pm
Age: 9 and up
Fee: $72
Instructor: Jess Dienger
Tap shoes available in most sizes available through our free tap shoe lending program.
Tap III
An intermediate level of rhythm tap technique for ages 11 and up. Students will continue to expand their tap dance vocabulary, explore improvisation and increase articulation of sounds. Placement is at the discretion of the instructor.
Day/Dates: Class back for fall session 2023
2022 Summer Camp Overview
El Campamento de Encanto- Monday-Friday, June 27-Julu 1, 9:30-11:30am, ages 4-6.
Junior Training Program for Dancers- Monday- Friday, July 18-30, ages 10-18(with approx. 3 years dance experience/ MCA Ballet Level II),
19th Annual Boarding Summer Dance Intensive (SDI)- July 10-30, ages 12-22, acceptance by in-person or video audition required. Q & A about our SDI.
Tap Camp- Aug. 10-14, 11am-1pm (beg- 2 years tap experience), 9am-1pm (Int. & Adv. tap experience and 11+), Monday- Friday, ages 6+.
Winona Arts Camp- Monday-Friday, Aug. 15-19, 9:00am-3:30pm, grades 1-8.
Don't forget to also check our our May/June dance class session, National Tap Dance Day Celebration workshop, visual art classes (virtual and self-paced), summer private lessons, and summer theatre production.
Dance Repertory Company
In addition to dance classes, an exciting part of learning experience for MCA students is performance opportunities. Students may audition for MCA's pre-professional performing ensemble, the Dance Repertory Company (DRC), or MCA's junior performing troupe, Dance Repertory Company II. DRC produces two production annually. Biannually DRC presents a full-length production of the traditional holiday classic The Nutcracker.
Stay tuned for future productions! Click here for more information about Auditions.
National Tap Dance Day Workshops
We will have 2 jam packed days of joyous tap dancing in celebration of National Tap Dance Day! Each year, tap celebrations are held in honor of Bill "Bojangles" Robinson's birthday.
Days/Dates: Saturday May 21 and Sunday May 22
Times and levels: See Below
Tap for Kids/Tap I- 3:00-5:00pm $40 (ages 5+)
Tap I- 3:00-5:00pm $40 (ages 8 years and up )
Tap II-V- 1:00-5:00pm $80
*Please don't let the lack of tap shoes be a barrier, we have a tap shoes that can be borrowed in most sizes, just ask our office. New to MCA? No problem, please contact our office so we may help you choose the right level for you.
Winona Arts Camp 2024
Join MCA as we welcome back this amazingly fun integrated arts summer camp for its 7th year. Students will get to choose their classes this time. We are offering visual and performing arts as we have in the past. They will explore and have the opportunity to be immersed in four subjects a day. From a guitar class and piano class, to dance and visual arts to name a few, there are plenty of options to satisfy the artist in everyone. Families are invited to attend a demonstration at 3 pm on Friday afternoon. We will share a google form soon for class options to choose from.
Dates: Monday-Friday, August 14-18
Time: 9:00 am- 3:30 pm
Age: 1st - 8th grade
Price: $199 (Early Bird Special), $219 (after June 1), Fee includes camp t-shirt. Students will need to bring a lunch and water bottle daily.
Class choices for 2024 include: Announcement soon!
Tap Camp
Join us for an exciting week of rhythm! TAP CAMP will include classes in tap technique, repertory, improvisation, body percussion, music theory, and concepts for the tap dancer, tap history, and tap in films. TAP CAMP will hold new challenges for beginning, intermediate, and advanced tappers. An informal demonstration for family and friends will be held on Sunday, along with a potluck. Feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme, come on dancers, it's TAP CAMP time!
Dates: TBA for 2023
Time:
Tap for Kids and Tap I: (ages 6+, no experience- two years experience)
Tap II-V: (Intermediate & advanced Tap Dancers ages 11+ or MCA Tap levels II-V. Tappers will participate in a placement class on day one.)
Fee: Tap for Kids and Tap I:
Tap II-V:
Dancers should bring water bottle. Snack will be provided.
**Please don't let the lack of tap shoes be a barrier, we have a tap shoes that can be borrowed in most sizes, just contact our office at mca@smumn.edu.
LOCATION & CONTACT
Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts
1164 West Howard (10th) Street
Winona, MN 55987
Phone: 507-453-5500
Fax: 507-453-5507
E-Mail: mca@smumn.edu
OFFICE HOURS
Monday - Thursday- 9:00am-3:00pm and 3:45-8:00pm
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday- Closed
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
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