Modern Dance Arts

Hello, fellow Oklahomans! Are you in search of a dance studio where technical precision and artistic growth are paramount? Allow us to introduce you to Modern Dance Arts, a prominent and long-established dance school conveniently located right here in Norman, Oklahoma. For 40 years, Modern Dance Arts has served the Norman community with a steadfast commitment to quality dance education for both children and adults. It has built a reputation for promoting serious dance for serious students, inspiring, educating, and performing within the vibrant local arts scene. If you're a parent seeking a studio that prioritizes strong foundational technique for your aspiring dancer, or an individual eager to delve into the disciplined world of dance, Modern Dance Arts offers an environment geared towards significant artistic advancement.

In this comprehensive article, we will delve into what makes Modern Dance Arts a truly distinctive and highly suitable point of interest for local residents throughout the Oklahoma region. We'll explore its accessible location, the wide array of dance disciplines it offers, the distinctive features and highlights that set it apart, and how you can easily connect with their dedicated team. Our aim is to furnish you with all the essential information, illustrating why Modern Dance Arts is more than just a place to learn choreography; it's a place where exceptional technique is honed, self-confidence and self-esteem are developed, and a profound love for dance as an art form is cultivated, all right here in our local Oklahoma community. The candid feedback from long-term patrons underscores the studio's impact on technical improvement and highlights aspects to consider for prospective students.

Modern Dance Arts is conveniently located at 1423 24th Ave SW, Norman, OK 73072, USA. This address places the studio in a highly accessible part of Norman, making it an ideal choice for residents within the city and those commuting from surrounding Oklahoma communities. Its proximity to major roads within Norman ensures straightforward navigation and minimizes travel time for families and individual students. The area is generally well-established, contributing to the ease of finding the studio.

Accessibility is a key consideration for any local business, especially one that caters to regular attendance like a dance studio. While specific details about parking are not provided, locations in areas like 24th Ave SW in Norman typically offer convenient parking options, whether on-site or nearby, to accommodate daily student drop-offs and pick-ups. This practical ease of access ensures that attending classes is as seamless as possible, allowing students and parents to focus on the dance experience itself rather than logistical concerns. Being a long-standing establishment in the Norman community further solidifies its familiar presence and ease of location for many locals. The studio's commitment to providing quality dance education for four decades from this location underlines its stability and continued role as a significant cultural asset in our vibrant Oklahoma community.

Modern Dance Arts offers a comprehensive and technique-focused curriculum designed to develop well-rounded dancers of all ages and levels. Their programs emphasize a strong technical foundation across various dance styles, ensuring students gain exposure to different forms of dance. Here's a detailed breakdown of their services and classes:

• Beginner Combination Classes:
  • Offered for ages 3-4, 3-4-5 (Saturday), 5-6, and also for older children and teens as an essential basis for dance development through the 5th grade.
  • Each class consists of three parts: Ballet, Tap, and Creative Movement (or Pre-Jazz for older students). This introduction allows students to easily grasp necessary vocabulary, physical skill, and strength.
• Intermediate and Advanced Levels of Combination Classes:
  • Jazz and Tap I (Grades K-1), Jazz and Tap II (Grades 1-2), Jazz and Tap III (Grades 2-4).
  • These classes also maintain a three-part structure (Ballet, Tap, and Pre-Jazz/Creative Movement), offering more challenging skills like sequencing, memorization, and fine motor coordination.
  • As students advance, technical vocabulary becomes more difficult, and they may add other specialized classes.
• Specialized Dance Classes:
  • Jazz Classes: (Jazz I, II, III, IV) Focus on isolation movements, different qualities of movement, and choreographed sequences. Emphasizes the exciting, vibrant, and dynamic qualities of jazz, relevant for musical theater.
  • Tap Classes: (Tap I/II, III/IV) Instill rhythmic patterns, musical counting, and sequential phrasing. Develops coordination through challenging combinations. Essential for musical theater.
  • Modern Technique Classes: (Fundamentals I, II, III; Modern I, II, III, IV) Based on natural, expressive, and sequential movements. Encourages individuality and emotional expression through various qualities of movement, incorporating improvisation and creative movement.
  • Ballet Classes: Offered at various levels, providing the core foundational technique for all dance development.
  • Hip Hop Classes: Provides exposure to a popular, energetic dance form.
• Competition Dance Programs: For students looking to participate in competitive dance, with specific requirements such as having two technical dance classes (Ballet, Tap, Modern). These programs involve additional tuition and competition fees.
• Performance Opportunities:
  • Works In Progress Performance: Held at the studio at the end of January, providing an informal showcase.
  • Year-End Concert: A formal, fully staged production at the Oklahoma City Community College Performing Arts Center Theatre at the end of May.
• Student Placement and Advancement: Students are carefully placed into levels based on their ability and progress, not solely on age or years of study. New students for advanced study must audition.
• Parents Watch Week: The studio hosts two "Parents Watch Weeks" (fall and spring semesters) to allow parents to observe their child's development, as regular class observation is not permitted to help students concentrate.

