Dance Academy of Virginia Introduce
For families and individuals across Virginia, especially those in the McLean area, seeking a premier dance education, look no further than the Dance Academy of Virginia (DAV). This isn't just a studio where children and adults learn dance steps; it's a vibrant community committed to fostering artistic and technical development while nurturing the minds, hearts, and bodies of its students. DAV provides a holistic and enriching environment where the joy of dance meets professional training.
At Dance Academy of Virginia, the philosophy extends beyond the studio walls. They are dedicated to instilling values such as integrity, discipline, compassion, and humility, ensuring that students grow as both dancers and individuals. Whether your child is taking their very first ballet class or you, as an adult, are looking to explore a new dance style, DAV offers a welcoming and supportive space. Their diverse programs cater to all ages and skill levels, from the tiniest dancers to pre-professional aspirants and adults.
What truly sets DAV apart is its unwavering commitment to a healthy, safe, and fun learning environment. They actively promote healthy body image and inclusivity, ensuring that every student feels valued and encouraged to express themselves authentically through movement. This dedication to a positive atmosphere, combined with a comprehensive curriculum across various dance forms, makes Dance Academy of Virginia a standout choice for anyone in the McLean and wider Virginia region passionate about dance.
---The Dance Academy of Virginia is conveniently located at 6723 Whittier Ave L1, McLean, VA 22101, USA. This address places it squarely in McLean, a desirable and accessible area within Northern Virginia, making it an ideal choice for families and individuals residing in McLean, Great Falls, Vienna, Falls Church, and parts of Arlington.
The studio's location on Whittier Avenue offers good accessibility by car, with clear directions to the facility. The mention of "L1" suggests it might be on a lower level, but modern studio facilities often incorporate easy access. Ample parking is typically a consideration for dance studios, and the McLean location is generally conducive to convenient drop-offs and pick-ups for students.
While McLean is primarily car-centric, local bus routes may provide public transportation options, connecting to broader transit networks in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, including nearby Metro stations (such as McLean or Tysons Corner on the Silver Line). For detailed transit information, checking the local Metrobus schedules is always recommended. The accessibility of DAV ensures that families in the surrounding Virginia communities can easily integrate dance education into their weekly schedules, providing a consistent and convenient path for artistic development.
---- Comprehensive Dance Programs: Offering classes in a wide array of dance forms, including Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, Modern, Lyrical, and Contemporary.
- Age-Specific Programs: Catered curricula from "Move with Me" (ages 2-2.5) and "Dancing Tots" (ages 2.5-3.5) to "Little Dancer" (ages 3-4.5), PreK and Kinder programs (ages 4-6.5), Youth & Teen Programs (ages 6-18), and Adult Dance & Fitness classes.
- Pre-Professional Training (Academy Program): An intensive program for ages 7-18 in Classical Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, and Tap, designed to maximize technical skill and artistry for students aspiring to a professional dance career. Admission is by audition/assessment.
- Youth Ensembles: Audition-only programs (Mini Ensemble for rising 2nd-5th grade, Junior & Senior Ensemble for rising 6th-12th grade) providing an encouraging community for dancers to grow as artists and teammates, with additional performance and competition opportunities.
- Performance Opportunities: All students from Little Dancer level and up participate in an annual Spring Recital at a professional theater. There's also a Holiday Showing in December for all students.
- Competition Opportunities: Available for Academy Program students and Youth Ensemble participants who are cast in competition pieces, attending regional conventions and local competitions.
- Adult Dance & Fitness Classes: Including Adult Hip Hop, BarreFit (ballet/dance inspired exercises), Ballet (two levels), and Broadway Tap/Jazz, catering to adults of all skill levels.
- Summer & Holiday Camps: Engaging programs during breaks, often themed, providing fun and continued dance education.
- Private Lessons & Semi-Privates/Small Groups: For personalized instruction and focused skill development.
- Virtual and In-Studio Classes: Offering flexibility with both online and in-person class options, with group classes often streamed live and recorded for convenience.
- Birthday Parties and Studio Rentals: Additional services to engage the community and provide venue options.
- Diverse Dance Forms and Levels: DAV offers an impressive range of dance styles, from classical ballet and tap to modern hip-hop and contemporary, ensuring there's a class for every interest and skill level, from introductory to pre-professional.
- Highly Encouraging and Positive Environment: Customer reviews consistently highlight the studio's "very encouraging, healthy, safe and FUN environment." This positive atmosphere is crucial for fostering a love of dance and continuous learning.
- Wonderful and Professional Team: The instructors and staff are lauded for their dedication and professionalism. They are described as "a wonderful team" committed to nurturing students' potential.
- Holistic Development Focus: Beyond dance technique, DAV promotes "healthy body image and inclusivity," supporting students' physical, creative, social, cognitive, and emotional development. This comprehensive approach ensures well-rounded growth.
- Strong Community and Inclusivity: The studio is praised for being "a very positive and welcoming environment for the kids," fostering strong friendships and a sense of belonging among dancers.
- Experienced Professional Faculty: Classes are taught by esteemed dance professionals, teachers, and choreographers who are committed to cultivating students as both dancers and individuals.
- Comprehensive Performance Opportunities: With annual Spring Recitals at professional theaters, Holiday Showings, and opportunities for Youth Ensembles and Academy students to participate in competitions, students gain invaluable stage experience.
