Youth Dance Classes for Ages 9-13 in Kokomo Explore Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, and More
The Youth Dance program gives students ages 9-13 the opportunity to grow in skill, confidence, and creativity while exploring a wide range of styles. From the solid foundations of ballet, tap, and jazz to the expressive movement of lyrical, hip hop, musical theater, and theatre tap, each class is designed to inspire, challenge, and support every dancer. With caring instructors and a welcoming community, students discover the joy of movement while developing technique that will benefit them for years to come.
Get more information about our classes and schedule on the next page!
Shaping Confident, Healthy, and Connected Young Dancers
At Legacy Dance Academy, dancers build strength, balance, and coordination through structured training. Our Youth Dance classes emphasize precise movement and body awareness, helping students gain physical control that supports success both in dance and in everyday life.
We believe dance is about more than steps. With supportive instructors and clear goals, students develop confidence and resilience as they learn new skills, overcome challenges, and celebrate their progress with pride.
Youth Dance provides more than training. Classes encourage friendships, teamwork, and shared experiences, allowing students to connect with peers, form lasting bonds, and grow together in a welcoming space that fosters a true sense of belonging.
Guiding Dancers Ages 9-13 to Grow with Confidence and Skill
Looking for a positive and productive outlet for your child’s energy? Our Youth Dance program is designed for ages 9-13 and offers the ideal blend of activity, creativity, and personal growth. Students begin in color-coded groups including Reds, Pinks, Blues, and Purples, which ensures they are placed in classes suited to their age and developmental stage.
At Legacy Dance Academy, we go beyond steps and choreography. Our instructors teach respect, dedication, and teamwork while encouraging students to explore a wide variety of styles including ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, musical theater, and theatre tap. This progression allows dancers to build confidence, express creativity, and strengthen life skills in a welcoming environment that nurtures both their technique and personal development.
Reds begin their journey with a ballet, tap, and jazz combo class, while also exploring musical theater, hip hop, lyrical, and stretch and conditioning to build a strong foundation in multiple styles.
Pinks take separate classes in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, and musical theater, with strength and conditioning added to support safe progression and growing technical ability.
Blues refine their skills through dedicated classes in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, and musical theater, complemented by strength and conditioning to build stamina and confidence.
Purples prepare for advanced growth with separate classes in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, and musical theater, along with strength and conditioning and the addition of theatre tap for enhanced performance training.
Why Families Across Kokomo Choose
Legacy Dance Academy
We know that family life can be full and fast-paced. That is why Legacy Dance Academy provides a wide range of class times and dance styles, making it simple to find the right option for your child. Our flexible schedule allows dancers to participate consistently without adding stress to your calendar.
Your child’s well-being and growth are always our top priority. With experienced instructors and a strong focus on proper technique and injury prevention, every dancer is guided with care. This safe and encouraging atmosphere gives students the confidence to learn at their own pace while enjoying the process.
Legacy Dance Academy is more than a studio. It is a place where friendships and connections flourish. Families feel supported, and dancers thrive in an environment built on teamwork, encouragement, and belonging. This sense of community helps every child feel valued both on and off the dance floor.
Why Parents Trust Our Youth Dance Program
When choosing activities for your child, it is important to find a program that supports the whole person. The Youth Dance program offers far more than steps and choreography by developing physical strength, emotional growth, and meaningful connections. Here are four ways dancers ages 9-13 thrive in our program.
Youth Dance strengthens flexibility, balance, coordination, and resilience while encouraging creativity and self-expression. Students gain body awareness and confidence that benefit them both in the studio and in daily life.
Every dancer has the chance to shine. As students master new skills and routines, they grow in self-confidence and develop a true sense of belonging within a supportive, encouraging community.
Our program nurtures discipline, teamwork, and joy in progress. Dancers learn to celebrate milestones at their own pace while appreciating the value of dedication and effort.
With small class sizes and attentive instruction, each dancer receives personalized guidance. Students also build respect, listening skills, and collaboration, forming friendships that extend well beyond the studio.
Building Strength, Balance, and Discipline
Ballet anchors the Youth Dance journey by building the alignment, placement, and musicality that every style relies on. Reds (8-10) explore ballet inside a ballet, tap, and jazz combo, making early technique accessible and fun while learning posture and coordination. Pinks, Blues, and Purples (9-13) advance into dedicated ballet classes that refine turnout, port de bras, core engagement, and fluid transitions across the floor. This steady progression develops both body awareness and mental focus, preparing dancers to learn safely, perform confidently, and apply disciplined habits in school and everyday life.
