The Dance Foundation

01/05/2024

The Dance Foundation has been a gathering place for learning with and through dance for almost 50 years. We invite you to become a part of the family or participate in a new way this year.

✨Join a class,
✨experience a performance,
✨book space to move and create,
✨volunteer your time, or
✨donate to our mission to teach the art of dance to all!

Because dance is for every body.

01/02/2024

Our Studio Program offers classes for ages one to adult in creative movement, ballet, modern dance, jazz, tap, musical theatre, hip hop, improvisation, West African dance, and Stepping. Live music remains a key element to our unique curriculum for young children. Tuition assistance is provided to families in need. Visit our website for classes that are open for enrollment now. Summer classes and camps will be shared later this month, and registration will begin in February.

01/01/2024

Our two-year-olds give the sweetest performance in May. 🌸 Live music makes it even more special and is a part of their weekly class. We’re looking for a few new students to join us for new spring-semester classes that begin in January. ✨

Movement To Music
2 yr olds: Thursday 10:10 am
2 1/2 yr olds: Monday 3:45 pm

01/01/2024

Happy New Year! We look forward to resuming classes this Wednesday with new and returning students. In case you don’t know us well, let us introduce ourselves to kick off the New Year. The Dance Foundation is a non-profit organization with the mission to teach the art of dance to all, inspiring creativity, curiosity and confidence. Everyone is welcome at The Dance Foundation!

12/15/2023

Find details via the link in comments✨

12/12/2023

CJ Wade is back to teach another class! Try Stepping this January/February.

Fridays 6:00-7:00 PM
*Session 3 only*

In this class, you are the music! Rooted in African gumboot dance, the art of stepping utilizes claps, stomps, and changes to create rhythmic and visual patterns with the body. This high-energy class includes basic steps for beginners and advanced techniques, including syncopation and improvisation.

No experience required.

Attire: Comfortable clothes, pants encouraged, sneakers or wide-heel boots (no skinny heels)

12/12/2023

Thank you Taco Mama for treating us to the most wonderfully delicious lunch! We enjoyed it and are so thankful! ❤️💚

12/09/2023

Bidding ends today at 7pm! New items added!

12/08/2023

Neighbors are the best sponsors! Thank you Construction Program Management, Shannon Waltchack and Cahaba Cycles ✨

12/05/2023

Sign up now for Session 3 that runs Jan 9 through Feb 13. This class would make a fun gift ✨

Hip Hop for 2nd-5th graders
Tuesdays 6:10:7:00

12/05/2023

12/05/2023

FREEFORM will include the performance by Sanspointe Dance Company of Margi Cole’s dance work unBOUND to an original score by Justin Wallace.

Don’t miss our annual production of Freeform, an eclectic mix of dance and theatre, this Friday and Saturday.

Seating is limited; buy your tickets before they are gone!

GUEST ARTIST Sanspointe is a Birmingham-based contemporary dance company composed of a group of artists with various backgrounds, values, and approaches to working in the field of dance. Together we challenge and inspire each other to create work beyond what we would make on our own. Founded in 2003 by Michelle Hamff, Sanspointe has been dedicated to the art of modern dance and the impact the arts can have on our community. We provide professional performances, community classes, workshops for pre-professional students, and much more. We are a 501(c)3 organization, working to make modern dance accessible for one and all. Our mission is to create, collaborate, and connect – with our artform, our fellow artists, and our community.

www.sanspointe.org

📷: Clark Scott

12/04/2023

Silent Auction is LIVE Dec 4-9✨ Winners will be announced at the Saturday 7:30 performance of FREEFORM.

Thank you for bidding and supporting The Dance Foundation!

Link in profile.

12/01/2023

Tickets go on sale Friday!

You can also grab a raffle ticket or two or three for a chance to win a Vizio smart TV.

And, you don’t want to miss our virtual silent auction taking place all of next week!

Thank you for supporting The Dance Foundation 💜

11/29/2023

Shop with us for dancewear and gifts! ✨

11/28/2023

Today, on Giving Tuesday, donate and become part of a dynamic movement that touches lives, breaks barriers, and empowers our community – through dance.

Your support is the key to unlocking a brighter future for over 1,000 students who participate in our Community In Motion Program each week or benefit from tuition assistance for our studio program.

Give to what moves you.

Your contribution, their transformation.

Thank you ❤️

11/17/2023

Thank you Daniel Foundation for many years of support!

11/08/2023

We’re one month away from one of our favorite annual performances - FREEFORM. Guest artists include Sanspointe Dance Company and Homewood Theatre Performing Arts Company. Tickets go on sale online December 1. ✨

Thank you to this years sponsors:

and Capital Program Management.

10/30/2023

These NEW classes will start the week of January 8:
2 year olds - Thurs 10:10
2 1/2 year olds - Mon 3:45
K/1st Ballet - Thurs 5:10
Classes will run through May 11 and participate in a spring recital.

Register online today to start in January! Space is limited.
Classes would make a great holiday gift 🎁 🤗

10/30/2023

Big shout out to the Joseph S. Bruno Charitable Trust for helping keep our mission in motion for many years! Their consistent and committed support has made a huge impact on our ability to reach so many students and artists in our community. Thank you!

10/26/2023

Thank you to everyone who donated items and/or shopped our annual sale event! Because of you, we raised just over $3,000 to provide tuition-assistance to students in need. AND, many costumes and dance shoes have been given a new life!

Thank you for participating in this effort to raise money, provide dancewear, and recycle many beloved costumes!

10/23/2023

Another six-week session starts today!

Join us for ballet and tap - we offer beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels of each, day and evening class times available. All levels are welcome in Hip Hop on Mondays.

