Excellence in Dance Education

DANCE ARTISTRY CENTER

Welcome to Dance Artistry Center, a school focused on the whole dancer. We believe in nurturing creativity, wellness, and artistic development in students of all ages and levels.

About DAC

Strong. Active. Confident.

Dance Artistry Center provides quality dance programs in a supportive environment. We believe that dance training prepares students for life by developing strong minds and bodies, while encouraging self-confidence, focus, and social skills.

Preschool Dance

Our Pre-Ballet classes are developmentally appropriate for children ages 2 to 4. These classes allow children to develop their imaginative and creative talents, while teaching them movements that will help improve balance, coordination, and other fine and gross motor skills. Basic Ballet steps and terminology will be taught, while fostering a love of dancing.

Pre-Ballet 1 Ages 2-3 Wednesdays 4:30-5:00pm

Pre-Ballet 2 Ages 3-5 Tuesdays 4:45-5:15pm

Pre-Ballet 2 Ages 3-4 Wednesdays 5:00-5:30pm

Pre-Ballet/Tap Combo Ages 3-5 Thursdays 4:45-5:30pm

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Our Fine Arts Club™ program is designed exclusively for preschool-aged children fostering self-confidence, creativity, and expression. This two-hour program will inspire your child as they enjoy dance, yoga, fitness, music, art, and drama. Your child will learn social skills at a young age and be excited by learning new concepts. The Fine Arts Club™ is offered in 12-week sessions (Fall, Winter, Spring).

Fall Session: September 15-December 15, 2021

Wednesdays 9:30-11:30am

Winter Session: January 12 - March 30, 2022

Wednesdays 9:30-11:30am

Classic Division

Our Classic Division instills creativity, discipline, & confidence in beginning and intermediate students. Offering classes in Ballet, Hip-Hop, Tap, Jazz and Contemporary for students aged 4 through 18.

Ballet

Ballet 1 Ages 4-5 Tuesdays 5:15-5:45pm

Ballet 1/2 Ages 4-6 Fridays 5:15-5:45pm

Ballet 2 Ages 6-7 Tuesdays 5:45-6:30pm

Ballet 3 Ages 7-9 Wednesdays 5:30-6:15pm

Ballet 4 Ages 10+ Tuesdays 7:00-8:00pm

Jazz

Jazz 1 Ages 5-7 Thursdays 5:15-5:45pm

Jazz 2 Ages 8-12 Mondays 6:15-7:15pm

Jazz 3 Ages 12+ Wednesdays 7:00-8:00pm

Hip-Hop

Hip-Hop 1 Ages 4-5 Tuesdays 5:45-6:15pm

Hip-Hop 1/2 Ages 4-6 Fridays 5:45-6:45pm

Hip-Hop 2 Ages 6-7 Tuesdays 5:00-5:45pm

Hip-Hop 3 Ages 7-9 Wednesdays 6:15-7:00pm

Hip-Hop 4 Ages 10-12 Thursdays 5:45-6:45pm

Hip-Hop 5 Ages 13+ Wednesdays 8:00-9:00pm

Boys Only! Hip-Hop 1 Ages 5-8 Tuesdays 6:30-7:00pm

Boys Only! Hip-Hop 2 Ages 9+ Thursdays 6:45-7:30pm

Contemporary

Contemporary 1/2 Ages 9-12 Mondays 7:15-8:15pm

Contemporary 3/4 Ages 12+ Tuesdays 8:00-9:00pm

Tap

Tap Ages 5-7 Tuesdays 4:30-5:00pm

Tap Ages 8-11 Tuesdays 5:00-6:45pm

Tap Ages 11+ Tuesdays 5:45-6:45pm

Company Division

The Company Division is for intensive students who want to focus on dance and perfecting their technique. Offering classes in Ballet, Pointe, Hip-Hop, Jazz, and Contemporary. It is recommended that dancers in the Company Division take all classes for their level. Dancers are required to take a minimum of 2 Ballet classes per week (3 per week if enrolled in Pointe).

Please contact sarabittle@danceartistrycenter.com for Company Division placement.

Acro Program

Acro classes will work on laying the foundation of gymnastics. For example, forward & backward rolls, cartwheels, round-offs, handstands, tabletops and bridges, moving on to more advanced work as a student progresses. Not only do we set a solid foundation of the basic tumbling skills we work on flexibility, balance, listening, following directions, spatial awareness, fine and gross motor skills and socialization. Students are placed into classes according to mastered skills.

