Academy of Dance Arts Inc

Academy of Dance Arts is located in Comstock Park, Michigan and serves the greater Grand Rapids area with dance instruction across 12+ disciplines. The studio operates three separate dance studios, each with professionally sprung floors designed for safety. Parents can observe classes through one-way windows without distracting dancers, and there's a lobby area for waiting families.

The teaching staff brings over 100 years of combined professional dance instruction experience. Artistic Director Dawnell Dryja Black is an ABT® Certified Teacher trained through Pre-Primary to Level 7 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. She danced professionally starting at age 17 and performed with Cincinnati Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Dayton Ballet, Metropolitan Ballet Theatre of Detroit, and Utah Ballet before retiring from Grand Rapids Ballet Company in 2018. She holds an Advanced Certificate in the Cecchetti method with high honors and is a professional member of the Cecchetti Council of America and Dance Masters of America. Other instructors include Nikki Williams (40+ years dance experience, 27 years teaching, competitive team coach for 15+ years), Sarah Henning (11+ years teaching, 22+ years dance experience, degree from Alma College in dance and integrative physiology), Jillian Gasper (BA in Dance from Hope College, on faculty at Grand Rapids Ballet School), Emma Poquette (competed in Dance Masters of America National Convention 2023, Michigan Cinderella Woman title holder), and Kristen Girdlestone (professional dance career including Carnival Cruise Lines).

Classes are offered for ages 2 and up across combination classes, tap, ballet, jazz, hip-hop, acro, musical theater, contemporary, lyrical, pointe, variations, and choreography. The academy teaches multiple ballet methods including Cecchetti for younger dancers and Vaganova, Balanchine, and ABT curriculum as students progress. Progressing Ballet Technique classes use the innovative program developed by Marie Walton-Mahon. The studio offers ABT® classes at multiple levels taught by ABT® Certified Teachers Dawnell Dryja Black and Jessica Pollack. Performance teams compete at regional dance competitions and perform at local festivals, charity benefits, parades, and nursing homes. The academy produces an annual recital in June with costume deposits due in November. Watch weeks occur in March, allowing parents to observe classes. An annual Christmas Spectacular production is also presented.

You'll find three studios with sprung floors and observation windows. Classes are structured by age and skill level, with placement based on age, experience and ability. The studio enforces clear etiquette rules: arrive on time, secure hair (bun for ballet), follow the dress code, no gum or phones, and listen carefully to your instructor.

Dawnell Dryja Black (Artistic Director, ABT® Certified Teacher Pre-Primary–Level 7, former professional with Cincinnati Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Dayton Ballet, Metropolitan Ballet Theatre of Detroit, Utah Ballet, and Grand Rapids Ballet Company), Nikki Williams (27 years teaching, 40+ years dance experience, competitive team coach), Sarah Henning (11+ years teaching, degree from Alma College, Master's in Public Health), Jillian Gasper (BA Dance from Hope College, faculty at Grand Rapids Ballet School), Emma Poquette (Dance Masters of America Teacher Training, taught at 2023 National Convention), and Kristen Girdlestone (Carnival Cruise Lines performer, professional choreography experience).

The studio places new dancers in age-appropriate beginner classes and evaluates prior experience to ensure proper level placement; combination classes for ages 2–6 focus on fun and introducing different dance styles.