- Focus on Life Skills: DAV aims to empower students to "believe in their unique potential," instilling values like integrity, discipline, commitment, perseverance, and authentic self-expression that extend beyond dance into everyday life.
- "Best of McLean" Recognition: The Dance Academy of Virginia has been recognized for its excellence, reinforcing its strong reputation within the local community.
To learn more about the diverse dance programs or to enroll at the Dance Academy of Virginia, please use the following contact details:
Address: 6723 Whittier Ave L1, McLean, VA 22101, USA
Phone: (703) 891-4292
Mobile Phone: +1 703-891-4292
It is highly recommended to reach out directly via phone or email (info@danceacademyva.com, as found in public data) to inquire about specific class schedules, trial classes, registration details, or any program-specific questions. The dedicated team at DAV will be delighted to assist you and guide you through their offerings.
---For residents throughout Virginia, particularly those in McLean and the surrounding Northern Virginia communities, the Dance Academy of Virginia (DAV) presents an exceptional opportunity for comprehensive dance education. It is profoundly suitable for locals for numerous compelling reasons, making it a true asset to the community.
Firstly, DAV offers an incredibly broad spectrum of dance styles and programs catering to all ages, from toddlers taking their first steps to adults rediscovering their passion, and even aspiring pre-professionals. This ensures that every member of a family can find a suitable and challenging path in dance, all under one roof. The convenience of this variety, combined with flexible virtual and in-studio options, makes it highly practical for busy Virginia families.
Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, the ethos of DAV stands out. Customer reviews consistently highlight the "encouraging, healthy, safe and FUN environment" and the "positive and welcoming" atmosphere. This commitment to holistic development, promoting healthy body image and inclusivity, ensures that students not only learn dance technique but also build confidence, self-esteem, and crucial life skills. The dedicated and professional faculty are praised for their ability to inspire and nurture, making every class a joy.
Finally, the numerous performance and competitive opportunities allow students to showcase their talents and experience the thrill of the stage, further enriching their dance journey. Choosing Dance Academy of Virginia means choosing a place where artistic excellence, personal growth, and community spirit converge, making it an invaluable resource for anyone in the Virginia area looking to embrace the art of dance.
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Dance Academy of Virginia Location
Dance Academy of Virginia
6723 Whittier Ave l1, McLean, VA 22101, USA
Dance Academy of Virginia Reviews
DAV is not just a place for kids to come learn all forms of dance (including ballet, jazz, hip-hop, tap & more!), but they get to learn in a very encouraging, healthy, safe and FUN environment with a wonderful team! They promote healthy body image and inclusivity all while having fun& learning.
Apr 03, 2025 · Trish CalandraThis is my daughter’s first year with DAV and it is absolutely amazing to see how much she looks forward to ballet all week! It’s such a positive and welcoming environment for the kids. I recommend DAV highly for anyone looking for a ballet studio!
Dec 16, 2024 · Sanna RonkainenI am a mom of three Dance Academy of Virginia dancers. One of my daughters dances every day(!) at DAV, including ballet, jazz, modern, tap, lyrical, hip hop, and pointe. Beyond the intensive Academy training, she loves the deep dance friendships. My second daughter takes Youth Jazz and Hip Hop (and is excited about the TikTok class!), and Academy Tap. She is looking forward to local dance competitions in DC (an optional addition) to build performance experience. My third daughter takes Kinder Jazz, Youth ballet twice a week (gearing up for Academy when she is older), and follows in her bigger sisters’ footsteps with Tap, too. I appreciate the support of dance professionals who encourage a healthy body image, safe dance practice and approach to prevent injuries, and deliver high quality training in each genre.I also highly recommend the Adult classes. Mr. Arturo’s Saturday Ballet Barre class is 45 minutes of cardio, dance, and strength training with ballet and contemporary movements, typically in small movements and high reps. Ms. D’s Tap classes are amazing for your energy. Both are fantastic instructors for both kids and adults, making every class movement and exercise, but also learning and fun!Katherine Horrigan, DAV’s founder, was instrumental with building Adagio’s quality dance program. She practices conservative measures with respect to Covid-19 provisions, enabling small group "pods,” tech set up for virtual classes, marking floors with boxes to keep students spread 6 feet apart, teachers and students wearing masks, cleaning between classes, temperature taking, and ventilating the classroom with direct outdoor access, etc. My hope is that this is a place where we will be at home for many years to come!
Aug 19, 2020 · Susan MillerMy daughter was apprehensive in starting ballet at 11 yo but has loved every minute of it at DAV and was so proud of all that she learned and her performance! She is definitely coming back next season!We have been extremely pleased with the quality of instruction which is combined with a fun and encouraging approach to dancing. We appreciate how responsive the staff is and the leadership of the studio is very organized and professional. We can't say enough great things about it!!
Jun 13, 2023 · melody akhavanWhat I appreciate about DAV is their investment in building strong dancers. My 10 yr old daughter has finished her second year as an Academy dancer and has taken classes in jazz, contemporary and ballet. She has such an amazing group of supportive friends through the studio and teachers who aren’t critical or harsh. Dancing has helped my daughter overcome anxiety and the staff at DAV have been supportive and sensitive to her needs and I really appreciate that. I also have a 5 year old who takes ballet and adores her teacher Ms. Sarah Beth, who also happens to be a fantastic choreographer!
Jun 14, 2023 · Lacey Obry
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