Acro Ages 3-5 Mondays 5:15-5:45pm

Sundays 1:00-1:30pm

Acro Ages 6-8 Mondays 5:45-6:30pm

Sundays 1:30-2:15pm

Acro Ages 9+ Mondays 7:15-8:15pm

Sundays 2:15-3:00pm

DAC Competition Team

The DAC Competition Team gives dancers additional chances to perform. The program fosters the development of team work, discipline, artistry, and technique in each dancer.

"I want to thank DAC for their dedication and time. They have taught my daughter what it takes to be a true dancer. Their passion for technique shines on the stage. My daughter stands tall as she walks out of the studio 3 days a week, encouragement and discipline, a mother couldn't ask for anything more! Thank you!"

H. Spina

Gallery

"I cannot say enough about this dance center. It is a place where every child is led to great potential, where lifelong friendships start, where harmony exists between students, parents & teachers. Thank you for living a dream and creating dreams in all of our girls hearts."

K. Stremmel

Registration

September 13, 2021 - June 11, 2022

Tuition

This is a session tuition fee (September through June) divided into 10 equal payments. There are no adjustments for months with holidays or in months with 5 weeks. Tuition cannot be pro-rated due to absence, students are expected to make up any missed class.

Calendar

Dance Artistry Center Closure Dates 2020-2021:

October 31st - Halloween

November 1-5th - Fall Break

November 24- 28th - Thanksgiving Break

December 20- January 3rd - Winter Break

February 18-21st - Presidents' Weekend

April 12-18th - Spring Break

May 27-30th - Memorial Day Weekend

A Team of Educators

Come dance with us at Dance Artistry Center! Our team of instructors is dedicated to offering quality dance education. Whether you’re here for recreation or for professional training, we can help you reach your goals.

Sara Bittle

Owner, Ballet, Pointe & Preschool Dance Instructor

Sara Pinkerton Bittle has had extensive ballet training. She has been dancing since an early age at local studios, where she had the opportunity to perform at Disney World's Magic Music Days and on Royal Caribbean's Stars at Sea. Sara's intensive ballet training began at Mid-Atlantic Ballet, in Newark, DE, under the direction of Sara Taylor Neal. At MAB, Sara was a member of the pre-professional performing Company where she danced the roles of Cossack Doll and Puppeteer in the ballet, "The Fantastic Toyshop." Sara also performed in the Delaware Dance Festival. Sara continued her dance training at Old Dominion University as a Dance Education major, taking classes in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Anatomy & Kinesiology for Dancers, and Improvisation. Sara finished her degree at Rowan University, with classes in Ballet, Creative Dance for Children, and World Dance Forms. The summer of 2005, Sara studied at the Boston Conservatory, where she trained with Denise Pons, former Boston Ballet dancer, and Seán Curran, Artistic Director of the Seán Curran Company. Sara has also attended the Dance Teacher's Workshop in New York City with renowned master ballet teachers, Finis Jhung, Judy Rice, and Mignon Furman. In 2008, Sara was certified as a Pilates Mat instructor at Pilates Core Center in Marlton, NJ. Sara has been teaching ballet for the past 16 years and continues her education at the Dance Life Teacher Convention and classes throughout the year.

Taylor Martin

Competition Team Director, Jazz & Contemporary Instructor

Taylor’s dance training began at the age of three years old and has become a lifelong pursuit. She has trained extensively in multiple genres including ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip-hop, tap, etc. Throughout her years she has trained with teachers from all over the world including Peter Stark (Boston Ballet), Christopher Fleming, Natasha Zeiger (The Rock School), Tracy Alvey and Roger Van Fleteran (Alabama Ballet), Phillis Papa (Atlantic City Ballet), Christopher Bruce and Simon Ball (Houston Ballet) and Darla Hoover (Balanchine Trust). Mastering a variety of dance forms has served her well earning her numerous national dance competition and college dance team top awards, as well as, several college and summer intensive scholarships. After graduating from The Rock School for Dance Education she went on to have professional career with the Alabama Ballet and Atlantic City Ballet. In addition to her passion for performing, she also has a passion for choreographing. Her choreography has been featured in new ballet repertoire, over-all national winning solo/group competitions and in guest works all over the country.

Taylor now uses all her training to teach the next generation of dancers. You can find her dancers in professional careers in a variety of genres. Along with regular classes, she has also had the opportunity to teach in dance outreach programs and use dance as a vehicle for ‘Stop the Violence’ campaign and child mentor rallies. Taylor believes in the joy of movement, in the discipline that dance affords and in promoting being a positive force both on and off the stage.

