Why Every Performer Needs Dance

Posted: July 13, 2026

Ask any Broadway casting director what separates the performers who book the job from the ones who almost did, and you’ll hear the same answer often: they could dance.

But even if your child never sets foot in a professional audition room, dance classes offer something every kid and teen needs, and often isn’t getting enough of: Movement. And if you’ve been searching for dance classes for kids in the Charlotte area, we have some exciting news to share below.

Benefits of Dance for Kids and Teens: It's More Than Exercise

Between school desks, homework, and screens, today’s kids and teens spend more hours sitting still than any generation before them. Dance flips that script in the best possible way. A great dance class is a full-body workout disguised as fun, building strength, flexibility, coordination, and cardiovascular endurance week after week.

And the benefits go far beyond the physical. Movement is powerful for young minds and emotional wellbeing, too. Dance gives kids a healthy outlet for energy and stress, builds body confidence during the years when they need it most, and teaches focus and discipline in a way that feels nothing like a lecture. When students learn choreography, they’re training memory, pattern recognition, and the ability to take correction gracefully. Those are skills that follow them into every classroom, every team, and every stage of life.

The research backs this up. A 2026 peer-reviewed study published in Frontiers in Psychology, conducted by the nonprofit Raising the Barre in collaboration with University of Pennsylvania, tracked mood across more than 4,000 youth dance class sessions. It was one of the largest studies of its kind, and the findings were remarkable. Kids and teens reported maintained or improved mood in roughly 86% of classes, no matter the dance style, skill level, or instructor. Researchers at Stanford University are now building on those findings to study how dance shapes kids’ cognitive development. And a recent study of school dance programs in England found that teachers noticed students who danced were better able to listen and engage in class, with improvements in social skills and even literacy. In other words, what happens in the dance studio doesn’t stay in the dance studio.

Students hit the end beat in dance number

Dance Training Is a Game Changer in Musical Theatre

If your child dreams of musical theatre, here’s the honest truth: singing and acting alone won’t get them all the way there. Dance training is what turns a talented performer into a true triple threat, and it pays off in very concrete ways.

Stamina. Musicals are marathons. Performing an ensemble number while singing full voice, then doing it again in Act Two, takes real conditioning. Dancers build the endurance to deliver eight counts of choreography without gasping through the next verse.

Confidence at dance calls. In the audition world, the dance call is where many performers get cut, not because they lack talent, but because they’ve never learned how to pick up choreography quickly, retain it under pressure, and perform it minutes later. Regular dance training makes the dance call feel familiar instead of terrifying.

A stronger resume. Directors and casting teams look for dance styles listed on a performer’s resume. Tap, jazz, hip hop, ballet, contemporary. Every style your child trains in is another line that makes them stand out, whether they’re auditioning for a school musical, a community production, or beyond.

Castability. Here’s something many families don’t realize: certain shows demand certain dance styles. You can’t be cast in 42nd Street or Anything Goes without tap. Newsies, West Side Story, and Hairspray require serious jazz and athletic movement. Shows like Hamilton, In the Heights, and Bring It On lean heavily on hip hop. The more styles your child has in their toolkit, the more shows they’re castable for. It’s that simple.

Three New Dance Classes at Charlotte Academy of the Arts

We’re thrilled to bring three new dance classes to our Matthews studio this fall. Whether you’re looking for musical theatre dance classes, tap and jazz classes, or hip hop classes for kids and teens, there’s a fit for your dancer here.

Dance for Musical Theatre is for kids and teens ready to level up their performance. Led by director and choreographer Lindsey Ranz, students learn a new combination each week drawn from iconic Broadway numbers, training in choreography retention with technique rooted in ballet, jazz, musical theatre, and contemporary movement. Real-world audition preparation and dance call etiquette are woven throughout, and the semester culminates in a performance at our Fall Musical Revue, Once Upon a Musical. Ages 9 to 16, all levels welcome, including beginners.

Intermediate Tap and Jazz is for dancers ready to master two of the most essential styles in a triple threat’s toolkit. Led by Brandy Caton, BS Dance Education, this focused technique class builds rhythm, precision, and performance quality, from footwork and turnout to flexibility, turns, and leaps. Ages 10 to 18, and it also culminates in a Fall Musical Revue performance.

Hip Hop brings the energy! Led by the dynamic PJ Barnes, this high-energy class welcomes beginner to intermediate dancers ages 9 to 18 who are ready to move, find their own style, and build real skills, wrapping up with a relaxed performance where everyone shines. No experience needed.

A Promise to Our Families

One more thing, because we know it matters to parents: in every dance class at Charlotte Academy of the Arts, we guarantee the music is age appropriate. Always. Your dancer gets all the fun, energy, and style of today’s music in an environment you can feel completely good about.

Ready to Dance?

Whether your child is a seasoned performer building their triple threat resume or simply a kid who needs to move, there’s a place for them on our dance floor this fall! Enrollment for all dance classes at CAA begins August 1st. Join our e-list to stay up to date!