From the Director...

Welcome to The Dance Centre of Elizabethtown! All of us on the staff hope you will find in your dance training all that you expect and wish for. As you begin, may we remind you that dance is like so many other activities, you will get out of it as much as you are willing to contribute. Regular attendance at class, serious attention to corrections, earnest application to what you are learning ..this is the underlying foundation of outward progress and achievement. These we cannot force on you, but through our system of training, our staff will encourage you to find within yourself all that will lead you to accomplish the goals you set.

For all of you who are willing to make an equal commitment of effort, we promise that your study of dance will be exciting and valuable in all avenues of your life, not just in physical movement.

The staff is always available by appointment to discuss your training. Please feel free to call on us at any time.

With all good wishes,

Sherry L. Barnard

History of The Dance Centre

The Dance Centre of Elizabethtown, since it’s opening in 1977, has established and maintained the highest standards of training in the art and discipline of dance. On two separate occasions, The Dance Centre has been invited by The Louisville Orchestra to perform in their Family Series Concerts ~ once with Bob McGrath of televisions’s “Sesame Street" and once with “Garfield and Odie - Music is My Life”. We have worked with King’s Productions of Ohio (King’s Island) in providing dancers for costumed characters such as ‘Fred Flintstone’ and ‘Scoobie Doo’ for local audiences. A number of our students have gone on to dance professionally in Ballet Companies, Las Vegas and even on Broadway in New York.

The Dance Centre is conveniently located near the intersection of US 62 and College Street and across the street from the Elizabethtown Police Complex. Our teaching staff includes some of the most highly qualified professionals in the area. Our facility has two large dance rooms, two restrooms, a large student dressing room, office, costume room, and prop/tech room. All classes are taught in a warm and friendly but disciplined atmosphere to make learning dance a truly rewarding experience. Class size is limited to ensure low student/teacher ratio, and many classes also have teaching assistants to provide additional help to the class.

All students are evaluated and placed individually according to their ability. Please understand that different students progress at different rates and we will always assign students to the class level where they will benefit the most. This means that so-called “promotions” to a higher level are not automatic and not necessarily related to age or years of study. Our first concern is always where the student will be best placed.

THE STUDENT DIVISION offers classes in Classical Ballet, beginning with the exploration of movement and rhythm for the young child, progressing to pre-professional training. Ballet instruction is based on the esteemed Cechetti and Vagonova syllabus. Classes in Jazz, Tap, Modern are also available. Upon occasion, our students have participated in dance competitions in conjunction with Dance Ed. Of America, Star Systems of America, and Dance Olympus, and have won a number of awards for their efforts. In the past, even our teaching staff participated in a dance competition as a fund raiser for the Leukemia Foundation and returned home with a first place award. Please keep in mind, however, that as rewarding as some dance competitions may be, our main focus is always on dance education with competitions as a fun, extracurricular activity. Frequently, we will attend out of state weekend dance conventions to offer.