Meet Our Dance Mentors & Staff
Click on the text to sort the mentors by the style they teach
Our Guarantee
We are so confident that you’re going to love your experience at ROOTS that we guarantee your satisfaction for the first 30 days (4 classes or lessons), or your money back.*
Frequently Asked Questions
We truly understand the importance of every investment you make. However, once recital related fees are paid, they directly contribute to the planning and production of the recital. Because of this, we’re unable to offer refunds for costume and participation fees. We hope for your understanding and appreciate your support.
At ROOTS Academy, ensuring a quality learning environment for students is our top priority. Our instructors have a wealth of dance experience both as students and as teachers. Some of our dance mentors have achieved certification through different dance-related programs. This blend of certification and experience equips them to engage with students in a manner that is both safe and captivating, fostering an enriching learning experience for young minds.
Yes! We will host Master Classes and Workshops to give our dancers and dancers in the community opportunities to come in and learn from the best. You can find out more about ROOTS Dance Master Classes and Workshops here.
At this time, we do not offer any ROOTS adult dance classes. However, we host Area 54 HipHop classes in the evenings during the week. Check them out here
Our friends at b.fab.fitness also offer an amazing adult fitness class at the studio! Check them out here.
Please contact the dance office to inquire about your specific situation. We will do our best to try and accommodate the request, but we cannot guarantee a yes due to the many factors that go into recital preparations: costume availability, time to learn the recital choreography, student placement, etc.
The Fisher Center at Belmont University
does offer handicap seating, but it is very limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.The money-back guarantee is based on the following requirements:
- The student is required to attend four consecutive weeks of lessons/classes
- Parent/student must notify the front office regarding their dissatisfaction by the third week, giving us an opportunity to improve your learning experience.
- Refunds will be paid by check and delivered within 10-14 business days.
The first step to determining the appropriate class for your dancer is to find the appropriate age division.
- Toddler (ages 2.5 – 3)
- Preschool (ages 3-4)
- Peewee (5-6)
- Mini (ages 7-8)
- Junior (ages 9-11)
- Teen (ages 12-14)
- Senior (ages 15-18)
Toddler, Preschool, and Peewee dancers must be the proper age by August 15th for their group.
Older students (ages 6+) must be the proper age by January 1st of the following year
Once you know which group is best, you can view the classes available. We have two types of classes – open and placement. Open classes require no dance experience. Placement classes are more advanced for dancers with previous experience. For placement classes, the ROOTS dance staff would love to set up an evaluation in a class with your dancer.
If for any reason you wish to withdraw from your class, we would love to talk with you. Give us a call at (615) 804-1177 or email dance@rootsacademy.com. If you are sure you’d like to withdraw, please complete the withdrawal form.
Recital participation requires one costume fee per routine (around $95+ tax) and one Performance Fee (about $180) per participant. For your convenience, these fees are split up throughout the year. The due date is subject to change as we ultimately depend on venue availability, and the Performance Fee cost will be determined by the cost of the venue. The recital will also require the purchase of tickets.
Sure! During the months of September through January a make-up class may be scheduled for a missed Toddler, Preschool, Peewee or Mini level class up to one month after the missed class. Students are welcome to make up their class during another class time at their same level or below, as long as the class isn’t already at full studio capacity. Simply email us at dance@rootsacademy.com to let us know that you will be out for your class to schedule a make-up class. After January, make-up classes are not offered due to recital preparation. Please keep in mind that make-ups are not offered for missed classes due to inclement weather, holidays, or Recital Picture Week.
Recital participation is not required, however, it is strongly recommended. We expect that all ROOTS dancers are performing in the Recital unless we hear otherwise. If you are unable to perform, please email us as soon as possible at dance@rootsacademy.com
At ROOTS, each of our six dance studios has “sprung” dance floors installed which offer many benefits to our dancers, including:
- Improved comfort: Sprung floors help cushion the impact of dance movements, reducing the risk of injuries and making the dancing experience more comfortable.
- Enhanced performance: Sprung floors provide additional support and rebound, allowing dancers to perform jumps and other movements with more control and precision.
- Reduced fatigue: The cushioning effect can help reduce fatigue and soreness in the legs and feet, allowing dancers to perform for longer periods of time.
- Improved stability: Sprung floors help provide stability and balance, allowing dancers to perform more complex movements without losing control.
- Enhanced safety: Sprung floors help reduce the risk of falls and injuries, making the dance environment safer for all participants.
If you have more than one routine in Recital, you will have a Costume Fee per routine. Payment plans are available for families with more than one Costume Fee. Please contact the dance office at dance@rootsacademy.com to set up a costume payment plan before costume fees are due.
If the class you’re interested in is already full, please sign up for the waitlist. This ensures you’ll be alerted if a spot opens up. If a space becomes available, we’ll reach out to confirm your interest. Only once a spot is secured for you will you be charged for tuition.
We offer a variety of dance styles such as ballet, hip-hop, jazz, tap, contemporary, and more. Classes are available for beginners through advanced dancers. We also offer a recreational and competitive dance program, based on your dancers interests and goals. Check out our schedule and classes by clicking this link.
The
2025
Dance Recital will be held atThe Fisher Center at Belmont University
on2024-2025 Dates TBD
.The recital is at the end of the second semester of dance, typically in late May or early June.
In the future, the exact dates will be announced in our monthly FOOTNOTES and on our main Recital Page. When dates are announced, we suggest reserving those dates to ensure that you are available. Rehearsal times and more details will be communicated in the Spring semester.
We recommend purchasing all dance attire at Bellissimo, a dance boutique right here in Franklin. The address is 790 Jordan Road, Franklin, TN 37067.
The
2025
dance recital will be held atThe Fisher Center at Belmont University
. For more details please go to the recital page.All Preschool (Ages 3-5), Peewee (5-6) Mini (7-8), Junior (9-11), Teen (12-15) and Senior (15-18) dancers participate in the recital. The following classes will NOT perform a routine in Recital: Toddler, Acro, Pre-Pointe, and Skills
Questions?
If you have any questions about our program, please don't hesitate to call or email one of our team members:
Saskia Harmon—Program Director
Jessica Stillman—Company Manager
Melissa Bullington—Preschool Manager
Jen Burns—Dance Operations Manager
Kathleen McPherson—Dance Program Coordinator
dance@rootsacademy.com
(615) 804-1177 x2