Business Details
19 Years
experience
Your Child's Dance Journey Starts Here
Founded in 2007, Westbrook Dance Academy has dedicated itself to providing comprehensive dance education and fostering a lifelong passion for dance. Our experienced instructors emphasize technique, terminology, and mastery of steps across diverse styles, including Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip-Hop, and more. With a focus on fun, challenging, and age-appropriate classes, we cater to students from toddler to adult, recreational to competitive levels. Our award-winning performance teams have earned national championships and accolades at events like the World Dance Championship, reflecting our commitment to excellence. We prioritize the holistic development of students, instilling discipline, creativity, and confidence while maintaining a supportive, family-oriented environment.Over 13 towns are represented in our growing dance community, and our graduates have pursued successful careers in dance, education, and other fields. Our state-of-the-art facility features two studios with professional floors and mirrors, ensuring a safe and inspiring space for learning. We actively engage in community performances, including appearances at Walt Disney World and UCONN basketball games, and offer adaptive dance programs for students of all abilities.
Services
Ballet
Tap
Jazz
Hip-Hop
Acrobatics
Musical Theater
Lyrical
Pointe
Adaptive Dance
Summer Intensives
Details
- Year established: 2007
Highlights and features
- We offer 19+ years of experience in dance education with nationally recognized performance teams.
- Our curriculum combines technical rigor with creative expression across 10+ dance styles.
- We provide personalized attention in small classes with age-appropriate instruction.
- Our faculty includes industry professionals with decades of teaching and performance experience.
- We foster a supportive community focused on holistic student development beyond dance skills.
What people say
Lifelong love of dance
Supportive family environment
Award-winning teams
Experienced instructors
Confidence growth
Services
Ballet
Our ballet program builds foundational technique through structured classes focusing on proper alignment, grace, and vocabulary. Students develop strength and artistry while learning classical and contemporary repertoire. Classes emphasize musicality, discipline, and performance skills, preparing dancers for advanced study or recreational enjoyment. Faculty with professional performance backgrounds provide personalized instruction tailored to each student's ability level.
Hip-Hop
Dynamic hip-hop classes teach current street dance styles including popping, locking, and freestyle movement. Instructors with industry experience guide students through choreography that builds rhythm, coordination, and stage presence. Classes blend technical training with creative expression, culminating in performance opportunities at local and national events for advanced students.
Acrobatics
Acro classes develop flexibility, balance, and strength through safe, progressive skill development. Certified instructors teach proper technique for cartwheels, handsprings, and advanced tricks while emphasizing injury prevention. Mats and spotting ensure student safety, with curriculum aligned to dance performance requirements rather than competitive gymnastics standards.
Summer Intensives
Annual summer programs offer immersive training across multiple genres including ballet, jazz, and musical theater. Week-long intensives feature master classes with guest choreographers and culminate in showcase performances. Specialized tracks for competition preparation and recreational dancers maintain small instructor-to-student ratios for personalized attention.
Adaptive Dance
This specialized program follows Boston Ballet's adaptive curriculum to accommodate students with diverse abilities. Classes focus on motor skill development, musicality, and creative expression in a fully accessible environment. Certified instructors modify techniques to individual needs while fostering social interaction and confidence through group activities.
People
Julie Reed-Russo
Owner/Director/Choreographer/Teacher
With over 25 years teaching experience, Julie trained with industry legends and performed nationally. A certified Dance Educators of America instructor and Acrobatic Arts specialist, she has judged competitions and earned national choreography awards. Her students have achieved professional success in dance and related fields.
Carissa Kee-Conyers
Hip Hop/ACRO Instructor
A 25-year teaching veteran, Carissa holds degrees from Wesleyan University and trained at Alvin Ailey. As MegaHurtz Entertainment's assistant director, she brings professional performance expertise to her classes while volunteering with Special Olympics Connecticut's dance programs.
Julia Moss
Ballet/Pointe Instructor
A Brigham Young University dance graduate, Julia performed with Dance Alliance and specializes in cross-training methodologies. Her teaching emphasizes technical foundation for artistic expression, drawing from experience in classical ballet and contemporary repertoires during her professional performance career.
Bailee Columber
Ballet Instructor
A former Grand Rapids Ballet Company member, Bailee holds a B.S. in Exercise Science and studies nutritional sciences. Her teaching combines performance experience with injury prevention knowledge, having trained pre-professionally at Eastern Connecticut Ballet since childhood.
Zoie Murphy
Preschool Dance Instructor
A Westbrook Dance Academy alumna, Zoie trained competitively before earning her education degree. With experience teaching special needs students and directing university dance teams, she brings developmental expertise to early childhood dance education.
Questions
What dance styles do you offer for beginners?
We offer Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip-Hop, and Adaptive Dance classes for beginners aged 2-6, with specialized instruction tailored to developing motor skills and musicality.
How do competition teams prepare for national events?
Teams receive advanced training in choreography, technique, and performance skills. Our 13-year history of national championships includes summer intensives and weekly technique classes to develop competitive excellence.
Are there performance opportunities outside competitions?
Students perform at Walt Disney World, UCONN basketball games, Six Flags parks, and local community events, with annual recitals showcasing all students' progress.
What qualifications do your instructors have?
Faculty members hold degrees in dance education, have professional performance backgrounds, and maintain certifications in specialized training methods like Acrobatic Arts.
Do you offer classes for special needs students?
Our Adaptive Dance program follows Boston Ballet's curriculum, with certified instructors providing modified instruction for students of all abilities in inclusive classroom settings.
How does class placement work?
Placement considers age, experience, and technical ability. We offer trial classes and teacher consultations to ensure appropriate level assignments with opportunities for advancement.
