AFRICAN CARIBBEAN DANCE THEATRE
539-4087
www.fadf.org

Journey into Africa with the African Caribbean Dance Theatre. Its weekly schedule for youth development training includes Saturday classes in drum and children’s/beginner’s dance at Palmer-Munroe Community Center at 1900 Jackson Bluff Road from 10 am-1:30 pm. Each dance class is taught with the accompaniment of live African percussion. Prior experience is not necessary to participate.

AFRICAN MUSIC AND DANCE, 508-0165, africanmusicanddance@gmail.com

A non-profit organization that presents an African Music and Dance spring program for the community. This annual concert features celebrated choirs and orchestras as well as professional African dance troupes.

ARGENTINE TANGO SOCIETY OF TALLAHASSEE, 222-3449, www.tangotallahassee.com.

Bringing cultural enrichment and enjoyment of the dance, combined with the passion for its music, to the people in the Tallahassee area. Holds a Milonga, an open dance, on Tuesday evenings, a Practica, a practice session, on Wednesday evenings, and a beginning class on Thursday evenings. If you are new to Tango, there is an “Intro to Tango” class on the first Thursday of the month. Beginner and advanced dancers welcome.

AZUCAR DANCE COMPANY, www.azucardance.com.

The ¡Azúcar! Dance Company, a non-profit student organization at FSU, teaches free weekly salsa dance lessons in rueda and L.A.-style salsa. The group’s classes, performances and activities are open and available to the entire Tallahassee community, regardless of age, student status, dance ability or school affiliation. Singles and couples are welcome.

COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF THE PERFORMING ARTS AND CULTURE, 614 Osceola Street, 574-2237.

Provides an environment of cultural enhancement and expression through dance. The school is available to residents of Leon and surrounding counties of all ages and gender, and includes ballet, jazz, tap, modern, and African dance. In addition to teaching students the beauty of dance, the school provides students a positive and creative atmosphere that builds confidence and self-esteem.

CORAZON DANCERS, Florida State University, 954-614-9136.

Established in 2001, the Corazon Dancers teach, perform, and hold Salsa socials throughout the year. Salsa dance classes are open to the entire Tallahassee community.

ESSENCE DANCE THEATRE, Florida A&M University, 412-7525, essencedance@aol.com.

Dedicated to putting on professional-quality and high-energy productions. Presents two major concerts each year, in November and March, at Lee Hall Auditorium. The theatre's repertoire includes modern dance, tap, ballet, jazz, lindy-hop, traditional African dance, and hip-hop. Works range from student to professional choreography.

FSU DEPARTMENT OF DANCE, Florida State University, 644-1023, dance.fsu.edu.

Offers a wide variety of dance concerts throughout the year in the Nancy Smith Fichter Dance Theatre, which recently completed a 17 million dollar renovation, transforming Montgomery Hall into a state-of-the-art dance facility. Also sponsors Dance Repertory Theatre, a student performing unit that presents an annual concert and informal performances and educational programs throughout Tallahassee and the southeast region. The Department also houses the Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography (MANCC) where many national and international choreographers’ residencies offer entrypoints that are free and open to the public.

HALIMEDA'S OASIS, 2609 Glover Road, 421-5151, www.halimedasoasis.com. Hours: M-F 6:30-9:30 pm or by appointment.

Dance costuming (both imported and locally sewn) for Middle Eastern and Polynesian Dance, including hip scarves, harem pants, veils, tribal jewelry, and more. Custom costume design for almost any other dance form is also available. Also carries drums, finger cymbals, belly dance CDs and instructional DVDs.

HEAD OVER HEELS DANCEWEAR, 1621 N. Monroe Street, 224-5140, www.head-over-heels.com. Hours: Tu-Sa 10 am - 6 pm.

Tallahassee’s complete dancewear shop, in the Cottages at Lake Ella. Shoes, bodywear, legwear and accessories for ballet, jazz, tap, theatre, and ballroom dancing, exercise, cheer, and gymnastics. Also carries books, accessories, and gifts.

