Business Details
28 Years
experience
Premier Dance Education in Ada, MI
Ada Dance Academy has been nurturing young artists through dance education for over 25 years. Founded by Marlene Kenneway and now led by Margie Vizurraga and Stephen Sanford, our academy combines classical ballet training with diverse genres to build foundational life skills. Our faculty includes internationally recognized instructors with professional performance histories exceeding a decade. We offer tailored classes for all ages, emphasizing technical excellence and artistic expression. Our students consistently achieve top honors at competitions like YAGP and have joined prestigious companies such as New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre.Through guest masterclasses and summer intensives with industry leaders like Ariel Serrano, we provide unparalleled training opportunities. Our commitment to customer satisfaction ensures personalized guidance for every dancer's journey. With a legacy of producing award-winning performers and fostering community through dance, we remain dedicated to empowering students to realize their full potential.
Services
Ballet Training
Lyrical Dance
Contemporary Classes
Jazz Instruction
Tap Workshops
Hip Hop Programs
Summer Intensives
Competition Preparation
Guest Masterclasses
Performance Coaching
Details
- Year established: 1998
Highlights and features
- We offer 25+ years of proven dance education expertise
- Our faculty includes instructors with 10+ years professional performance experience
- Students regularly earn top awards at YAGP and UBC competitions
- We provide guest masterclasses with internationally renowned artists
- Our alumni perform with prestigious companies worldwide
Associations and certifications
- Studio of Excellence Award
What people say
World-class instructors
Competitive success
Professional placements
Expert guest teachers
Technical excellence
Services
Ballet Training
Our comprehensive ballet program develops technical mastery from beginner to professional levels. Students receive rigorous training in classical technique, pointe work, and performance artistry. With faculty including former principal dancers and company members, we prepare students for competitive success and professional careers while emphasizing proper alignment and injury prevention.
Summer Intensives
Four-week immersive training programs feature masterclasses with industry leaders like Ariel Serrano. Participants refine technique through daily ballet, partnering, and variation classes. Designed for advanced dancers, these intensives offer professional development opportunities and personalized coaching. Limited enrollment ensures individualized attention in a focused studio environment.
Competition Preparation
Specialized training for competitive success includes choreography development, stage presence coaching, and performance critique. Our students consistently earn top scores at YAGP and UBC competitions. We focus on technical precision, artistic expression, and competition strategy tailored to each dancer's strengths and competition requirements.
Guest Masterclasses
Monthly workshops with visiting artists provide fresh perspectives and advanced training. Professional dancers and choreographers conduct technique classes and artistic seminars. These sessions expose students to diverse teaching methodologies and industry trends while expanding professional networks through direct interaction with working artists.
Adult Dance Classes
Recreational ballet and contemporary classes cater to adult learners seeking fitness and artistic expression. Our non-competitive environment focuses on technical development and movement joy. Classes accommodate varying experience levels while maintaining professional instruction standards that benefit both casual dancers and returning professionals.
People
Margie Vizurraga
Director
With 40+ years teaching experience, Margie directs ballet programs and choreographs performances. Trained under renowned instructors, she established Ada Dance Academy's classical foundation and continues developing curriculum that produces award-winning dancers.
Stephen Sanford
Co-Director
Former Grand Rapids Ballet principal dancer Stephen Sanford co-directs advanced ballet training. His expertise in classical technique and professional performance experience informs our pre-professional programs. He teaches advanced classes and mentors students pursuing dance careers.
Laura Berman
Artistic Director
Laura Berman brings decades of professional experience as former Grand Rapids Ballet Artistic Director. She teaches advanced ballet and stages productions, drawing on her extensive performance background with Pacific Northwest Ballet and other major companies to develop elite talent.
Erica Edwards
Contemporary Instructor
Erica Edwards specializes in contemporary, jazz, and hip hop instruction. With competition coaching experience and a BA in dance, she develops innovative choreography while preparing students for competitive and performance success through modern dance techniques.
Ariel Serrano
Guest Master Teacher
Internationally renowned ballet master Ariel Serrano conducts summer intensives and masterclasses. As co-founder of Sarasota Cuban Ballet School, he shares Cuban-method training techniques with our advanced students, offering unique insights from his distinguished performing and teaching career.
Questions
What dance styles do you teach?
We offer ballet, lyrical, contemporary, jazz, tap, and hip hop classes for all skill levels from beginner to pre-professional.
Do you accept adult students?
Yes, we offer adult classes in ballet and contemporary dance for recreational learners and returning professionals.
How do competition teams work?
Our competition program includes choreography development, private coaching, and performance preparation for YAGP and UBC competitions.
Are there performance opportunities?
Students participate in annual productions and have opportunities to perform in community events and professional collaborations.
What summer programs are available?
Our four-week ballet intensives feature masterclasses with guest artists like Ariel Serrano, focusing on technique refinement and professional development.
How are instructors qualified?
Our faculty includes former principal dancers, competition award winners, and certified instructors with 10+ years professional experience.
