Elite Dance Academy

For New Yorkers with a serious passion for dance, particularly those in Queens, Elite Dance Academy in Glendale offers a rigorous and comprehensive training experience. This academy aims to cultivate not just skilled dancers, but also confident, disciplined, and well-rounded individuals. While some dance studios focus purely on recreational enjoyment, Elite Dance Academy appears to cater to those with a more competitive or pre-professional aspiration, emphasizing high-quality training and performance. They strive to be a place where students "not only receive quality training and professional performing experiences but also learn to develop important life skills."

It's important for prospective students and parents to understand the academy's philosophy, which seems geared towards pushing dancers to their full potential, potentially through a disciplined and demanding approach. As one long-time supporter notes, the staff "consistently provided our daughter with a top notch dance education adapting and growing with the ever changing times." This dedication to artistic excellence and progression is a hallmark of Elite Dance Academy, attracting families who value a structured and results-oriented dance environment where students are challenged to excel in their craft and gain significant stage experience through various productions and competitive opportunities.

Elite Dance Academy is located at 79-76 Cooper Ave, Glendale, NY 11385, USA. This address places the studio in the Glendale neighborhood of Queens, a convenient location for many New York families residing in the borough and surrounding areas. Cooper Avenue is a prominent street in Glendale, making the academy relatively easy to find.

For New Yorkers relying on public transportation, Glendale is accessible via a combination of subway and bus routes. While not directly on a major subway line, the area is served by local MTA bus services that connect to subway stations. For instance, bus routes along Cooper Avenue can connect to subway lines that run through Queens, Brooklyn, and ultimately Manhattan. For those traveling by car, the location in Glendale offers a more suburban feel than central Manhattan, potentially making drop-off and pick-up more manageable than in busier areas. This accessibility is a key factor for local families in Queens looking for a dedicated dance studio without the extensive commute often associated with Manhattan-based academies.

Elite Dance Academy offers a wide array of dance classes designed to provide comprehensive training across various styles for students of different ages and skill levels. Their curriculum is structured to support both recreational dancers and those with pre-professional ambitions:

• Ballet: Fundamental training in classical ballet, focusing on technique, grace, alignment, and flexibility, forming the cornerstone of many dance disciplines. Classes are available from ages 5 to adult.
• Tap: Classes that teach rhythmic and percussive footwork using metal-tipped shoes, developing musicality and coordination. Offered for ages 5 to adult.
• Jazz: Energetic classes emphasizing high-energy movement, syncopated rhythms, and expressive gestures, combining elements of ballet and contemporary movement. Available for ages 5 to adult.
• Hip-Hop: Dynamic classes rooted in urban culture, focusing on improvisation, individual style, and contemporary music. Offered for ages 5 to adult.
• Contemporary/Lyrical: Blending elements of modern, jazz, and ballet, these classes encourage self-expression and emotional storytelling through fluid movement. Prior ballet instruction is a requirement for lyrical/contemporary classes (ages 7 to adult).
• Acro Dance/Tumbling: Combines gymnastics techniques with dance to enhance flexibility, strength, and agility, incorporating elements like flips, rolls, and acrobatic maneuvers into routines. This helps students seamlessly integrate these skills into their performances.
• Creative Combo: Designed for younger children (ages 3-4), combining basic ballet, introduction to tap, jazz, or hip hop with creative play and acrobatic tumbling to build coordination and self-expression in a fun environment.
• Jumps, Leaps & Turns: Specialized classes focused on reinforcing core placement and developing technique and strength for powerful jumps, leaps, and turns.
• Summer Dance Classes & Camps: Intensive programs during the summer that often include specialized workshops and themed activities for younger dancers.
• Performance Opportunities: Students have opportunities to participate in dance productions (e.g., "Nutcracker," "Wizard of Oz," "Peter Pan," "Alice in Wonderland"), gaining valuable stage experience and building friendships.
• Competition Teams: Elite Dance Academy has a competitive program for dedicated students, pushing them to excel in various competitions and showcases.
• Salsa for Adults: Offering specific salsa classes for adults, providing a social and energetic way to learn Latin dance.

Elite Dance Academy distinguishes itself with several key features and highlights that are important for prospective students and their families to consider:

• Emphasis on Technical Excellence: The academy is committed to providing "quality training" and developing "professionally trained students." Classes focus on correct technique and fundamental skills across all dance styles.
• Performance-Oriented Opportunities: Students are encouraged to participate in significant dance productions such as "The Nutcracker," "Wizard of Oz," "Peter Pan," and "Alice in Wonderland." This provides invaluable stage experience and a chance to "share their gifts and talents with the community."
• Competitive Program: For those seeking a higher level of challenge, the competition team offers intensive training and opportunities to compete, fostering discipline and achievement.
• Focus on Life Skills: Beyond dance steps, the academy aims to help students "develop important life skills," including building "self-esteem, self-discipline, and self-respect," and learning to be "respectful, confident, and conscientious youth."
• Experienced Instructors: The academy states that its "educators have been handpicked, all with current, relevant skills and experience in the dance world," ensuring high-level instruction.
• Diverse Class Offerings: A wide range of dance styles from classical ballet to hip-hop, tap, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, and acro, catering to varied interests and age groups (from 3 years old to adult).
• Long-Standing Reputation: While one negative review highlights a challenging experience, other long-term positive testimonials and the existence of former students from decades ago suggest a history of providing "top notch dance education."
• Structured Learning Environment: The detailed class descriptions and progression suggest a methodical approach to dance education, aiming for consistent student improvement.

For those in New York looking to connect with Elite Dance Academy, here is their contact information:

Address: 79-76 Cooper Ave, Glendale, NY 11385, USA

Phone: (718) 416-1606

Elite Dance Academy is a suitable choice for New Yorkers, particularly those in Queens, who are seeking a dance school with a strong emphasis on disciplined training and performance opportunities. Its Glendale location offers practical accessibility for local families. While one review points to a demanding teaching style that might not suit all children, the academy's overall mission and the experiences of other students suggest it is dedicated to pushing dancers to achieve high levels of technical proficiency and stage presence. For families who prioritize rigorous training, competitive opportunities, and a structured environment for their aspiring dancers, Elite Dance Academy provides a comprehensive program designed to foster both artistic skill and important life lessons, helping students build confidence and develop a lasting passion for dance.

You can view a short video showing some highlights from their dance academy here: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWATiIjsudY).

Elite Dance Academy

79-76 Cooper Ave, Glendale, NY 11385, USA