IN STEP STUDIO
2609 Glover Road
www.instepstudio.com
421-5151

Promotes understanding of cultures from around the world through dance, exercise, and music. Home to Troupe Arabesque (Middle Eastern Performing Ensemble), the Mau’oli’oli Dancers (Polynesian dance) and Halimeda's Oasis for dance costuming. Adult classes include Flamenco, Hawaiian Hula, Middle Eastern dancing, and drumming. Private lessons available.

KILLEARN PERFORMING ARTS, 4500 W. Shannon Lakes #20, 443-7512 or 894-9364, www.killearnpa.com.

Home of the Tallahassee Irish Step Dancers, Tallahasssee’s own “Riverdance” performing group. KPA offers a variety of dance and drama classes for all ages. Instruction in Irish dance, tap, ballet, modern, hip-hop, creative drama, musical theatre, and social dance (ballroom type) are available.

KOLLAGE DANCE TROUPE, Florida State University, 645-1385, kdtfl.tripod.com.

A co-ed hip-hop based dance organization, whose objective is to unite artists from different cultures and backgrounds for the purpose of dance. Also presents African dance, ballet, modern, lyrical, and others. Performs regularly on all three campuses, with an annual spring production in Ruby Diamond Auditorium.

MAGGIE ALLESEE NATIONAL CENTER FOR CHOREOGRAPHY (MANCC), Montgomery Hall, FSU Campus, 645-2449, www.mancc.org.

MANCC (pronounced man-see) is affiliated with the FSU Dance Department, and is the first choreographic center in the United States. An artist-centered creative environment with state of the art facilities and technology, the center facilitates creativity, research, training, documentation and dissemination of new knowledge in dance. MANCC invites the Tallahassee community to share in the creative process of visiting choreographers throughout the year through performances, residencies, and other community entry points.

MAHOGANY DANCE THEATRE, Florida A&M University, 561-2318, mahoganydancetheatre@hotmail.com.

Founded to create an awareness and appreciation for dance as a fine art in the community at large. Mahogany produces and performs two yearly concerts, participates in numerous public events, and has even stepped off its home turf, Florida A&M University, to inner city stages throughout the southeast. Mahogany Dance Theatre’s repertoire includes Lindy Hop, African, modern dance, ballet, tap, jazz, and Hip-Hop.

MOUNTAIN DEW CLOGGERS, 386-1263, www.nettally.com/mountaindew.

Clogging classes and performances for all ages and levels. The instructors teach both the steps and the routines. Many and varied routines to many types of music, although country and top 100 current tunes are the most popular. The Mountain Dews perform all over the southeast at amusement parks, festivals, concerts, and charity events.

ORCHESIS CONTEMPORARY DANCE THEATRE, Florida A&M University, 599-8678.

Presents a repertory encompassing a variety of movement styles, such as African derived and contemporary dance, tap, jazz, and ballet. These are showcased through an annual concert and in mini-presentations for university, civic and social activities throughout the academic year. A major component of concert offerings is to present elements of the black experience through the medium of dance. This is accomplished through an examination of specific elements of black culture, music, and movement style.

PERFORMING ARTS CENTER OF TALLAHASSEE, 562-1430, 3244 N. Monroe Street, www.performingartscenteroftallahassee.com.

Offers classical ballet, tap, jazz, modern, and lyrical dance instruction for ages 7 and up, as well as an early childhood dance program for ages 3-6. Also offers summer programs.

PROPHECY SCHOOL OF THE ARTS, 2312 Apalachee Parkway, Suite 10, 222-8085, www.prophecyarts.net.

Creative movement and dance classes for all ages. Offers beginning ballet, beginning tap/jazz, hip hop, African movement, and more. The curriculum at Prophecy is enhanced by videos, lectures, guest artists, performance invitations, and an annual dance showcase.

RHYTHM RUSHERS BAHAMIAN JUNKANOO GROUP, Office of Black Diasporan Culture, Florida A&M University, 412-7087, jandecosmo@comcast.net.

