Dari Pennino Dance Academy

Welcome, Louisiana dance enthusiasts and families! For decades, the name Dari Pennino has been synonymous with dance excellence in our region. **Dari Pennino Dance Academy**, located in Marrero, holds a significant place in the local arts scene, with a history spanning over 35 years of turning out accomplished dancers. Owned and directed by Dari Pennino herself, this academy has been a training ground for countless individuals who have gone on to achieve success both professionally and as studio owners. The academy prides itself on producing "top notch dance recitals" with meticulous attention to "costumes, lights, stage design and choreography," aiming to create "an awesome show for all who attend." While every business has its share of diverse feedback, the longevity and the documented success of its students, including national titles and choreography awards, speak to a foundational commitment to dance education and artistic development within our community.

Dari Pennino Dance Academy is conveniently located at **2420 Barataria Blvd, Marrero, LA 70072, USA**. This prime location on Barataria Boulevard places the academy in a highly accessible area within Marrero, making it a convenient destination for residents across the Westbank and the wider New Orleans metropolitan area. Barataria Boulevard is a well-known and easily navigable thoroughfare, ensuring straightforward commutes whether you are coming from nearby communities like Harvey, Belle Chasse, or even across the Crescent City Connection from the Eastbank. The ease of access is a significant advantage for busy families, as it helps minimize travel time, allowing for consistent and timely attendance at classes and rehearsals. Ample parking options in the vicinity are generally available, further contributing to the convenience for parents during drop-off and pick-up, and for adult dancers attending sessions. This strategic placement in Marrero underscores Dari Pennino Dance Academy's dedication to serving the local community by providing a long-standing and established dance education in a central and user-friendly setting. The accessibility of the facility supports continuous engagement in dance training, fostering discipline and artistic growth without unnecessary logistical hurdles.

Dari Pennino Dance Academy offers a comprehensive range of services, designed to cultivate strong dancers from foundational skills to advanced performance, building on decades of experience in dance education.

• Diverse Dance Disciplines: The academy provides instruction in a variety of classical and contemporary dance styles. These include Ballet, which serves as the foundational skill for all other styles, emphasizing alignment, flexibility, and strength. They also offer Tap, focusing on rhythm, syncopation, and improvisation; Lyrical, combining elements of ballet and jazz for storytelling through movement; Hip Hop, a high-energy class with modern R&B and pop sounds; Jazz, an expressive style incorporating turns, jumps, and kicks; and Contemporary, an expressive form blending lyrical, modern, jazz, and ballet.
• Progressive Skill Levels: Classes are structured in four levels: beginner, beginner/intermediate, intermediate, and advanced. Class placement is determined by skill level, with students often repeating levels to achieve mastery, ensuring a tailored learning experience for every student.
• Technique, Stretch & Strengthen Classes: These specialized classes focus on incorporating cross-conditioning for strength and explosive power, proper muscle usage, and center barre work. The emphasis is on developing beautiful lines, turnout, core and pelvis usage, balance, and dynamic and static stretching.
• Performance Opportunities (Annual Revue): The academy is known for producing "top notch dance recitals" (Revues), showcasing student talent. Dari Pennino herself takes pride in developing the costumes, lights, stage design, and choreography to create an "awesome show for all who attend."
• Competition Opportunities: Students have successfully competed in national competitions, winning titles such as Mr. Dance and Miss Dance, achieving multiple choreography awards, and placing 1st overall in various categories (solos, duo/trios, small groups, large groups).
• Professional Faculty: The faculty includes highly experienced professionals like Dari Pennino, who has over 35 years of experience and trained in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Derek, a New Orleans native, also brings extensive training from top studios in NYC, Chicago, and Los Angeles, having choreographed for the Super Bowl Halftime Show and judged on Dance Moms. Brittney Lee, a DPDA graduate, also serves on the teaching faculty.
• Development of Well-Rounded Dancers: The academy's curriculum is designed to teach precise technique, musicality, body alignment, and performance presence, which are essential elements for becoming a well-rounded dancer.

Dari Pennino Dance Academy is notable for several key features and highlights that have contributed to its long-standing presence and impact in the Louisiana dance community.

• Decades of Experience and Professional Legacy: With over 35 years of operation under the direction of Dari Pennino, the academy has a proven track record of "turning out professional dancers." This extensive history speaks to the consistent quality and dedication of its training programs.
• Highly Accomplished Faculty: The presence of instructors like Dari Pennino herself, with her extensive training and experience in industrial shows and choreography, alongside Derek, who has choreographed for the Super Bowl Halftime Show and judged on Dance Moms, highlights the caliber of instruction students receive. This provides invaluable exposure to high-level dance professionals.
• Award-Winning Student Success: Students from Dari Pennino Dance Academy have achieved significant recognition, including national titles (Mr. Dance, Miss Dance), multiple choreography awards, and numerous 1st place overall finishes in various competition categories. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the academy's training in preparing dancers for competitive success.
• Focus on Production Quality: Dari Pennino takes "so much pride in developing" the costumes, lights, stage design, and choreography for her recitals, ensuring "an awesome show for all who attend." This commitment to high production value provides students with valuable performance experience in a professional setting.
• Comprehensive Dance Curriculum: The academy offers a wide array of dance styles (Ballet, Tap, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Jazz, Contemporary, Technique: Stretch & Strengthen), catering to diverse interests and providing a well-rounded dance education. The progressive leveling system ensures appropriate challenge and growth for all students.
• Alumni Success: The fact that some of Dari Pennino's students have gone on to "operate their own studios and to dance professionally" underscores the academy's success in preparing dancers for careers in the industry.
• Experienced Teacher Training: The faculty's ongoing experience teaching at various studios and conventions across the region and country (as seen with Derek's extensive travels) ensures that students are exposed to the "best and latest in dance" techniques and trends.

For inquiries regarding class schedules, registration, or to learn more about the programs offered at Dari Pennino Dance Academy, please use the following contact information:

• Address: 2420 Barataria Blvd, Marrero, LA 70072, USA
• Phone: (504) 341-5453

For Louisiana locals, particularly those in Marrero and the surrounding Westbank communities, Dari Pennino Dance Academy represents a long-standing institution with a deep commitment to dance education. Its convenient location on Barataria Boulevard ensures easy access for families seeking quality dance instruction without extensive travel. The academy's impressive legacy of over 35 years, coupled with the highly accomplished faculty, offers a unique opportunity for aspiring dancers to train under seasoned professionals who have achieved significant success in the dance world, including national titles and prestigious choreography awards. While some public feedback highlights concerns regarding communication and show content, the academy's historical reputation for producing professional dancers and its consistent focus on developing comprehensive dance skills remain central to its identity. For families prioritizing rigorous technical training and performance opportunities, where students can genuinely learn from experienced choreographers and potentially pursue dance professionally, Dari Pennino Dance Academy offers a dedicated environment rooted in the rich traditions of dance in our Louisiana community.

Dari Pennino Dance Academy

2420 Barataria Blvd, Marrero, LA 70072, USA