Young Dancers Take Flight At Belmont's Heartbeat Academy

What started out as a singular room at Barrett Community Center equipped with a few wooden bars and mirrored walls for young dancers, and offering just one class, has evolved into one of the area’s leading dance academies.

Under the leadership of director Teri Nash, Heartbeat Dance Academy, has entered into its 11th year, expanding its studio space at Barrett into three class/dance rooms, an office and a break room.

“This is a home away from home for the dancers,” explained Nash from the academy’s sunny office facing the Barrett playground.

Nash says she hopes to add even more classroom/dance space at Barrett to her growing program.

Since most of Heartbeat’s students live and/or go to school in Belmont, Nash thinks Barrett is the ideal site.

“We’re in the perfect location for our dancers---close to schools, the shopping center, and neighborhoods,” she said.

A cozy break room next to the dance studios gives kids a chance to relax between school and dance class.

“We even have WiFi for kids to come in and get some homework done before dance class,” said Nash.

Heartbeat Dance Academy offers classes, camps, competitions and workshops for young dancers ages 3-17 in a variety of dance forms, from ballet and jazz to hip hop and modern. Nash says her most popular classes are in “lyrical,” which is an expressive form of dance that is a cross between ballet and jazz set to contemporary music.

“Lyrical dance is most popular in the world of competitive dance these days,” explained Nash.

This weekend, Nash and her dancers will hold their annual recital at the Carlmont High School Performing Arts Center.

The recital, “Off to Work” is the culmination of all the hard work the dancers have put in throughout the year. It features dancers of all levels—from the recreation level classes to competitive level, in a variety of dance styles. Over 250 young dancers will perform works choreographed by the Heartbeat teaching staff.

Throughout the summer, Heartbeat offers a variety of dance camps and classes, including the popular Princess Dance Camp and Junior Pop Stars camps for ages 5-7.

For more information on summer camps and classes, click here.

Nash says the academy’s mission statement is simple: to create and spread the joy and love of dance.

“It’s nice for the kids who come all year to have something new to do in the summer. They really blossom here, and it’s exciting to watch their growth,” said Nash.

For more information on Heartbeat Dance Academy, call Teri Nash or Eileen Cramer at 650-367-7501, or go to www.heartbeatdanceacademy.com. 

Tickets for the recital are available through the academy’s website:

http://www.heartbeatdanceacademy.com/

“Off to Work”

Heartbeat Dance Academy Summer Recital

Carlmont Performing Arts Center

Saturday, June 22

2:00 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Sunday, June 23

2:00 p.m.

Tickets are $15 for Saturday matinee performance; $20 for Saturday evening and Sunday matinee.

For tickets, or more information, click here, or call 650-367-7501.