Ballet benefits at a glance:
- Foundational strength and flexibility that support safe technique in all styles
- Balance and coordination that improve control, turns, and transitions
- Focus and discipline that carry into academics and daily routines
- Musicality and artistry that elevate performance quality
Adding Energy, Style, and Confidence to Movement
Jazz invites dancers to move with power, precision, and style. Reds meet jazz inside their combo, building comfort with rhythm and directional changes. Pinks, Blues, and Purples deepen training through focused jazz classes that develop isolations, kicks, leaps, and multiple turn sequences. Dancers learn to project stage presence, interpret music with confidence, and connect clean technique to expressive performance. The result is a dancer who is strong, adaptable, and engaging on stage and in daily life.
Jazz benefits at a glance:
- Flexibility and stamina built through dynamic, high-energy combinations
- Rhythmic precision and musical interpretation for compelling performance
- Confidence and projection that transfer to presentations and social settings
- Clean lines and sharp accents that complement ballet control
Growing Through Tap, Hip Hop, Lyrical, and Theater
A well-rounded dancer explores multiple languages of movement. Tap trains timing, rhythm, and clarity of sound, turning the feet into instruments. Hip hop builds athleticism, coordination, and confident expression through grounded, upbeat choreography. Lyrical blends ballet and jazz technique with storytelling and emotion, teaching dancers to communicate through lines, dynamics, and breath. Musical theater blends acting, character work, and movement, cultivating charisma, facial expression, and ensemble awareness. Purples add theatre tap, a performance-forward approach that strengthens rhythm and theatricality. Together, these styles develop technical versatility and artistic voice.
Multi-style benefits at a glance:
- Versatility to switch styles with ease and adaptability
- Creative confidence through storytelling, character, and musical choices
- Enhanced coordination and agility from varied movement vocabularies
- Performance readiness for stage, auditions, and future opportunities
Shaping Confidence, Teamwork, and Lifelong Skills
Technical skill thrives in a supportive community. Through rehearsals, performances, and shared class goals, dancers practice encouragement, accountability, and leadership. Stretch and conditioning sessions develop the strength, mobility, and endurance needed for safe progression, while the group environment teaches cooperation and perseverance. As dancers move from Reds to Purples, they learn to celebrate progress, set meaningful goals, and lift up their peers. The result is confidence on stage and resilience off stage.
Community benefits at a glance:
- Personalized guidance in small, focused class settings
- Safe progression supported by conditioning and thoughtful lesson design
- Teamwork and communication that build trust and friendships
- Real-world resilience from rehearsals, feedback, and performance experiences
Celebrating the Journeys of Our Dancers
The true measure of our program is seen through the words of our dancers and families. Parents share how their children have gained confidence, lasting friendships, and new skills, while students describe the joy and excitement they feel when learning and performing. These authentic testimonials reflect the supportive community, caring instructors, and welcoming environment that make our studio a trusted choice for dance classes in Kokomo. Discover the impact of our Youth Dance program and see how dance can inspire growth in every child.
The staff is fantastic! My daughter loves going to dance, and the atmosphere is wonderful! We are welcomed with open arms, and made to feel like we are part of a big dance family!! Love it here!
My girls absolutely love dancing at this studio and have been excited to return year after year! The teachers have been incredibly patient and kind, especially with my youngest who started at just 3 years old. It’s been such a joy to watch her grow in confidence and have fun while learning. My oldest has truly flourished here—she’s developed a real passion for dance and has loved getting to take on extra classes as she grows. We’re so grateful for the warm, encouraging environment this studio provides.
We can’t say enough great things about LDA! The staff is patient and caring, the studio is always clean, they provide so many opportunities for learning, and the growth you see year to year is unlike anywhere else.
We love that our daughter enjoys dancing at Legacy. She is able to be herself in a different aspect of her life and enjoys being around teachers that promote positivity all around. When an issue arises teachers are fast to correct the behavior or handle the situation that is best fit of what is happening. We love that there is always a spring recital but love that every other year we get to do the Christmas Recital!
Both my girls started dancing and they LOVE their instructors and friends they have made at LDA. The owner is great and communicates well. They have a competition team that my daughter participated in and helped her grow even more as a dancer. It is a really great place for girls or boys who want to take dance lessons.
Legacy Dance Academy has been a wonderful environment for my children to grow, not only in dance, but in their personal lives too.