Katharine Sayre

Competition Team Hip-Hop Instructor

Katharine Flaherty Sayre has had several years of professional experience as a Hip-Hop/Jazz dancer. She danced for 3 seasons with the Philadelphia Kixx Dance Team and 1 season with the Philadelphia Barrage Dance Team, both under the direction of Adrienne Della. Katharine was then selected as one of the Philadelphia Soulmates, under the direction of Marla Viturello. While dancing as a Soulmate, Katharine became a Captain and was selected to attend the 3, a professional dance convention in Atlanta, GA. She was also chosen to represent the Soulmates at the Arena Bowl in New Orleans, LA as one of the AFL's Dream Team Dancers. During her years of training, Katharine studied with the master teachers, Chris Judd, Mikey, Darren Henson, and Geo Hubela. Katharine was a Guest Choreographer/Coach for the Philadelphia Soulmates for the 2013 season. Katharine has been teaching Hip-Hop for the past 14 years.

Courtney Colón

Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Jazz Instructor

Ms. Courtney is an artist actively working as a creator, educator, mover, and writer. She holds an MFA in Dance from Hollins University, where she studied in Virginia, New York, and Germany. Ms. Colón completed her BFA in Dance from Stockton University, graduating with distinction in her program. Courtney’s senior work, “I Am My Own,” was selected to represent Stockton at the American College Dance Festival in 2015. Ms. Courtney has taught and performed extensively throughout the United States and Europe. Her choreography and lectures have been presented in numerous locations, including NY, NJ, PA, DE, NC, MN, VA, and abroad. Courtney is also a freelance professional writer whose work has appeared in the Philadelphia Dance Journal, DIY Dancer Magazine, and The Journal of Dance Education, amongst others. In 2010, Ms. Colón founded pillardance company, a dance collective based in Philadelphia. In 2011, a photo of pillar was featured on the cover of Spark magazine, opening the Fringe Festival in Wilmington.

Courtney loves to teach and watch her students grow while cheering them on! Drop by her website and say hello! Courtneycolon.com

Christine Sampson

Hip-Hop Instructor

Jessica Dixon

Contemporary and Jazz Instructor

Miss Jess has her Master's degree in Dance Education from Temple University. She has 8 years experience teaching jazz and contemporary in studios across South Jersey and is a full time dance teacher at Salem High School. She has participated in numerous professional dance workshops including the Dance Teacher Summit and received a full scholarship to participate in the American Dance Festival's Dance Professionals Workshop. She has danced professionally all over the Philadelphia region, most recently for the dance company Danse4Nia. She loves everything about teaching at DAC and is excited to come back in the fall!

Amber Pettit

Acro Instructor

Amber Pettit has had extensive gymnastics, cheerleading and dance training starting at the young age of 2. Amber trained as a gymnast under Karen Smith (owner of Atlantic Coast Gymnastics) for over 10 years. She has trained in many genres of dance including Ballet, tap, jazz, modern, lyrical, , musical theater, African dance & Pointe. Not only was she a recreational dancer but also was a competitive dancer. She competed at regional and national competitions with the Delaware Valley Jazz Company under the direction of Barbara Adams. She trained and performed with Shaun Thompson, also known as Shaun T, from hip-hop abs & the insanity workout for over 5 years. She has trained with many other professionals in the industry such as Mia Michaels, Michael Minery, Barbara Duffy, Step Stewart & more. Amber was a recreational and competitive cheerleader for 8 years. She was also on her High School’s Varsity cheerleading team for 4 years and was captain for 3 years. In being a cheerleader and a coach, she has earned a 2-time NCA Nominee award and many multiple grand champ titles and paid bids. Amber has been coaching gymnastics for over 9 years including 4 years of being the Program Director of the Little Gym of Swedesboro. Amber is certified by USAG, NYCC, AACCA, CDC, AAAI, , as well as CPR/AED/First Aid certified.

Ms. Christine began her dance training in all dance styles at a local Swedesboro school at the age of 3. She then went on to study at the Southern New Jersey Academy of Performing Arts. In 2005, Christine graduated from Rutgers University with a BFA in Dance from Mason Gross School of the Arts. She performed in MGSA's dance co; DanceWorks and had the privilege to dance in guest artist Doug Varone's work, "Bench Quartet." After college, Christine danced for the NY Nets Dance Team in 2006-2007. She has been featured in "Ugly Betty," "The Other Woman," on Spike TV, "Extra with Mario Lopez," Epix TV, BET, and "The Today Show." She has also done various national and international tours with The Gap Inc. Holdiay Cross Country tour, NBA All-Star Games, NBA Europe Live, NBA China Games, WNBA London Live, and NBA London Live. Christine has performed with artists such as: Flo Rida, Pitbull, Kevin Rudolph, Shakira, Rhianna, Ryan Leslie, Tiffany Evans, Ludacris, B.O.B., Juicy J., and Bruno Mars. Currently, she has her own company, Rock Roulette Productions, and continues to grow as an artist.