Beyond Ballet: Tap and Contemporary Dance

By Stephanie Gronholz, Studio Co-Owner & Director
Master's in Education | 20+ Years Teaching Experience

While Sandra's Studio of Dance is known for our exceptional Royal Academy of Dance ballet program, we've thoughtfully expanded our offerings to include tap and contemporary dance. These aren't afterthoughts or lesser alternatives—they are dance forms that beautifully complement classical ballet training or serve as wonderful dance experiences in their own right.

In my many years of working with children, I've seen how different movement styles meet different needs. Some dancers thrive in the structured world of classical ballet, while others come alive with the rhythmic freedom of tap or the expressive flow of contemporary. Many of our students discover that combining styles makes them stronger, more versatile dancers—and simply brings them more joy.

Why We Do Tap and Contemporary

We want to honor the legacy of excellence in classical ballet while also recognizing that today's young dancers benefit from variety. Here's what drove our decision to expand:

Different Learning Styles: Not every child learns best through the highly structured RAD curriculum. Some need the immediate gratification of tap sounds or the emotional outlet of contemporary movement.

Complementary Skills: Each dance form develops different aspects of musicality, coordination, and artistry that actually enhance ballet training.

Flexibility in Programming: Without set curricula to follow, our teachers can adapt classes to meet students exactly where they are and create more frequent, low-key performance opportunities.

Pure Enjoyment: Sometimes the goal isn't perfect technique—it's the sheer joy of moving to music and expressing yourself.

The Magic of Tap Dance

Tap dance offers something truly unique in the dance world: you are both the dancer and the musician. This creates incredible benefits for developing dancers:

  • Rhythm and Musicality

    • In ballet, dancers move to music. In tap, dancers create the music. This fundamental difference develops an internal sense of rhythm that enhances every other form of dance. Students learn to feel the beat in their bodies in a way that's immediately audible and very satisfying.

  • Coordination and Brain Development

    • Tap requires coordination between feet, often with different rhythms happening simultaneously. This challenges the brain in ways that support cognitive development and body awareness. The complexity increases gradually, making it accessible to beginners while offering endless challenges for advanced students.

  • Getting the Wiggles Out

    • Let's be honest—some kids need to make noise and move! Tap provides a perfect outlet for this natural exuberance. Instead of asking energetic children to be still and controlled (as ballet sometimes requires), tap celebrates their natural rhythm and movement impulses.

  • Immediate Feedback and Fun

    • Unlike ballet, where progress can be subtle and take time to see, tap provides instant gratification. Every step creates sound, every combination has an immediate result. This builds confidence quickly and keeps students engaged and motivated.

Four Tap Levels for Progressive Learning

We offer tap dance classes for children as young as 5, at which point that have the required strength and coordination to execute basic steps. Our tap program offers four levels for children, with placement based on teacher recommendations rather than age. This ensures each student is appropriately challenged while building skills systematically:

  • Beginning Tap (minimum age 5): Basic sounds, simple combinations, lots of fun

  • Elementary Tap: More complex rhythms, traveling combinations

  • Intermediate Tap: Intricate footwork, musicality challenges

  • Advanced Tap: Performance-level combinations, improvisation skills

The Beauty of Contemporary Dance

Contemporary dance offers something that classical ballet, with all its beauty and discipline, cannot: complete freedom of expression through movement. This style has become increasingly popular because it speaks to something essential in young people—the need to move authentically and express their inner world.

  • Freer Style of Movement

    • While ballet has specific positions and prescribed ways of moving, contemporary dance encourages students to explore their own movement preferences and natural body rhythms. This freedom can be incredibly liberating for students who feel constrained by ballet's structure.

  • Emotional Expression and Outlet

    • Contemporary dance provides a healthy way for young people to process emotions and express feelings that might be difficult to put into words. The movement itself becomes a form of communication and self-discovery.

  • Athletic and Artistic Development

    • Contemporary dance is highly athletic, building strength, flexibility, and coordination while also developing artistry and personal style. Students learn to use their entire body as an instrument of expression.

Three Age-Based Contemporary Classes

Children can begin contemporary dance at the age of 7; we have found that they have more control of their bodies by this stage of development and can move through big, expressive movements more safely. We structure our contemporary program by age group in light of the program’s adaptability and to encourage peer connections:

  • Elementary Contemporary (minimum age 7): Creative movement, storytelling through dance, basic contemporary techniques

  • Middle School Contemporary: More complex techniques, emotional expression, beginning improvisation

  • High School Contemporary: Advanced techniques, choreographic projects, pre-professional level training

How These Styles Complement Ballet Training

For students who also take ballet, tap and contemporary offer valuable cross-training benefits:

From Tap to Ballet:

  • Enhanced musicality and rhythm

  • Improved coordination and quick footwork

  • Stronger sense of timing and phrasing

  • Increased confidence and performance energy

From Contemporary to Ballet:

  • Greater range of expression and artistry

  • Improved use of upper body and port de bras

  • Enhanced emotional connection to movement

  • Stronger, more flexible body overall

From Both Styles:

  • Versatility as a performer

  • Broader movement vocabulary

  • Increased enjoyment and passion for dance

  • Better understanding of different musical styles

Perfect as Stand-Alone Programs

Not every dancer needs or wants classical ballet training, and that's perfectly fine. Our tap and contemporary programs are designed to be complete dance educations in their own right.

For the rhythmic child who loves music and sound, tap can provide years of challenging, satisfying training without ever needing ballet.

For the expressive child who wants to tell stories through movement, contemporary offers a complete artistic outlet that develops both technical skills and personal voice.

For the child who wants variety, combining tap and contemporary (with or without ballet) creates a well-rounded dance education that develops multiple skill sets.

Low-Key Performance Opportunities

One of the benefits of not following set curricula is our ability to create more frequent, relaxed performance opportunities. Instead of waiting for the annual recital, tap and contemporary students might perform at:

  • Informal studio showcases

  • Community events

  • Seasonal celebrations

These lower-pressure performance experiences build confidence and stage presence while allowing students to share their progress more regularly.

Which Program is Right for Your Child?

Choose Tap if your child:

  • Loves making rhythms and sounds

  • Has high energy that needs an outlet

  • Enjoys immediate feedback and gratification

  • Is drawn to musical theater or jazz styles

  • Wants to develop strong rhythmic skills

Choose Contemporary if your child:

  • Is naturally expressive and emotional

  • Prefers flowing, athletic movement

  • Wants creative freedom in their dancing

  • Is interested in modern music and movement

  • Seeks an outlet for personal expression

Choose Both if your child:

  • Loves variety and different challenges

  • Wants to be a versatile dancer

  • Enjoys both rhythmic and lyrical movement

  • Is considering dance as a serious pursuit

Our Commitment to Excellence in Every Style

Whether your child chooses ballet, tap, contemporary, or a combination, they'll receive the same level of care and quality instruction that Sandra's Studio of Dance is known for. Our teachers are trained in their specific styles and understand how to nurture young dancers while maintaining appropriate expectations and creating positive learning environments.

We believe every child deserves to find their own way of connecting with music and movement. Sometimes that's through the time-honored traditions of classical ballet. Sometimes it's through the infectious joy of tap rhythms or the authentic expression of contemporary dance.

Most importantly, we believe dance should bring joy, build confidence, and create a lifelong appreciation for the art of movement—regardless of which style captures your child's heart.

Ready to explore beyond ballet? Contact us at 509-838-7464, or email us at spokanestudioofdance@gmail.com Ready to enroll? Click the link below!