Legacy Dance Academy has been an amazing experience for my daughter. She is nurtured, trained, loved, pushed and guided. She has loved all of her teachers. She enjoys every class. She has made lifelong friends through dance. They truly take each child’s ability, strength and growth into consideration when advancing them each year. Give them a try, you won’t be disappointed!
Tonight's performance was amazing! Ms Jen has again made it possible, the opportunity for all her students to showcase all their talent. And they all rose to the occasion, a true tribute to Jen's love for her students and everything she had done and sacrificed over the last 2 years. Not everyone would have been tight there through it all, her and the teachers having dance class on zoom, offering discounts for struggling families all the while still having to keep paying the bills at the studio. I as a grandma an greatful for my granddaughters Hayley &
Aubrey, and 2 nieces have Legacy Dance Academy.
When the studio was going to be sold, an article came out in the paper telling the story of how Ms Jen decided to purchase the studio. One of my granddaughters was in a class she was teaching. She was concerned what would happen to all the students that loved come there to dance. She danced for Becky and grew up dancing there. She had a special bond with Becky growing up dancing and there's that same special bond, that today's student's have with her.
So things have been different the last couple of recitals, but the world has been different. So I support Jennifer Palmer the hard work and THANK her for the wonderful recitals and look forward to what's next.
Thank you, Dancer's Grandma
My family has been dancing with Legacy Dance Academy for 9 years. The staff really cares for the families at the studio. They foster an encouraging and challenging environment for the kids to grow in their skills.
I love this dance studio! The staff is amazing! We are welcomed with open arms, and made to feel like we are part of a big dance family!! My daughter loves it here and looks forward to dance class!
Awesome instructors. My girls have alot of fun and learn technique in fun and interesting ways. Their ability to adapt and keep going virtually in the pandemic gave my daughters something to look forward to each week. It's great.
This place is the BEST! All of the instructors are fantastic and my daughter has learned so much in her first year. She wishes she could go to class every day!
We absolutely love Legacy Dance Academy! Fantastic teachers! My daughter wakes up most mornings asking if it’s time to go dance yet lol. Great fun and great exercise 🩰
Get more information about our classes and schedule on the next page!
FAQs
Students wear comfortable dancewear that supports movement and helps them feel confident. Ballet students enjoy a leotard, tights, and ballet shoes, while jazz, lyrical, and hip hop students may choose a leotard or fitted top with dance shorts or leggings. Specific dress guidelines are provided at enrollment so every dancer feels prepared and ready to shine.
Youth Dance classes meet once a week, with each session lasting 45 minutes to one hour. This schedule offers consistent training while fitting easily into family routines, giving students the structure to progress steadily without overwhelming their schedule.
Along with tuition, families may purchase dancewear, shoes, and recital costumes. We keep affordability in mind and provide a clear breakdown of what is needed at registration. This ensures that every dancer has the essentials to feel confident, prepared, and excited for class and performance.
Students are grouped by age and skill level to ensure steady growth and a positive experience. The program uses color-coded groups including Reds, Pinks, Blues, and Purples, so dancers train with peers who are at a similar stage of development. This structure builds confidence, social connection, and focused instruction, allowing every dancer to thrive both technically and personally.
Class sizes are kept intentionally small so instructors can provide personalized guidance. Our certified staff focus on proper technique, safe progression, and injury prevention, and our studio features sprung floors to protect developing joints. This creates a learning environment where students feel safe, supported, and encouraged to grow.
The Lasting Impact of Training at
Legacy Dance Academy
Beyond learning steps, Youth Dance students grow as performers. They develop expression, musicality, and stage presence, giving them the confidence to shine on stage. These skills carry into school presentations, social settings, and future opportunities where strong communication makes a lasting impression.
Balancing dance with schoolwork and other activities teaches students the value of organization and accountability. Youth Dance reinforces habits of preparation, consistency, and follow-through, equipping dancers with tools that support academic success and everyday responsibilities.
Feedback is an essential part of learning, and in Youth Dance, students learn to view corrections as opportunities. This positive approach builds resilience, perseverance, and determination, teaching dancers how to handle challenges with confidence and a growth mindset.
Dance strengthens the mind as well as the body. By practicing choreography, rhythm, and musical coordination, students sharpen memory, concentration, and problem-solving skills. These abilities enhance their dance training while also supporting academic focus and overall cognitive growth.
Get more information about our classes and schedule on the next page!