Strives to share Bahamian culture as it is expressed through Junkanoo by offering educational programs and hands-on workshops. Begun in 1997, Rhythm Rushers performs in a variety of locations throughout Tallahassee and the surrounding counties.

SHARON DAVIS SCHOOLS OF DANCE, 1232 Timberlane Road, 893-5900.

Offers classes in ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, lyrical, and pre-school movement for ages 3 to adult. Classes are held weekday afternoons/evenings, and Saturday mornings from September to May.

SOUTHERN ACADEMY OF BALLET ARTS, 1704-C Capital Circle NE, 222-0174.

Beginner and intermediate classes in classical ballet, contemporary dance, tap, and theatre arts. Pas de Vie, the school’s performance arm, presents an end-of-year show in May, and The Nutcracker in December at the FSU School of Theatre Mainstage. Students perform in shows, and open auditions are held for community members.

THE TALLAHASSEE BALLET
224-6917, box office 644-6500
www.tallaballet.com

A diverse repertoire of classical and contemporary works. Each year, the Tallahassee Ballet presents two full-length productions that feature the richness of our local talents, as well as exquisite performances from professional guest artists, plus a traditional production of the holiday classic, The Nutcracker, in December with full orchestra. Also offers community classes for ages eight and up, weekday afternoons, weekday evenings, and Saturdays. Intermediate/advanced ballet, elementary and advanced pointe, and pilates.

TALLAHASSEE COMMUNITY FRIENDS OF OLD TIME DANCE
421-1587 or 421-1838
www.tallydancer.com

Supports and encourages the promotion and growth of old time dance and music in the Tallahassee area. Sponsors a regular “2nd Friday Dance” each month, and hold workshops, concerts, and special dances. Previous experience is not needed or expected; the callers teach each dance before it is begun. In the tradition of the old American barn dances, all ages participate.

TALLAHASSEE SWING BAND DANCES, 894-3789, etoole@aol.com.

Dance to a full-sized big band at the American Legion Hall on Lake Ella every Tuesday night at 7:30 pm. Enjoy the music of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Count Basie and Duke Ellington. It’s a ballroom dancer’s delight with waltzes, cha chas, polkas, bosa novas, including a whole range of latin dances, plus some tunes out of the fifties and sixties, and music from the movies and Broadway stage.

TALLAHASSEE ZYDECO & CAJUN ASSOCIATION (TAZACA), 212-0431, zydeco-jan@comcast.net.

Formed in 2000 to bring bands and dance instructors to Tallahassee from Lafayette and the surrounding towns of southwest Louisiana, TAZACA holds Zydeco and Cajun music and dance events at the American Legion Dance Hall and Bradfordville Blues Club. Members receive discounts to sponsored dances.

TJ'S DANCE CONSERVATORY, 363-8365, www.tjdance.org.

A dance education and  technical training ground for all levels of dancers (ages 4 to adult). A variety of dance disciplines are designed to help develop performance qualities, balance and coordination, and other sensory stimuli while reinforcing good social skills in a group environment. TJ’s Dance Conservatory also offers fitness and nutrition classes.

TRIBAL WALLAH DANCE TROUPE
1369 East Lafayette Street
459-0371
www.tribalwallah.net

Tallahassee’s American Tribal Style (ATS) belly dance group. Influenced by belly dance of the Middle East, Africa and Asia, ATS combines the traditions of these cultures with the artistry and energy of group improvisation. Like ATS, Tribal Wallah is a fusion of ages, cultures and stages of life.

USA DANCE, 562-1224, homepage.mac.com/mweininger/tallusabda.

Promotes competitive ballroom dancing and holds monthly social dances at the Senior Center, 1400 N. Monroe Street. Beginner dancers and singles are welcome. Free dance lessons often available prior to each social dance.

THE WOMEN'S BELLY DANCE CENTER , 629-H Industrial Drive, Railroad Square Art Park, 264-6986. Hours: M – Th, 5:30 – 8pm.

Teaching Egyptian-style belly dance and offering four class levels, from intro to advanced.  Clasess are designed to get you moving and having fun! Demonstrations and henna tattoo artist on First Fridays.