Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) Creative Arts Academy’s virtual Dance Mastery program has granted countless students access to high-quality arts education at no cost to their families. With generous funding from the Cleveland Foundation, this free online dance program introduces students to the world of dance while immersing them in modern, hip-hop, ballet and musical theatre.

Kindergarten through eighth grade, students gain improvisational skills through choreography and a final virtual performance held near the end of each semester. The Dance Mastery program works closely with Cleveland schools to safeguard consistency and efficacy, making its after-school approach flexible to fit students’ academic curriculum.

Instructors create videos that break down the choreography and overall lesson for each class, uploading them to a digital learning platform called Flipgrid. Students can pause, rewind and fast-forward each video in order to learn at their own pace. The program includes a synchronous element in its curriculum as well. Every Saturday, students log on to Zoom, where their live dance class takes place in real time — giving them a chance to connect and engage with their instructors and classmates.

Before the College’s holiday break, students were brimming with joy as they presented the results of their hard work, dedication and commitment. Three presentations —ballet, musical theatre dance, and hip-hop — were accompanied by vibrant music selections from The Lion King soundtrack, along with holiday classics like “Jingle Bells.”

12-week courses for the spring semester start on Saturday, January 23rd, 2021.

Registration has begun and is open to the public until further notice. To register, please visit their website or email creativeartsacademy@tri-c.edu with an inquiry.

Noreen D. Thomas

Site Manager, Dance Mastery Community Program
Office Assistant, Arts Prep Creative Arts Academy
Cuyahoga Community College