DANCE
We offer a variety of dance classes for both youth and adults, including ballet, tap, jazz, modern, strength and stretch, hip hop, and lyrical ensemble. Our experienced instructors are dedicated to providing a fun and safe environment for students of all skill levels to learn and grow in their dance abilities.
Whether you're looking to improve your technique, learn a new style of dance, or just have fun and stay active, we have a class for you. Our curriculum is designed to challenge and inspire our students, while also fostering a love of dance and appreciation for the arts.
View our dance guide, register, and get to know your instructors. ↓
FALL 2026
Summer Dance Classes
Summer Dance Classes are designed to maintain skills learned throughout the year and strengthen technique. It's also a great time to try something new with a shorter commitment! We’re offering multiple styles for any age!
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Erica Hidalgo-Monroy grew up taking classes in all dance styles but fell in love with tap. She continued tap dancing through college (as a member and choreographer of a dance company) and after (as a member of a tap ensemble). She has taken classes from many amazing tap dancers and uses every opportunity possible to continue learning and growing both as a tap dancer and as a tap instructor. Erica has been teaching tap dance for 11 years and is thrilled to be at the Performing Arts Academy sharing her love and knowledge of tap dance with her students.
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Jasmine Mckenzie was dancing before she could walk! Jasmine graduated from undergrad at Old Dominion University and continued studying for her masters at Liberty University. Jasmine is the Quality Assurance Manager for Virginia Home for Boys and Girls by day and Assistant Director of Richmond Urban Dance by night. Jasmine started teaching dance in 2018 and has recently choreographed for a shoe commercial, as well as choreographed a musical (13: The Musical). Dance has opened more doors than she could imagine, and she now knows that dance is truly a gift from God and a part of her purpose, and she plans to walk, well, dance, into her purpose unapologetically.
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Kelsey Sadler is grateful for the opportunity to serve as ENCOR’s Director of Dance after beginning her professional relationship with the Academy in 2023 as the organization’s modern dance teacher. Kelsey attended James Madison University in Harrisonburg VA, where she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in dance. As a native of the Richmond area, Kelsey grew up training primarily in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, contemporary, lyrical and pointe at local studios and while attending the Appomattox Regional Governor’s School for the Arts and Technology in high school. In addition, she has taken a few classes in hip hop, musical theater, and various folk dance genres throughout her 25+ years of dance training. Kelsey looks forward to serving all of ENCOR’s dance students and their families and looks forward to continuing the cultivation of an environment where every dancer feels welcomed, is challenged in each of their classes, and leaves each class feeling strong, healthy, and happy.
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Ava Cummings is a Richmond native and lifelong dancer who has trained extensively in a variety of styles, including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, and musical theatre. Dance has always been a defining part of her life, and her love for performing naturally led her to discover her passion for teaching. Ava loves sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm with her students as an instructor, and she continues to grow as both a dancer and teacher by furthering her own dance education through ongoing training, classes, and new opportunities. Ava is passionate about creating a positive, supportive environment where dancers feel confident, expressive, and empowered to grow both as artists and as individuals.
Meet Your Fall/Spring Intructors
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Andria Maxwell has long been associated with WEAG dance — having danced in and served as a lead choreographer for WEAG productions, including Glorious Christmas Nights and Master’s Plan, for several years. Andria is a gifted, highly trained and experienced dancer and teacher across many styles of dance, but her first dance-love is ballet. Andria, who is in her twelfth year of teaching with the Performing Arts Academy, currently teaches ballet to children and adults.
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Elizabeth Woodington is a resident of Midlothian, Virginia where she began her training at Stavna Ballet. After receiving her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree in Dance Performance and Choreography, she spent the past year performing and teaching here in Virginia. She has had the opportunity to perform and work with a lot of amazing artists, and she is very excited to spend her first year at Performing Arts Academy! Her passion is to inspire the students to express themselves and what they love through the art of dance.