Susan paino
dancer ~ teacher ~ costume designer
Classes and Community Programs
Classes for children ages 3-8 are offered in three formats: 8-week sessions, school-year programs, and summer sessions. Dates, times, and locations are listed for each class below.
While a student at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, I became interested in using creative movement to enhance children's learning, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in education with a concentration in early childhood. With my knowledge of child development and my expertise as a classically-trained dancer, I've devoted myself to creating unique classes for children.
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Participation in developmentally-appropriate dance activities can help children grow physically, emotionally, socially, and cognitively. Not only do children build skills, but they also discover the art of dance and movement through self-expression, imagination, exploration, and story-telling.
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Read more about Books & Ballet.
Dance for Children
Susan Paino with students at Apollinaire Play Lab in Chelsea, MA, 2018.
Thanks to the wonders of virtual learning, I was thrilled to teach Dance & Yoga Storytime during the pandemic for Apollinaire Play Lab in Chelsea, MA where I've taught for many years.
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Ages: 5-6 years
Meeting Time: TBA
Dates: TBA
Students develop a strong understanding of basic ballet concepts and vocabulary through age-appropriate exercises that emphasize body awareness. Explorations with imagery, music, and movement nurture self-expression, discovery, and making choices. Incorporating props and costumes, class members perform a story dance for families and friends for the last class of the session.
Build-a-Ballet
Ages: 6-8 years
Meeting Time: TBA
Dates: TBA
Dance Play Storytime
Ages: 3-5 years
Meeting Time: TBA
Dates: TBA
In a structured and playful learning environment, children practice movement skills derived from yoga, ballet, and various other dance forms. Story-telling with books, music, and creative movement enhances the development of self-expression and musicality.​
Ballet Garden
Creativity and technique are blended in a fun and challenging class that refines musicality, flexibility, balance, and control. Students study basic ballet concepts through stories and music explorations, tapping into their creative expression. This class enhances children’s cognitive abilities as they learn dance combinations. For the last class of the session, students perform two dance pieces during an open class for family and friends.
Books & Ballet is a children's outdoor dance project in Hillsborough, NC.
Classes and performance opportunities combine skill-building and explorations
of dance, movement, and story-telling. Books & Ballet will begin fall 2021.
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~Susan Paino, Project Leader
Ballet
1a: a theatrical art form using dancing, music, and scenery to convey a story, theme, or atmosphere
definition by Merriam-Webster
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Hoops & Loops Ballet