Jessica Strong is a Colorado small business owner and entrepreneur. She started her first business, Dance Exploration, back in 2009 as a mobile, after-school dance program that provided dance programs to children in Jefferson County Public Schools.
By 2020, her program had grown and was recognized as Colorado’s Premiere after-school dance program, having served all major school districts in the Denver Metro area and expanded into Boulder and Colorado Springs!
The key to the Program’s success was the Dance to Learn® Curriculum. She wanted Dance Exploration to be a recognizable brand. If a child attended a preschool that had a Dance Exploration Program and then transferred to an Elementary School that also had a Dance Exploration program, parents and children could immediately recognize the classes as a Dance Exploration class!
Jessica trained more than 20 rotating instructors and administrators on the principles of the Curriculum to ensure that every child had access to a quality, educational dance experience from the convenience of their own school gym!
The Whole Child Dance Method™
Jessica has spent the past 14 years developing the Curriculum to ensure that she meets the needs of every child who enters her program! The Dance to Learn® Curriculum is known as the Whole Child Dance Method, which puts a child’s development at the forefront.
Following a Conceptualized-Thematic approach to Dance Education, each lesson plan teaches one of 17 Dance Concepts (the building blocks of dance) using a fun and imaginative kid-friendly theme!
The exploration of the Dance Concepts goes beyond just fun dance moves and songs. Miss Jessica has built a closet full of multi-sensory props such as build-your-own balance beams, balance stones, bean bags, cones, stuffed animals, hula hoops, scarves, egg shakers, and more!
When these props are combined, the dance studio is transformed from just an empty space to a local pumpkin patch, bakery shop, or even a flower garden! Creating multi-sensory learning experiences ensures she is captivating students of all four different learning modalities and styles — so no child is left behind!
The Dance to Learn® Curriculum is a recognizable name in the Dance Industry, used by over 1,100 dance teachers across the country and worldwide! Jessica’s knowledge of early childhood dance education is sought after as she is frequently invited to host webinars, dance teacher training sessions, speak on podcasts, and write blog posts on the topic!
If you are a dance studio or teacher interested in the Dance to Learn® Curriculum, learn more at library.dancetolearn.co.
Where is Jessica and Dance Exploration now?
In 2020, during the pandemic, Jessica decided to close the after-school program and focus on building the Youth Dance Program offered through the Castle Rock Parks and Rec Arts and Enrichment department. Dance Exploration classes are recreational, non-competitive classes for children ages 18 months to 10 years old.
Registration is now open! Enroll online for the classes that work best in your schedule.
TUESDAY MORNINGS:
- 9:30-10:00 AM – Mommy, Teddy Bear, and Me (18 months-3 years with a Caregiver)
- 10:05-10:50 AM – Creative Dance (Ages 3-5)
TUESDAY AFTERNOONS:
- 4:30-5:15 PM – Teddy Bear Hip Hop (Ages 4-5)
- 5:20-6:20 PM – Hip Hop (Ages 6-10)
- 6:25-7:25 PM – Cheerleading (Ages 6-10)
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOONS:
- 4:15-5:15 PM – Ballet/Tap Combo (Ages 4-5)
- 5:20-6:20 PM – PreBallet (Ages 4-7)
- 6:25-7:25 PM – Youth Ballet (Ages 8-10)
FRIDAY MORNINGS:
- 9:30-10:00 AM – Mommy, Teddy Bear, and Me (18 months-3 years with a Caregiver)
- 10:05-10:50 AM – Creative Dance (Ages 3-5)
FRIDAY AFTERNOONS:
- 4:30-5:15 PM – Creative Dance (Ages 3-5)
- 5:20-6:20 PM – PreBallet (Ages 4-7)
- 6:25-7:25 PM – Broadway Dance (Ages 6-10)
SATURDAY MORNINGS:
- 9:15-10:15 AM – Ballet/Tap Combo (Ages 4-5)
- 10:20-11:20 AM – PreBallet (Ages 4-7)
Try a Class!
Sign up for a trial class for any of the Castle Rock Dance Classes offered by Dance Exploration at the Castle Rock Recreation Center!
Trial classes are available for the first three weeks of each new session unless the session is full. If you sign up for a trial and cannot attend because registration sells out, you will be offered a transfer to another class.
Trial Classes are $10/child. Upon registration in the class, the $10 is refunded back to you! Register at www.castlerockdance.com/trial.
Dance Exploration
at Castle Rock Rec Center
2301 N. Woodlands Blvd.
Castle Rock, 80104
(303) 949-1975
WEBSITE • FACEBOOK • INSTAGRAM
