April
Schweitzer
Studio Director
Kathryn
Daniel
Ballet Director
Willie
Hinton
Contemporary Director
Gina
Ursetto
Broadway Director
Oliver
Beres
Faculty
About Us
Learn more about Graceful Expressions Dance!Our Story
Graceful Expressions was founded in 2004 to fill a need in the dance community — caring instruction with a pursuit of excellence.
Typically dance studios fall into one of three categories: recreational, competitive or conservatory. We are none of the above. Instead, we pull the best from these types of studios, combine that with a background in education and then add a warm and nurturing classroom atmosphere to create a studio that feels like home for the families here.
We believe that dancers learn best when taught to pursue excellence themselves and develop their own individual success at their own pace with a team of teachers guiding and encouraging them along the way. We believe that dancers should be celebrated for their hard work and dedication and that everyone on-stage should feel comfortable and confident in their own skin — so we make sure our costuming and choreography is tasteful and age-appropriate.
We believe that everyone can and should dance — whether that be for fun, for fitness, or for a lifelong pursuit.
The Graceful Expressions Difference
Our teachers have devoted years to studying both dance and teaching because we believe that knowing how to teach is as important as knowing what to teach.
Even our youngest dancers are taught by skilled and experienced teachers. Dance requires cumulative knowledge, and you must build on a solid foundation. We believe that starts with high-quality instruction in the beginning years.
All of our studios feature sprung-floors. Dancer safety is a top priority!
We are primarily about dance education — we don’t teach to a “test” by spending the year focused on competitions or recital dances. Learning happens every week!
Our curriculum is all about dance — but we view dance as so much more. We focus on the lifelong lessons that come from the art: discipline, creativity, confidence and perseverance.
Our recitals are just over an hour long. That’s it! Everyone walks away happy and proud — our favorite compliments come from the grandpas and brothers who say they would love to come back next year!
Meet Our Staff
April
Kathryn
Willie
Gina
Oliver
Juliet Celeste
Fernandez-Malit
Faculty
Bria
Ivers
Faculty
Eileen
Juric
Faculty
Sami
Lane
Faculty
Trinity
Parsons
Faculty
Nathan
Sakell
Faculty
Olivia
Scott
Faculty
Addison
Spey
Faculty
Ellen
Su
Faculty
Sarah
Surrett
Faculty
Frequently Asked Questions
The combination of warmth, care and excellence. We’re not a recreational-only studio; instead, all of our dancers experience the joy of dance. We’re not a studio that is focused only on our pre-professional program; instead, all of our dancers receive our attentive instruction and are taught to strive for excellence.
Classes run on a school-year calendar. We offer a separate summer session and short weekend sessions in the spring and fall. Registration is ongoing throughout the fall for classes as long as spaces remain. To receive the full benefit of the school-year classes, it’s best to start in August or early September.
Our recitals are low-stress but high-caliber productions. All of our dancers who participate are part of a story ballet and are an important part of the team. The recitals are an opportunity to celebrate all that we have learned and accomplished throughout the year. Recitals are held at the Cary Arts Center in June. Performances last just over an hour. Recital participation is not required, but most do choose to participate.
Instead of competition dance, we are home to a non-profit dance company, preparing our pre-professional dancers for the experience of a career in the arts. Our company was structured with college and career in mind, providing the best possible experience for our dancers to develop their leadership skills and talent in dance.
We encourage dancers to try more than one style, and we discount the cost of additional classes beyond the first class each week significantly. Dancers who desire a career in the arts should be pursuing dance as their primary extracurricular activity and should plan to be in the studio most days starting in middle school. Ballet dancers who desire to advance onto pointe should be taking two or three ballet classes per week.
Information about our dress code may be found on our Dress Code page. You can pick up these items locally at Releve Dancewear or online at discountdance.com.
Dance class can be a big step in independence for our young dancers, and we encourage you to work together with the teacher to help your little one transition into class on their own. It may take a few weeks for your young dancer to be fully confident in their new class and with their new friends, but they, and you, will be so proud of them when they make that big step!
We find that young dancers can be distracted or feel a need to perform rather than listen and learn when they have visitors in class, so to create the best possible learning environment, we work to keep the consistency of classmates, teacher and assistant teacher in the classroom only.
Parents can watch class via the video feed in our lobby and teachers are happy to meet with you or message with you about any questions you have about your dancer’s progress.
Nope! Never! Growing up, Miss April had a neighbor who started dancing at 78 and continued in ballet class well past 90.
Each class and level follows a carefully developed curriculum. In our younger levels, we send updates on skills and tips for practice at home out by email each month. We are always happy to answer questions about classes and curriculum.
We encourage our dancers to follow their dreams and to work hard! Our dancers have been offered professional experiences with Ballet 5:8, Oklahoma City Ballet, Carolina Ballet, Charlottesville Ballet, International Ballet Company, and Columbia City Ballet.
Dance is an essential art form — it combines physical exercise, creativity, perseverance and discipline in a way that few other pursuits can.
Policies & Payment
Last updated August 16, 2023
Registration
Registration and payments are handled through our online system. This system is hassle-free, secure and convenient.
For new students, a registration fee of $35 per student, or $75 per family, is charged at the time of registration for school year classes.
For returning students, the registration fee is $30 per student, or $70 per family.
There is no registration fee for summer, special events or camps.
When a session or camp is finished, you do not need to un-enroll. You will not be charged again until you select another class.
Recital Fee
Recital fees include theater rental and costumes for our June shows. Fees will be charged November 1st. If your student will not be participating in the recital, please notify accounts@gracefuldance.com by October 15th.
Class Enrollment
Our studio is not contract-based. We hope that your dancer will be able to learn from us for the entire session, but if for some reason you must withdraw during the year, just email by the 25th of the month and you will not be charged for the next month. Classes with four or fewer students enrolled may be combined or cancelled.
When is Tuition Charged?
For school-year classes, tuition is charged on the first day of the month, starting with the August 1st payment. The months of August and June are 1/2 regular tuition. Tuition is based on an annual amount divided into monthly installments.
Summer classes are charged July 1st. Summer camps are charged the first of the month in which the camp takes place. Special events are charged the day of the event.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition is based on the overall amount for the year and can either be pre-paid or divided into monthly installments. June and August are 1/2 regular tuition.
Tuition is charged on the first day of the month. Tuition not paid after the 15th will incur a $25 late fee. You can update your payment information at any time by logging in to your customer portal.
Current month tuition is non-refundable. Please notify the studio by email to info@gracefuldance.com by the 25th of the month if your dancer will not be able to continue the following month.
Tuition is charged on the first of each month at the following rates, based on the class designation:
30-minute class each week, $68 per month
40-45 minute class each week, $76 per month
50-60 minute class each week, $83 per month
70-75 minute class each week, $89 per month
90-minute class each week, $96 per month
105-minute class each week, $102 per month
For students enrolling in multiple dance classes, additional classes are reduced by 30%. Tuition is capped at $326 per dancer. Membership fees for our non-profit dance companies and private or semi-private lessons are not included in the tuition cap.
We have a sibling discount of 10% off tuition for members of the same family.