Grow and Learn with us!
Dance and learn
This class specifically for children aged 3-4 uses creative movement, music and sound, imaginative storytelling and books to develop young children's early literacy skills, coordination, teamwork and social-emotional skills. And, most importantly, be a joyful and fun learning experience!
Each 10-week theme-based session includes ten 1-hour classes with a degree holding teachers and ballet dancers. Caregivers are welcome to view the last class of the session, but are encouraged to remain in the waiting area during the first nine classes.
Saturdays 8:30 - 9:30 am - Janis, lead teacher, Avery assisting
Saturdays 9:30 - 10:30 am - Janis, lead teacher, Neli assisting
10-week session - $200
One-time registration fee - $25
Please email us for information on sibling discounts, returning student discounts, and scholarship spots!
Meet the Teachers
Janis Walker began dancing at the early age of 3. She attended Alton Dance Academy in Alton, NH under the direction of Ashley Dowling for 16 years training in ballet, pointe, jazz, modern, contemporary, character, and dance history. Here she went on to perform lead roles including Smee in “Peter Pan” and Anna in “A Frozen Tale” while also finding her love for teaching through teacher assisting. She graduated high school with an honors induction into the National Honor’s Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA). Through this membership she was recognized for her artistic merit, academic achievements, and leadership skills throughout her educational experiences. Janis has recently graduated from Dean College’s Joan Phelps Palladino School of Dance in Franklin, MA with her Bachelor of the Arts in Dance Pedagogy with a minor in psychology and a collegiate induction into NHSDA. During her time at Dean, she studied various dance techniques from expert faculty including Jill Silverman, Roshni Pecora, Sheramy Teegan-Turcotte, Kristina Berger, and Lindsey Klein. She also took various pedagogy courses from Jill Silverman, Luciano Aimar, and Stephen Tracey-Ursprung. Janis also spent her senior year researching the impact of storytelling within dance classes for young children.
Janis’s teaching experience includes teaching a pre-jazz class as well as both intermediate and advanced summer intensives at Alton Dance Academy, as well as interning at the Boston Ballet School during their Ballet Arts & Exploration summer program. Janis’s mission as a dance teacher is to foster a positive learning environment using her passion for dance to instill a lifelong love and appreciation for dance within her students.
Avery Saulnier de Reyes is a professional ballet dancer and also a licensed K-12 reading specialist and ESL teacher. Holding a Master of Arts in Teaching, and a post-graduate degree in the study of reading and related cognitive processes, she has 19 years of teaching experience, working with young children through adults in both dance and academic settings. She also is mom to three daughters. Avery taught creative movement with integrated early literacy for four years before the pandemic, and is excited to welcome young children back to the studio to Dance and Learn!
Assistant Eleanor Reyes is a competitive ballroom dancer and enjoys helping young children and others. She assists dance teachers at Star Dance School and at United Dance’s courses for youth and young adults with Down Syndrome. She’s excited to work with the teachers and kids in the Dance and Learn classes this spring!