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Welcome to Creative Dance Arts

ABOUT US

All of us at CDA love to dance. We began in 1989 and can’t stop! Our teachers are gifted individuals who feel called to inspire and share their love of movement with students of all ages. CDA is a fun place to learn and experience lots of different dance styles: Hip Hop, Tap, Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical and Flamenco. We just added Tumbling which is lots of fun and takes dance routines to the next level of excitement. CDA offers over 50 classes a week including combos for kids ages 3+4, 4+5, and 5+6. We are known for our classical ballet program and for our outstanding hip hop division. These classes are really popular, with lots of choices for all ages and levels, including classes for boys. Our teachers have all grown up dancing in private and public schools with advanced degrees and national certification. We have lots of performing experience and have been sharing our love of dance in classrooms for years and years. We bring in guest teacher-choreographers throughout the season so students can experience new methods and styles of movement. Every year we are thrilled to have U of A Dance majors as a part of the teaching staff sharing their diverse backgrounds and passion with our students. CDA offers a Summer Program of weekly dance camps in June and a Performance Workshop in July. Students at CDA who want to perform throughout the next school year start learning choreography for dance pieces in July as company members of Arizona Dance Theatre. Rehearsals for The Nutcracker are open to the entire community and begin in July at CDA. They continue on Saturdays throughout the fall for Arizona Dance Theatre’s production in December. Our Annual Summer Concert at Pima Community College is an outstanding community event and a wonderful opportunity to perform for every student at Creative Dance Arts. Our 21st Season begins August 14th. We’d love to meet you; so come in and dance!

CURRICULUM

We offer classes for Pre-School, Kinder, Elementary and six technique levels: Beginning through Advanced. Designations of class level by number on our schedule should not be considered grade levels. Change of level is not automatic; rather, the student's age, frequency of class attendance, interest level, concentration and natural ability are all taken into consideration as the teachers and director suggest class levels for individual needs. Ballet students are considered for pointe work based on their body alignment, strength and technical maturity. A minimum of two technique classes in ballet must be taken per week in order to participate in a pointe class. Students who have reached Intermediate and Advanced Levels in a chosen dance style must be enrolled in a minimum of two technique classes in that dance style and must include Ballet in their studies when they reach Level Three.

ARIZONA DANCE THEATRE

This semi-professional student company was established in the fall of 2002 as an Arizona non-profit organization and federally recognized non-profit corporation. Dancers are selected as members through auditions. Company members along with guest artists perform at home and in the greater Phoenix area. The repertoire encompasses a variety of dance styles: classical ballet, jazz, lyric/contemporary, hip hop and tap. Dance Magnificat participates in city and state-wide collaborative dance productions, regional dance competitions and seasonal concerts including The Nutcracker Ballet. This performing company is supported by the generous efforts of volunteers. The Tucson Pima Arts Council and donations from our community. Arizona Dance Company is directed by Kandis Meinel.

Artistic Director

Kandis Meinel is a graduate of the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a Master of Sciene in Exercise and Sports Sciences. Her thesis work "Assessment of Lateral Hip Rotation and Lower Extremity Alignment During 'Turnout' in Ballet" was presented in the 1988 Annual Meeting for the American Colleger of Sports Medicine and published as an abstract in Volume 20, No. 2 of the journal, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. Kandis began dancing in Buffalo, New York at the age of eight. She continued at the school for the Joffrey Ballet in New York City. Her mentor, George Zoritch, was a principal dancer with the renowned Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. This Company performed across the United States bringing the first full-scale ballet to Americans. In Tucson, Kandis has worked with Tucson Metropolitan Ballet, Tucson Regional Ballet and Arizona Dance Theatre. She has taught for the University of Arizona, School of Dance as a graduatre treaching assistant, and guest teaches at Ballet Continental in Greern Valley. Ms. Meinel has served on the Board of Directors for the Arizona Dance Arts Alliance, and is a current member of Dance Educators of America.

School/Store Location

CREATIVE DANCE ARTS is located in northwest Tucson, at 5741 N. Oracle Road on the west side of the street. The school is located between River Road on the south and Rudasill Road on the north Housed in two buildings, there are three dance studios, four bathrooms, two student changing rooms and spacious lobbies for parents and students. The administration office and DANCERS BOUTIQUE (a store for shoes, clothing and accessories) is found in the west building.

PREPARATION FOR ATTENDING CLASS

Students must wear appropriate dance clothes and shoes for the specific dance class enrolled in. No street shoes, sneakers, over-sized tee shirts, baggy shorts/pants will be permitted. Please do not wear necklaces, bracelets, and over-sized earrings in the classroom. Ballet students are expected to wear their hair up and off their necks in a neat bun; ponytails are not acceptable. Teens and adults are encouraged to dress in regular clothes to and from class for their own safety. Dance shoes are not designed for outdoor use; wearing them on the street will ruin the dance floors in the studios. A dance bag is recommended to carry shoes and clothing. Purses and jewelry can be brought into the classroom and stored under the music counter during the class period.

CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE

Reasonable rules and standards are provided to promote self-discipline. Students should arrive at the school with sufficient time to change into practice clothes to begin class on time. Students who arrive 10 minutes after the scheduled class time are welcome to observe the class; however, they will not be permitted to participate unless there is an extenuating circumstance. If students need to leave before the end of the class, they should notify the teacher before class begins. Students may not leave the classroom without first receiving permission from the teacher. As employees of CREATIVE DANCE ARTS, teachers have the responsibility to see that their class is under control, and they have the authority to dismiss any student who will not cooperate and is a disruption to the rest of the class. Inappropriate dress or behavior will not be allowed. No gum, food or drinks will be permitted inside the classrooms during scheduled class periods. Only water is permitted in the studios.