Our adult program offers a variety of dance classes to fit everyone’s needs. In a relaxed and caring atmosphere, students receive the professional instruction necessary to improve technique and well being. Classes range from beginner thru professional levels.
Ballet
Contempradance’s adult program focuses on training adults who are new to ballet, or returning to dance after a hiatus. Our ballet lessons are designed to instruct with the special needs of adult learners in mind: need for clear explanation and demonstration and safety for your body. Our classes are fun and encouraging and designed to move you to higher levels of ballet as student’s progress. Students may also choose our adult ballet program for fitness as well.
Teen/Adult Ballet (Tues evening)
This is the first level ballet lesson designed to teach the barre work, proper body alignment, and beginning across the floor steps. Recommended for students who are new to ballet or have minimal experience. Advanced beginners will also enjoy the class to work on technique.
Teen/Adult Ballet (Sat morning)
This is an advanced beginner lesson. Students taking these classes successfully demonstrate strength in maintaining proper body alignment and knowledge of and proficiency in basic ballet steps. Students will be introduced to more intricate across the floor work, turns and jumps. Recommended for students with 1 or more years of ballet.
Teen/Adult Ballet (Wed evening)
This is a pre-intermediate lesson. Students taking this class will learn jumps, turns, and longer sequences of across the floor material required to move to our intermediate lesson in the future. Recommended for adults student with 2 or more years of ballet.
Ballet 4
This class is for ages 14 and up with at least 4 years of previous ballet training. Students focus on perfecting more intricate ballet moves, adding speed and complexity into their routines. This is an Intermediate/Advanced level class. Students enrolling in Ballet 4 are required to take at least one additional ballet class each week. Ballet 4 is a class designed for students who wish to pursue dance at a college or professional level or for adults who wish to take a challenging ballet class.
Pointe
ContempraDance School offers Pointe lessons for students who wish to pursue ballet further. Pointe work is offered as an option after our pre-intermediate and intermediate classes. Teacher and director permission is required to enroll in Pointe class. Two ballet classes a week at ContempraDance School is required to take Pointe lessons.
Jazz
ContempraDance School’s jazz classes are very popular! Students enjoy this upbeat dance style often set to popular music, and covers a broad range of dance moves from Broadway, classical jazz, musical theater and top 40 video style dance (think Michael Jackson!) Our classes provide instruction in all basic jazz steps, stretching and toning, with world-class choreography from teachers with professional dance careers!
Adult Intermediate Jazz
This class is for ages 17 through adult with jazz or dance experience. It’s a great way to stay in shape while learning to dance to funky routines and popular music. Each class meets once a week for an hour each session. Students will engage in a fun warm-up and then focus on across the floor jazz technique. Class will end with a fun dance routine utilizing things learned from the day’s across the floor exercises.
Jazz / Funk 3
This is a class for teens and adults with 2 years minimum dance experience. This class is a combination of jazz and funk styles, meaning, students will learn the well-defined jazz technique and blend classic jazz steps with the fun, upbeat funk style of dance often seen on MTV.
Jazz 4
This is a class for teens and adults with 4 years minimum jazz dance and ballet experience. This class will work on turns, jumps, and floor work. Students will learn challenging choreography. This is a fast-paced class for intermediate/advanced level jazz students interested in pursuing jazz dance in college or professionally. One ballet class a week encouraged for adults in this class but is not a requirement.
Funk
This class is a blend of Jazz and Hip-Hop with a “Janet Jackson” feel. An age appropriate aerobic workout and dance routine give it a funky MTV look. A very popular class for all ages.
Funk/Hip Hop(Mon evening, Sat morning)
This class is for ages 14 through adult (yes, there are adults in here!) and is open to students with or without dance experience. This class teaches the MTV look and along with hip hop moves. Get a healthy workout and impress your friends at your next social event with your newfound dance moves.
Funk 3
This class is for ages 16 through adult (yes, there are adults in here!) with at least 2 years of recent dance training. This class teaches the MTV look and along with hip hop moves. Get a healthy workout and impress your friends at your next social event with your newfound dance moves.
Hip Hop
You’re never too old to Hip Hop. Hip Hop is a very popular style of dance right now that is frequently seen on MTV and programs such as “America’s Best Dance Crew.” You can learn it too! Each class meets once a week for one hour each session- Monday night, Saturday morning. Our hip hop style is a blend of hip hop and funk dance.
Modern Dance
Modern is one of the most expressive forms of dance incorporating various styles of movement and improvisation. With a conglomerate of lyrical, interpretive and cultural techniques, students improve their form while learning technical style and expression.
Modern Dance 2
This is a wonderful introductory class for ages 11 through adult who have had no experience in modern dance. Students will be introduced to Gail Vartanian’s Modern style which builds upon the Graham, Limon & Horton techniques. Each class meets once a week for an hour each session. Each class meets once a week for 1 hour each session.
