In Y dance programs, kids and teens can explore rhythm, movement and a variety of dance styles while engaging in fun, physical activity.
New! Intro to Dance
Dancers will learn the fundamentals of each style at a beginner level. Black tap shoes are required for tap class and pink ballet shoes for ballet class. There will be no recital for these intro classes. You may join for any or all months. We must have 4 participants to run the class.
- Ages: 5 -10
- Day/Time: Wednesday 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.
- March 5, 12, 19, 26, 2025
- April 2, 9, 16, 23, 2025
- May 7, 14, 21, 28, 2025
- Location: Y Arts Building Dance Studio at 14-16 West Main Street
- Parking: Park in the lot behind the art center or in the lot on Hanover Street across from the senior center.
- Fees for one month of classes: Full Member $72, Program Member $102
Contact Carolyn Daniels via text at 203-494-0651 or cdaniels@meridenymca.org for more information.
Rhythmic Force Dance at the Y
Our dance program begins September 7, 2024 with a recital in June 2025. We have ongoing enrollment, and fees are drafted monthly out of a credit or bank account for 9 months, September to May. Fees cover dance class instructor costs as well as rental fees and performance or recital incidentals such as theater rental fees and trophies. A youth membership is required.
Classes are held at the Y Arts Center at 14-16 West Main Street except for Tiny Gems classes which are at 110 West Main Street. Call (203) 235-6386 for more information.
Dance Class Descriptions
Tiny Gems Classes
This is for dancers ages 3 - 4 years old. Dancers will be learning the fundamentals of each style at a beginner level, and choreography for a recital at the end of year. Black tap shoes are required for tap class and pink ballet shoes for ballet class. Acro classes will be barefoot.
- Fee: $70 per month for all three and you must take all three (tap, ballet & acro)
Sapphire and Emerald Classes
This is for dancers ages 5 – 7 years old (Emerald by teacher recommendation only). Dancers will be learning the fundamentals of each style at a beginner level, and choreography for a recital at the end of the year. Emerald dancers will be potentially competing in competitions throughout the year. Black tap shoes are required for tap class, pink ballet shoes for ballet class, and black hip hop shoes for hip hop class. Acro classes will be barefoot.
- First class: $70 per month
- Each additional class: $20 per month
- All four classes: $105 per month
Ruby Classes
This is for dancers ages 8 – 10 years old. Dancers will be learning the fundamentals of each style at a beginner/intermediate level, and choreography for a recital at the end of the year. Dancers will be potentially competing in competitions throughout the year. Black tap shoes are requires for tap class, pink ballet shoes for ballet class, black hip hop shoes for hip hop class, tan half soles for contemporary class, and tan jazz shoes for jazz class. Acro classes will be barefoot.
- First Class $70 per month
- Each additional class $20 per month
- All 6 Classes $135 per month
Pearl Classes
This is for dancers ages 10 - 13 years old. Dancers will be learning the fundamentals of each style at an intermediate/advanced level, and choreography for a recital at the end of the year. Dancers will also be potentially competing in competitions throughout the year. Black tap shoes are requires for tap class, pink ballet shoes for ballet class, tan jazz shoes for jazz class, tan half soles for contemporary class, and black hip hop shoes for hip hop class. Acro classes will be barefoot.
- First Class $70 per month
- Each additional class $20 per month
- All 6 classes $135
Diamond Classes
This is for dancers ages 14 + unless advised by a teacher. Dancers will be learning the fundamentals of each style at an advanced level, and choreography for a recital at the end of the year. Dancers will also be potentially competing in competitions throughout the year. Black tap shoes are required for tap class, pink ballet shoes for ballet class, tan jazz shoes for jazz class, and black hip hop shoes for hip hop class. Acro classes will be barefoot.
- First class $70 per month
- Each additional class $20 per month
- All 6 classes $135
Solos, Duets, and Trios
Dancers will be selected by teachers to participate in any of these activities. Dancers do not have to participate in a solo, duet, or trio if they are not interested. Parents will be contacted before dancers to be sure they are ok with the extra class/classes.
Gold Classes
This is an all boys group! Dancers will be learning the fundamentals of each style at a beginner/intermediate level, and choreography for a recital at the end of the year. Dancers will be potentially competing in competitions throughout the year. Black Hip Hop shoes will be required. Acro will be done barefoot.
- Acro $50 per month
- Hip Hop $50 per month
- Hip Hop and Acro $70 per month
Dance Class Schedule
Classes are held at the Y Arts Center at 14-16 West Main Street except for Saturday classes which are at 110 West Main Street.
