There’s a Place For Us Adult Dancers in Bradenton Florida!
My Mom enrolled me in my first dance class at the age of 3. A dancer herself in her younger days, she wanted me to know the same joy. I took dance classes until I was 16, when I traded it all in for cheerleading. Cheerleading, it seemed, was much more conducive to meeting teenage boys than hanging around a dance studio.
Fast forward to 11 years ago, as I approached the age of 50, I was looking for ways to cling to my youth. I jokingly mentioned tap dancing to my Mom. Jokingly, she bought me a pair of tap shoes for my birthday.
Really not wanting to attend a dance school where there were sniveling 6-year-olds in pink tights and black leotards or catty teenagers with their perfect technique and perfect bodies, and no longer burdened by the desire to meet teenage boys, I took to the internet to find an adult tap class. I found Bonnie Gray.
Bonnie Gray was the only dance instructor I could find who offered adults-only tap classes. I signed up immediately. I soon realized that Bonnie was somewhat of a nomad dance teacher – always renting space, moving from place to place, never having her own brick and mortar studio. I could live with that – in fact, followed her from studio to studio for years.
Then, about 2 years ago, Bonnie and I and fellow dance student (and angel), Winifred Strange, got the crazy idea to put down some roots and open our own adults-only studio. And guess what? We did it! The Dance Alliance of Bradenton was born.
We opened our studio in April of 2023 in our current location, 862 62nd Street Circle East, behind the Ihop Restaurant (State Road 64, just west of I-75). We not only offer adult tap classes (my obvious favorite), but also adult jazz, hula, country line dancing, hip-hop and salsa! Our classes are available for beginners through advanced skill levels, so no one will be left out. We even have Jazzercise 5 days a week too, and we are adding more dance styles all of the time.
Come on – try a class with me! I’ll be the one in the back row. The first one is FREE. You will be surrounded by supportive, encouraging adults looking for a fun, artistic outlet for their energy. Just like you.
By: Kris Kesling-Hays
Co-Owner, Dance Alliance of Bradenton
862 62nd St. Cir. E., #103
Bradenton, FL 34208
Phone: (941) 201-5608 On the web: www.DanceAllianceofBradenton.com