Modern Dance Arts distinguishes itself in the Norman, Oklahoma dance community through several key features and highlights that underscore its commitment to serious dance education and student development. These attributes are central to its reputation and impact on dancers.

• Strong Emphasis on Form and Technique: A paramount highlight, as strongly attested by customer reviews, is the studio's dedication to improving dancers' "form and technique." One parent noted "immense improvement in my daughter's form and technique" in just five months, indicating a rigorous and effective training methodology. The studio explicitly states its belief in a "strong technical foundation across all dance styles."
• High Expectations in an Encouraging Environment: The instructors, particularly Ms. Felicia, are praised for "pushing" dancers "in a good way," leading to physical soreness after practice—a sign of effective, challenging training. This indicates a culture that balances demanding standards with an encouraging and nurturing approach, fostering significant growth.
• Individual Attention and Feedback: A crucial benefit highlighted by a customer is the provision of "individual attention" through "good and some not so good critiques." This personalized feedback is invaluable for detailed improvement, a feature often lacking in larger, less focused studios.
• Qualified and Experienced Instructors: The studio prides itself on having "highly trained within their field of dance" instructors "committed to ongoing learning and growth as dance educators," ensuring professional and up-to-date teaching methods.
• Comprehensive and Diverse Curriculum: Offering a wide array of classes including Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, and Hip Hop, and structured combination classes for younger students, ensures a well-rounded dance education. This breadth allows students to gain exposure to various forms and develop versatile skills.
• Clear Path for Competitive Dancers: The structured requirements for competition dance (e.g., needing two technical classes) indicate a commitment to preparing dancers rigorously for competitive stages, appealing to those with serious aspirations.
• Formal Performance Opportunities: The "Works In Progress Performance" and a "fully staged production at the Oklahoma City Community College Performing Arts Center Theatre" provide significant performance experience, essential for a dancer's development and confidence.
• Structured Placement and Progression: Student placement is based on "ability and progress," not just age, ensuring students are in levels where they can truly thrive and be challenged appropriately.

While the studio excels in technical training, it's worth noting a review's mention of facility updates and cost concerns. However, the core strength remains its dedication to dance education.

For those interested in enrolling in classes, inquiring about specific programs, or learning more about Modern Dance Arts, here is their direct contact information:

• Address: 1423 24th Ave SW, Norman, OK 73072, USA
• Phone: (405) 329-8982
• Mobile Phone: +1 405-329-8982

For the most current class schedules, pre-enrollment dates, and detailed information about their programs, it is highly recommended to call the studio directly or visit their official website. They also post class status updates on their Facebook page, particularly for inclement weather.

For the residents of Norman, Oklahoma, and the wider Central Oklahoma region, Modern Dance Arts stands as a highly suitable and significant local institution for dance education, particularly for those who prioritize strong technical training and serious artistic development. Its long-standing presence and unique approach make it a valuable asset to our community.

Firstly, its established location at 1423 24th Ave SW in Norman offers practical accessibility. Being within Norman means that local families and individuals can conveniently access quality dance instruction without extensive travel, making consistent attendance feasible for busy schedules. This local convenience ensures that more aspiring dancers in our community have the opportunity to pursue their passion.

Secondly, and most prominently, Modern Dance Arts is renowned for its unwavering commitment to technical excellence. As highlighted by a parent's experience, children show "immense improvement in... form and technique" in a relatively short period, and instructors like Ms. Felicia are praised for "pushing her (in a good way)." This focus on rigorous training, combined with individual attention and constructive critiques, is precisely what makes the studio appealing to families "serious about dance." For locals, this means investing in an education that truly builds a strong foundation, preparing students for advanced levels and competitive stages, and instilling a high level of discipline that translates into other areas of life.

Furthermore, the studio's comprehensive curriculum, offering everything from beginner combination classes in Ballet, Tap, and Creative Movement to specialized classes in Jazz, Modern, and Hip Hop, ensures a well-rounded dance education. This diversity allows students to explore various styles and develop versatile skills, all within one dedicated institution. The formal performance opportunities, culminating in a fully staged production at the Oklahoma City Community College Performing Arts Center Theatre, provide invaluable stage experience and a chance for students to showcase their hard work to the local community.

While a previous review noted some concerns regarding costs and facility updates, the core strength of Modern Dance Arts remains its pedagogical approach and the tangible technical improvements seen in its students. For local families prioritizing high-caliber dance technique and disciplined artistic growth, the value derived from the instruction often outweighs other considerations. In essence, Modern Dance Arts is a crucial part of Norman's cultural fabric, serving as a dedicated hub for serious dance training and artistic development, making it an excellent choice for committed dancers in our Oklahoma community.

Modern Dance Arts

1423 24th Ave SW, Norman, OK 73072, USA