Wayne Center for the Arts (WCA) is thrilled to announce a new partnership with the YMCA in Orrville, bringing three exciting dance classes to the local community at 1801 Smucker Rd, Orrville, OH 44667. These classes will cater to a range of ages, from young children to seniors, providing an opportunity for everyone to experience the joy of dance.

“I’m excited to begin teaching in Orrville,” says Brittany Eckstrom, Dance Coordinator at WCA. “The community has already been so welcoming, and I look forward to sharing my love of dance with everyone!” Eckstrom will lead the classes, which are set to begin on Monday, September 16.

For the youngest dancers, ages 3-5 years, WCA will offer a combination Creative Movement and Pre-Ballet class. This introductory program is designed to nurture creativity and physical development through storytelling, music, and movement. “Children thrive in a loving, positive, and nurturing environment,” explains Eckstrom. “Our focus is on helping them develop alignment, strength, flexibility, musicality, and a lifelong love for dance.” No prior dance experience is required.

Kids aged 6-12 can join the All Levels Ballet class, where they will be introduced to the fundamentals of ballet in a supportive and creative setting. This class will cover basic ballet vocabulary and exercises to enhance alignment, strength, coordination, and flexibility, all while fostering a love for dance. Again, no prior dance experience is necessary.

Seniors aged 60+ are invited to participate in Golden Steps: Senior Chair Tap, a class designed to bring the joy of tap dancing to seniors from the comfort of a chair. This unique class focuses on gentle movements, basic tap steps, and exercises that promote coordination, rhythm, and flexibility. “It’s all about having fun and staying active in a lively, supportive environment,” says Eckstrom. “You don’t need any dance experience—just a willingness to tap into your creativity!” While tap shoes are encouraged, they are not required.

“Our 2023 strategic plan emphasized the importance of expanding our reach beyond Wooster to other parts of Wayne County,” says WCA Executive Director Sara Starr Brink. “Partnering with the YMCA in Orrville is helping us to achieve this goal, and we’re excited to offer these dance classes to the community. We hope to expand our offerings even further in the near future.”

Lindsey Baumgartner, Branch Director for the Orrville YMCA, adds, “We believe our members will love these new classes, and we’re hopeful that others in the community will be drawn to both the YMCA and WCA through this collaboration.”

For more information about the classes and to register, check out the links below.