Priscilla & Dana's School Of Dance

Priscilla & Dana's School of Dance has been serving the Kansas City metropolitan area since 1969, when Priscilla began teaching students and built the studio into one of the most elite dance studios in the United States. After Dana graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia, she joined her mother to expand the studio for the next generation. Today the studio employs 20+ teachers with 150+ years of combined dance training and serves 300+ current students across six spacious studios with sprung wood floors.

The studio offers 60+ classes per week in tap, ballet, pointe, modern, lyrical, jazz and hip-hop for children ages 3 and up. Classes range from 30 minutes to 90 minutes and meet once per week from September through May, with a short summer dance session in June and a two-week intensive workshop in early August. The studio runs two main class tracks: recital combination classes, where all recreation classes perform in the annual recital and are limited to 18 students per class, and technique classes offering in-depth study of each discipline without performance requirements. Technique classes include Ballet (using the Balanchine method), Ballroom, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Leaps & Turns, Modern, Pointe (for students age 12 and older with required ballet strength) and Tap (incorporating both rhythm tap and show tap styles). Level 1 is the most advanced; each descending level is progressively less advanced.

Recital combination classes for ages 3–5 focus on pre-ballet, jazz and tap with activity songs and exercises teaching dance terminology and basic rhythm patterns, emphasizing coordination and self-confidence. Ages 4–6 combo classes introduce basic techniques of ballet, jazz and tap with progressions and short dances to improve cognitive and social development. Combo jazz/tap classes for varying ages build beginning-intermediate techniques while fostering appreciation of the performing arts. Technique classes provide specialized, in-depth study: Ballet uses the Balanchine method with barre and center work; Jazz covers Broadway, classical jazz, lyrical and Fosse styles; Hip-Hop is a high-energy class incorporating latest street-style moves; Modern combines Horton and Graham techniques with focus on muscle training and body placement; and Tap develops rhythm, coordination and timing using both rhythmical patterns and audible foot tapping.

The staff takes pride in teaching students essential life skills. Notable instructor achievements include Dana, who was a former Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleader and captain and was selected to represent the Kansas City Chiefs at the NFL Pro Bowl in 1996, and is a master teacher for various camps, studios and conventions including Dance Masters of America. Christin Amedee has over 10 years in competitive dance training and students under her direction have appeared on America's Got Talent, Live To Dance, So You Think You Can Dance, So You Think You Can Dance: Next Generation and World of Dance, with many attending top arts programs including The Juilliard School, Marymount Manhattan College and NYU. Gina Artese danced professionally with Kansas City Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, The Suzanne Farrell Ballet, Christopher Wheeldon's Morphoses and Twyla Tharp, and has appeared in Black Swan, Center Stage and other productions. Teri Day specializes in tap dance education and started and directs the "Student Choreography Project," a benefit for the National Brain Tumor Society that has raised $100,000 to brain tumor research in its seven-year history. Hannah Castleman graduated in 2015 from UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance with a dance degree with an emphasis in Modern and currently coaches Lee's Summit West High School Dance Team, which won a National Championship in Large Varsity Pom at Dance Team Union.

Priscilla herself has an extensive performance background: early in her career she was a regular on the television show American Bandstand, appeared in the movie "April Love" starring Pat Boone and choreographed for many musical shows. She was recently awarded the Deborah Barnes "Art for Life" Award and was named "National Teacher of the Year 2013" by the Federation of Dance Competitions. The studio's alumni include Hayley Erbert, who has appeared on Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance, and currently performs in Derek Hough's show in Las Vegas.

Classes are structured and paced for your child's age group, beginning with warm-up and technique work, progressing to combinations and choreography. Recital combination classes perform a routine in the annual recital. The studio is centrally located just north of downtown Kansas City, off the freeway to service the entire KC metro area.

The studio employs 20+ teachers with 150+ years of combined dance training. Founder and owner Priscilla was named National Teacher of the Year 2013 by the Federation of Dance Competitions and appeared on American Bandstand and in the film "April Love." Co-owner Dana is a former Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleader, captain and master teacher for Dance Masters of America. Staff members include Christin Amedee (10+ years competitive dance training, students on America's Got Talent and So You Think You Can Dance), Gina Artese (professional dancer with Kansas City Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet and others, featured in Black Swan and Center Stage), Teri Day (tap dance specialist directing the Student Choreography Project), and Hannah Castleman (UMKC Conservatory graduate, currently coaching Lee's Summit West High School Dance Team).

Classes for ages 3 and up include beginner options; pre-ballet/jazz/tap for ages 3–5 is structured and paced for young learners as a fun introduction to dance.