Fridays: Child and Me Dance Class [Ages 2.5-4 + Caregiver]

Dance is an effective tool to engage young children, both boys and girls, while helping them to understand and control their body’s movements, and now you can experience dance with your child! These classes will launch your child’s coordination skills through stretch/warm-up, basic ballet technique and vocabulary, all while providing meaningful bonding time through dance. We achieve these skills with fun dance games to work on stretching the legs, doing various jumps, changing levels, and improvising. No bun or tutu is required. A strong foundation in dance can lead to success in a wide variety of athletic endeavors. In partnership with Princeton Dance and Theater.

Covid Protocols: At this time, mask wearing is optional. If COVID cases increase at any point and we are recommended by local health organizations, we may return to mandatory mask wearing. Classes and workshops held in all spaces at the art center utilize an HVAC system supplemented with portable HEPA filtration systems. Fresh air is introduced whenever possible. Classes are spaced appropriately to allow 3 - 6 ft. of social distancing. All our staff and Teaching Artists have been vaccinated. High-touch surfaces are wiped down regularly using certified cleaning agents. Hand sanitizer is available in all classrooms. 

About the Teaching Artist
Born and raised in central New Jersey, Grace has danced since the age of 3. Her early training began under Graham Lustig’s LustigDanceTheatre working with Lustig, Nancy Dow, Peggy Petteway, Bat Abbit, Lees Hummel, and Jen Cavanaugh. Grace was very fortunate to perform alongside the professional company and gain valuable artistic experience from such a young age. In High school, she began working with Princeton Dance & Theatre Director Emerita, Risa Kaplowitz, alongside Talin Kenar and Nora Cotter. During her time at PDT, Grace had the honor of having multiple principal and soloist roles created on her while part of Princeton Youth Ballet including Marie in The Nutcracker and The Autumn Fairy in Cinderella. Following graduation, Grace spent a year with American Repertory Ballet as an apprentice and performed with the professional company. She had the privilege of being chosen to perform in Kirk Peterson’s premiere of Beauty and the Beast and having a demi-soloist role created on her. Following her time with ARB, Grace was fortunate to be coached by Peterson in the following principal roles: Lombardi Variations, Giselle, Glazunov Variations, Flower Festival in Genzano, Les Sylphides, and Swan Lake. Despite restrictions on performances as a result of the pandemic, Grace was able to share these variations with intimate audiences. Grace is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. She is so honored to return to Princeton Dance & Theatre as part of the faculty and to continue to share her love of ballet with the next generation of dancers.