Monday Upstairs:
- 5:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Emerald Tap
- 5:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Sapphire Tap
- 6:00 p.m. - 6:45 p.m. Diamond Jazz
- 6:45 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Diamond Ballet
Monday Downstairs:
- 5:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Sapphire Ballet
- 5:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Emerald Ballet
- 6:00 p.m.- 6:30 p.m. Gold Acro
- 6:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Gold Hip Hop
Tuesday Upstairs:
- 5:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Ruby Ballet
- 5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Ruby Acro
- 6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Ruby Jazz
Tuesday Downstairs:
- 5:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Pearl Acro
- 5:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Pearl Ballet
- 6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Pearl Jazz
Wednesday Upstairs:
- 5:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Emerald Hip Hop
- 5:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Emerald Acro
- 6:00 p.m. - 6:45 p.m. Diamond Tap
- 6:45 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Diamond Acro
Wednesday Downstairs:
- 5:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Sapphire Hip Hop
- 5:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Sapphire Acro
Thursday Upstairs:
- 5:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Ruby Tap
- 5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Pearl Tap
- 6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Pearl Contemporary
- 6:30 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. Diamond Contemporary
- 7:15 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Diamond Hip Hop
Thursday Downstairs:
- 5:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Pearl Hip Hop
- 5:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Ruby Hip Hop
- 6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Ruby Contemporary
Friday:
- Reserved for Solo’s, Duets, and Trios
Saturday at Meriden YMCA at 110 West Main Street:
- 10:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Tiny Gem Tap
- 11:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Tiny Gem Ballet
- 11:44 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Tiny Gem Acro
More Information
- Please bring a snack and water for snack break. Dancers should wear clothes that are comfortable to move in. No jeans or skirts without leotards.
- Please contact us if you have questions about dance shoes. Call, text or email Carolyn at (203) 494-0651 or cdaniels@meridenymca.org.
- Parking for Art Center is in the lot behind the building or in the lot on Hanover Street.
- Dance with us during the summer at Mountain Mist Day Camp! Visit our Performing Arts Camps page to learn more. Mountain Mist Dance Camp
How To Register for Programs:
1. If you already have a current membership you can register online, by phone at (203) 235.6386, or in-person at the Meriden YMCA at 110 West Main Street.
2. If you do not have a membership yet or need to update your membership, register in person at the Meriden YMCA at 110 West Main Street.
Contact Amber at (860) 550.1089 or aganaros@meridenymca.org with any questions you may have.
Meet Our Instructors
Miss Amber
Amber Ganaros started her dancing career at a young age, training in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, and Contemporary. She has performed at many dance competitions throughout the New England area, and was invited to International Dance Competition’s national competition. Amber received a performing arts scholarship upon attending Dean College in Franklin Massachusetts as a dance major. She graduated cum laude receiving her degree in the performing arts in the year 2013. At Dean, Amber perfected her technique in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Modern. She also took extensive classes focused on working with and teaching children such as creative movement, and pedagogue for dancers. Amber also took a dance composition class, focusing on different styles of choreographing, dance history classes, and rhythmic analysis classes.
After college, Amber continued to share her passion for dance, teaching at many different schools across the New England area. She has taught Ballet, Tap, Contemporary, Modern, Acro, Jazz, and Technique classes to children of all ages. She has also choreographed many competition pieces, four of which have received first place titles in their divisions. Amber has received two choreography awards at Nexstar National Talent Competition, one for Hip Hop and one for Contemporary.
Amber has attended the Pulse Annual Teacher Convention in New York City Twice. There she took classes perfecting her skills in dance and sat in on lectures with other instructors, learning different methods of teaching for all different styles of dance. She believes “as a dance teacher, you should never stop learning, and improving your art”. She has also attended several classes at Broadway Dance Center in New York City for all styles of dance.
In 2016 Amber opened her own dance studio in Middletown Connecticut where she taught students of all ages Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Acro, Creative Movement, and technique classes. She has taken her students to multiple competitions around the New England area winning high scores at every competition. She has also invited other talented instructors to run workshops at her studio to help her students branch out and learn from other instructors and perfect their skills in every area of dance.
Amber continues to strengthen her technical skills by attending classes and workshops as much as possible. She is a well practiced teacher devoted to sharing her passion with her students.
Miss Sydney
Sydney Fluker found her passion for dance in 2016. She studied tap, jazz, ballet, contemporary and hip hop. Sydney has attended many technique classes and workshops. For the past three years she taught to all ages in tap, jazz, ballet, contemporary, hip hop and acro. Sydney also helped out during studio events like registration, workshops, parties and the recital.
When Sydney is not at the dance studio she works in a childcare center and has many years of babysitting for families. Sydney is always in the studio any chance she has to improve her skills.