YMCA Dance Academy

  Now registering for classes at Speer YMCA!  

 

The Y is proud to offer dance classes to children ages 2 - 18 through our award-winning YMCA Dance Academy (YDA).

Over the past decades, numerous studies have affirmed the benefits of the arts on the cognitive, academic, social and personal development of children and youth.

All of our dancers participate in our annual performance, BRAVO, at the Mahaffey Theatre in June to display their talents for friends and family.

Related Programs: Dance Classes for Adults

 

 

Offerings for Ages 2 - 18

Classes

Y Dance Academy offers classes for various ages and skill levels in the genres of ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical and hip-hop. There are also technique-only classes for ballet; stretch and tumble (acro); leaps and turns; and core strength. Classes are offered at multiple locations.

For a complete listing of classes, descriptions, age and skill level needed for each, please download and review our handbook.

2025 Summer Dance Handbook

 

YDA Competition Team

The YDA Competition Team is a multi-award-winning competitive team for students who desire to take their dance training to the highest level. Team members attend regional competitions, one dance convention, as well as have the opportunity to attend national and world dance competitions.

Team members are placed in their own classes to ensure rigorous training and technique. To become a member of the team, dancers must audition and be between the ages of 5 - 18. Compete and achieve goals that will pave the way for your future!

 

Contact Us

For questions about the YMCA Dance Academy, or if you are interested in auditioning for the competition team, please contact [email protected].

 

Dance Styles

Click each style to see an expanded description.

Ballet

Classical ballet, which originated in Renaissance Italy and established its present form during the 19th century, is characterized by light, graceful, fluid movements and the use of pointe shoes. Classical ballet will be taught at all levels.

Tap
Tap dance is a type of dance characterized by using the sounds of tap shoes striking the floor as a form of percussion. The sound is made by shoes that have a metal "tap" on the heel and toe. There are several styles of tap dance, including rhythm (jazz), classical, Broadway, and post-modern. Tap teaches rhythm, coordination and terminology through tap combinations and choreography.
Jazz
Jazz dance combines techniques of classical ballet and modern dance with the current forms of popular dance. Jazz also has its own movement vocabulary ranging from the isolation of certain body parts to the movement of the entire body with the accents of musical rhythms. Various styles of jazz will be taught such as Broadway, street style, and contemporary jazz.
Contemporary/Lyrical
Contemporary dance has a modern foundation with grounded movements and abstract shapes. Lyrical dance emphasizes interpretation of music lyrics while telling a story with movement that is fluid or abstract. Must take ballet to register for contemporary.
Hip-Hop
Hip-hop dance refers to street dance styles primarily performed to hip-hop music or that have evolved as part of hip-hop culture. Hip-hop is a high energy class that includes a wide range of styles primarily breaking, locking, popping, and the latest styles on music videos.
Tumbling
YDA is a certified Acrobatic Arts studio. The program is based on safe and effective progressions with proven results in five divisions of AccorDance: Flexibility, Strength, Balancing, Limbering, and Tumbling. Tumbling classes will work the basics to the advanced levels of acrobatics. Our teachers will guide the students towards increased flexibility, balance, strength, muscle control and tumbling skills such as cartwheels, walkovers, aerials and handsprings.
Pointe
Dancers must have three consecutive years of ballet and take two classes per week. Teacher approval is needed for these classes.
Aerial Silk
Aerial silk classes offer participants the opportunity to improve strength and flexibility while learning the art of aerial dance.

 

YMCA Specialty Summer Camps

2025 Summer Dance Camps

This summer, expand your child's horizons with one-week Specialty Camps. Dance Camps are available for ages 3 & up, with full-day care options available.

Learn More or Register

 

Costs & Registration

Costs below indicate monthly fees. Tuition is based on 40 weeks per year, and is broken down into 10 monthly installments due the first of each month.

Youth Classes

  Non-Members Members
Terrific Twos $43 $34
1 Class Per Week $64 $51
2 Classes Per Week $120 $96
3 Classes Per Week $168 $135
4 Classes Per Week $208 $167
Unlimited Classes Per Week $240 $192
Aerial Silk Dance $89 $59

Private Lessons

  Non-Members & Members
30-Minute Lesson $33
60-Minute Lesson $65

How to Register

To register, download our registration form, complete, and email to [email protected]. Look for a confirmation email from Brittany once your registration has been processed. A one-time, non-refundable $30 registration fee will be drafted from your account on file at the time of registration. Tuition auto-pay will be scheduled for the 1st of each month through May.

2025 summer Registration Form (.PDF)

Payment is made through our auto-pay system. Cancellations must be made in writing 7 days prior to draft date. No refunds after draft has been taken. All dance fees must be paid in order to perform in our BRAVO performance. It is the parent's responsibility to notify us of membership changes (adding or canceling) or billing changes.

Please email us with any billing or membership changes.

YDA Staff

Brittany Batista

Brittany Batista

Dance Director

Brittany Batista started dancing at age 3 and competing at age 7. Brittany was trained from the top studios in the St. Louis area in all styles of dance and musical theater. She has won numerous awards both regionally and nationally for dance routines, entertainment, and choreography. She has performed in many productions including 42nd Street with the St. Louis Municipal Theater, Thoroughly Modern Millie, in the opening numbers for The Acrobats of China and The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and as a Merry Maker through RWS & Associates, Inc. For 15 years, Brittany has taught all ages, levels and styles of dance both recreational and competitive. Brittany received her Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of South Florida. She has been with Y Dance Academy since 2014 and the Assistant Director from 2018 - 2022. In addition to her work with YDA, Brittany is a dance adjunct with Pinellas County Schools and a dance competition adjudicator with multiple competition companies.

Dakota Kuharich Stevenson

Dakota Kuharich Stevenson

Assistant Dance Director

Dakota Kuharich Stevenson (MFA) is a performer, instructor, and creator in Tampa Bay. Originally from Connecticut, Dakota attended the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts where she was enrolled as a Musical Theater Major studying acting, voice, and all styles of dance. Dakota is a graduate from the University of Tampa and Jacksonville University where she explored her passion for movement through performance, Brain Compatible Dance Education(BCDE), embodied research, and choreographic practice. Dakota is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Tampa and Reinhardt University, previously dancing with Moving Current Dance Collective. She has been honored to work with practitioners Jon Lehrer, Bill Evans, Terry Goetz and Nita Little. Dakota prides herself on exploring the human experience through mind body practices as a means to better herself as an educator, mentor, and artist.

 

History

Launched in 2007, the YMCA Dance Academy is a nationally award-winning school that comprises diverse dance styles from ballet, hip-hop, and jazz, encouraging students to pursue various genres. This program is dedicated to developing talent at both the recreational and competitive level. The Y implements a specially-designed curriculum that enables students to develop advanced dance techniques as they progress through each class level. We focus on terminology and technique, along with a strong foundation in classical ballet.

In fall of 2016, the Y further expanded the YDA through the Young Dancer program offered at the Speer YMCA and Bardmoor YMCA Preschool Academies, enabling the Y to engage 60 children ages 2 - 5 from south St. Petersburg and Bardmoor communities.

Annually, YDA serves more than 200 students - 25% of which receive scholarship assistance from the Y to participate in the academy.

The Y is committed to providing enriching programs that promote the overall wellness of community members regardless of socioeconomic barriers. Over the past decades, numerous studies have affirmed the benefits of the arts on the cognitive, academic, social and personal development of children and youth.