growth through dance
Developing Life Skills Through the Art of Dance
The Dance Department at Rainey Institute is dedicated to providing dancers with the necessary skills needed to grow physically, emotionally, and socially. Through our partnership with Groundworks Dance Theater and our program offerings, such as master classes, group classes, workshops, and virtual and in-person experiences, young dancers will flourish into confident individuals ready to tackle the world one chassé at a time.
Our Vision
To nurture confident, productive, and creative action-takers with the skills to graduate to pre-professional training programs, while creating community value for arts and artists in our greater community.
Our Mission
For more information, regarding program offerings and opportunities
contact Dance Program Manager, LaChanee Hipps
Our Dance Programs
at home programming
Rainey Dance Academy From Home
Grades 3rd – 8th
Rainey Dance Academy provides passionate, curious, and collaborative young dancers, in the Greater Cleveland community, with pre-professional dance education and the necessary tools for aspiring dancers to succeed artistically, professionally, and personally.
With the health and safety of all dancers at heart, the Spring semester (January 18th – April 16th) will be offered virtually.
RDA From Home will provide:
- Virtual sessions Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays, 4pm-6pm
- Mastery-level training in Ballet, Hip-Hop, Modern, & Jazz
Access to book a virtual private lesson with our Teaching Artists - Dance Education Course through Groundworks Dance Theatre
- Fun activities with other participants
There is a $20 registration fee to begin; however, there is no monthly tuition to continue participation. Registration ends January 29th, 2021
in class programming
Dance in the Community
Ages 8-18
The Rainey Institute is proud to partner with the City of Cleveland to provide free in-person dance classes at Thurgood Marshall Recreation Center. Dancers ages 8-13 are invited to join us every Thursday, from March 11th – May 15th, for Jazz from 5p-6p and Hip-Hop from 6p-7p.
Jazz will explore various styles of jazz including, but not limited to classical, Broadway/Musical Theatre, soft shoe tap, and connecting to the contemporary styles such as commercial or street jazz. Jazz dancers are encouraged to wear tight athletic clothing (including but not limited to a leotard, tights, leggings, tank top, etc), jazz shoes or shoes with flexible soles.
Hip-Hop will provide learning and connecting hip hop’s origins to the culture it has become today. Flowing from old school to new school, instructing the isolations of the body, downbeat rhythms, and contrasting with smooth fluidity. Hip-Hop dancers are encouraged to wear loose athletic clothing (jogging pants, shorts, leggings, t-shirt, tank top, etc), and comfortable tennis shoes.
All dancers are encouraged to bring water and must wear a mask. Online registration is required.
Our Dance Faculty
Faculty Role: Dance Program Manager & Hip-Hop Teaching Artist for Rainey Dance Academy
Favorite Dance Genre(s): Hip-Hop & Majorette
Faculty Role: Jazz & Modern Teaching Artist for Rainey Dance Academy
Favorite Dance Genre(s): Modern & Musical Theatre
Faculty Role: Ballet Teaching Artist for Rainey Dance Academy, Intro to Ballet & Creative Movement Teaching Artist for the Dance As You Go online program
Favorite Dance Genre(s): Flamenco
Faculty Role: Multi-Genre Teaching Artist in Outreach
Favorite Dance Genre(s): Modern & Jazz fusion
Faculty Role: Teaching Artist Assistant
Favorite Dance Genre(s): African Diaspora
Faculty Role: Teaching Artist Assistant
Favorite Dance Genre(s): Jazz
“Whenever you give a young person, a child the opportunity to be free in a way that they can express themselves, they always do better in other parts of their lives.”
— Mayor Frank Jackson