Modern Dance 3
Tap
Students will learn the basic foot moves and rhythms necessary for developing various combinations. Each class meets once a week for 1 hour each session. This is a Beginner/adv. beginner class
September thru June Class Schedule 2025-2026
Classes Start September 8th 2025
Session 1 Sep. 8th - Dec. 7th 2025
Session 2 Dec. 8th - March 14th 2026
Session 3 March 15th - June 13th 2026 (please email us for availability since most classes are full at this point due to our June recital )
ContempraDance has incorporated online registration and payments through The Studio Director. Clicking the register/login button will take you to the Fall/Spring class list. You will need to sign in or create an account if you have not already. There is also a Studio Director app that you can download. Please contact us with any questions.
Awesome recital!!!
Our “Magic of Dance” student performance June 2nd 2018 was absolutely beautiful. Thank you to all of our amazing dancers that performed their hearts out to a packed audience. The Contempra faculty was unbelievably impressed. We can’t wait to start again in the fall! We also hope to see you in class this summer.
Thank you parents for sharing your fabulous kids with us all year. We hope you enjoyed it as much as us!
Ms. Gail, Ms. Daria, Ms. Jenn, Ms. Tia, Ms. Tweety, Mr. Bilal, Mr. Jerzy, Mr. Dre
Beyond the Stars Competition Results!
Our dances received numerous awards at Beyond the Stars Dance Competition. May 19th & 20th.
The dancer’s hard work and determination certainly paid off this year. Not only in competitions but at our Youth Festivals, charity events and in ContempraDANCE Theatre’s winter and spring productions.
We are extremely proud of all of the Ensemble Dancers and their talented choreographers. WAY TO GO!!
- Lola Contained Platinum and 5th Overall And Choreography award for Contained
- Visually Effective for The Trail
- 2nd Overall The Trail And Ultimate Emotional Execution award for The Trail
- Claudia Solo If I had my Way Diamond 1st Overall
- Austin Sound of Silence Platinum 9th Overall
- Eyes High Gold 3rd Overall
- Elusive High Gold 4th Overall
- Terrilyn Love is In Control High Gold 1st in Category
- Trio On My Own got platinum and 1st Overall
- Duo life of the party got High Gold and 3rd Overall
- Maya Time After Time got High Gold and 9th Overall
- Audrey placed 1st in Contemporary category, Platinum and 4th overall.
- Hanging Tree got Platinum and 3rd Overall
- Work Me Down High Gold 7th Overall
- Jailhouse Rock High Gold 6th Overall
- Virus Platinum 2nd Overall and Judges Award Creative Concept
- Ellie Solo Ciao Adios Platinum and 2nd Overall and standout technique award
- Maria Between the Lines got High Gold
ContempraDance Studio Named A Family Favorite Business By the Main Line Parent LOVE Awards!
Congratulations to ContempraDance Studio again being named a Family Favorite Business From Main Line Parent LOVE Awards!
Congratulations Mr. Dre!!!!!!!!!!!
Ms. Gail with Dre at his wedding in the outer banks Saturday April 28th.
Dre has been teaching hip hop at ContempraDance for over 11 years.
We are so excited we were able to be there to celebrate with him and his new wife, Kathy.
Congratulations Mr. Dre!!!!!!!!!!!
Ms Gails Little Mermaid kids
Ms Gails Little Mermaid kids posing after trying on their recital costumes Ms Jenn made.
They are under the sea lol !!!!
Oldie But Goodie – Gail with Jerry Blavat – 2008 “Best Of Philly Awards”
Gail With Jerry Blavat aka “The Geator with the heater” at The 2008 Philly Magazine “Best of Philly Awards”
ContempraDance School was voted Best Dance School on the Main Line.
Elevate Competition March 17th 2018
Elevate Competition March 17th 2018
Awards:
- 2 High Platinum’s
- 15 Platinum’s
- 1 High Gold
- 5 1st place awards
- 1 Judges award for superb staging for “Work me Down”
- 1 “IT” award from the judges for Audrey’s Solo
Special DJ award for Virus.. selected as most favorite dance of the day!
Youth Ensemble dancers in Philly Nutt Crak-Up as “Philazzle Canes”
Youth Ensemble dancers performing “Arabian Night” at 2016 World Dance Festival in Philadelphia
ContempraYouth Dance Ensemble performs “Hershey Kisseritas” in the Philly Nutt Crak-Up
ContempraYouth World Dance Ensemble 2016
Main Line Parent and Philadlephia Family LOVE award. ContempraDance School 2016, 2017, and 2021 LOVE award winner for "Best Dance Studio on the Main Line". 2019 LOVE award and 2022, 2023 "Family Favorite"