Dance with us!

10/16/2023

We are thankful for the continued support from the Alabama State Council on the Arts for our mission! For more than 40 years, ASCA has been a critical piece of our financial puzzle as a nonprofit organization. Thanks to ASCA and other supporters like you, we can continue to teach and inspire students all around Birmingham through our Community In Motion Program.

10/16/2023

We’re ready to clear out the conference room! Come grab the biggest bargains of all before the SALE ends. Last day to shop is this Saturday, Oct 21.

10/10/2023

We are still busting at the seams with NEW and used dancewear, costumes, tights and dance shoes. We had a great sale Friday, but we aren’t done yet! Come shop any time we’re open. ✨ Prices range from $1-$7 for all new and used items. Only very few items are priced more than that, at $10.

10/09/2023

We are OPEN and having classes as usual today, Monday, October 9. See you in the studio!

10/04/2023

These morning classes still have space for your little one! ✨

2 yr olds / Tue 10:10
2 yr olds / Sat 9:15
2 1/2 yr olds / Tue 9:15
2 1/2 yr olds / Wed 9:15
3 yr olds / Tue 10:10
3 yr olds / Wed 10:10
3 yr olds / Thu 9:15
3 yr olds / Sat 11:05
4 yr olds / Mon 1:30
4 yr olds / Tue 11:05
4 yr olds / Sat 12:00

09/30/2023

Great contemporary dance class today with guest artists Ashley Carter and Vanessa Martinez de Baños with DoubleTake Dance Company of NYC.
Thank you and all of the students who participated!

09/26/2023

09/14/2023

So happy about this class!

09/14/2023

Join us in celebrating National Arts In Education Week! Did you know that Dance Foundation teachers are in 20 schools each week (preschool and elementary) providing creative experiences in dance? Some of our programs support math and language arts curriculum and all of our programs provide positive and fun opportunities to move and create. We are thankful that our community partners welcome us into their classrooms each week to dance with their students. You can support our Community In Motion program by making a tax-deductible donation online today. Link in profile.

09/08/2023

An upbeat short-term (6 weeks) class for 2nd-5th graders set to fun, popular music that combines the basics of hip hop and break dancing and focuses on learning short combinations each week.

Class is taught by Stephanie Murphy on Tuesdays 6:10-7:00.

REGISTER ONLINE for session 1 (September 12 through October 17) or session 2 (October 24 through December 12; no class on Oct. 31 and Nov. 21)

Link in profile.

09/05/2023

Meet our administrative staff and teaching artists! Jump over to our website to get to know us better.
If you’re registered for classes, you can check the student portal to see who your teacher is and which studio your class is in.
We’re looking forward to a great season together!

https://app.iclasspro.com/portal/thedancefoundation/team?fbclid=IwAR1LCycOqb6RUoeDrY7NJnlfqi7NviuDWgTSZytIKWgBmvN9wTCgfnDpvdU

08/31/2023

Hip Hop for 2nd-5th grade, (another) Adult Beginning Tap, and Adult Advanced Ballet!

Hip Hop for 2nd-5th grade, a SIX-WEEK session on Tuesdays 6:10-7:00 with Stephanie Murphy. No experience required.

Adult Beginning Tap with Alie Gorrie on Tuesdays 7-8pm. No experience required.

Adult Advanced Ballet with Garland Borowski on Fridays 9:30-11am. Calling all adult professional dancers!

Register online today - classes start next week!

08/30/2023

Outgrown leotards? We want them! Too-small dance shoes? We’ll take them! Dress-up clothes and accessories that no one wears anymore? Let us take them off your hands.

Our Bargain Costume Closet SALE is coming up in October, and we’ll be happy to have all of your unwanted, gently-used dancewear, costumes, and accessories for our inventory.

Drop your items off in our lobby. Grab a receipt from the front desk too if you’d like. We thank you for your donation which helps raise funds for tuition-assistance and dance classes for students at schools and childcare centers throughout our community.

Save the date for the SALE on October 6!

08/29/2023

NEW CLASS ALERT❗CJ Wade is bringing us West African Dance on Friday evenings starting next week! Feel the rhythm as you move to live djembe drumming in this introductory class! In addition to West African dance techniques, students will learn coordination with African drum sounds, the historical significance of each dance, and the importance of unity and celebration in African dance culture.

Attire: comfortable clothes, bare feet.

Fridays, 6:00-7:00 PM
No experience required.

08/29/2023

Join DoubleTake Dance Company Directors ASHLEY CARTER and VANESSA MARTÍNEZ DE BAÑOS on September 30 at The Dance Foundation for a master class in contemporary dance.

Experience in Ballet, Jazz or Modern is recommended.

While working from a strong technical base, the essence of contemporary movement in this class is to create versatility in the dancer by fusing genres and finding real forms of expression. Focuses are on finding/breaking alignments, non traditional floor-work, musicality, performance qualities and strength/dynamics. The class begins with a technically-based warmup that includes strengthening, alignment, endurance, and stretching exercises, often followed by phrases across the floor, and culminates in a short choreography that incorporates movement from any number of different styles.

Visit for more information about their September 29 performance including

Use the link in comments to register for the master class.

08/28/2023

Dance is...

08/22/2023

Classes start in two weeks, and it’s not too late to register. Visit the link below to find a class. If the class is full, we hope you will join the waitlist. You’ll be contacted if a space opens up, giving you the opportunity to either enroll or let us know if you no longer want the spot. Reach out to one of our program directors with questions.
Blakely Cottle, Program Director for ages 1 through 2nd grade.
Shellie Chambers, Program Director for 3rd-12th grade.

We look forward to dancing with you!