First Street Academy Of Dance

- 521 1st St, Menominee, MI 49858

For residents of Michigan's beautiful Upper Peninsula and the greater Menominee community, the First Street Academy of Dance stands as a long-established and passionate hub for quality dance education. With a rich history spanning over 30 years, this academy is not just a place to learn steps; it’s a nurturing environment dedicated to developing strong dancers while simultaneously building essential life skills like character, confidence, and leadership.

Established in 1993, the academy has been a consistent presence in Menominee's Historic Waterfront Downtown, carrying forward a legacy of artistic instruction that began with its late and beloved founder, Susan Bunting. Today, the First Street Academy of Dance (FSAD) continues to serve students from Menominee, Marinette, Peshtigo, and surrounding areas, offering a diverse curriculum that covers foundational styles like Ballet and Tap, alongside modern genres such as Jazz and Hip-Hop.

The core philosophy of FSAD is centered on teaching the fundamentals of dance in an intimate, family-focused class setting. They pride themselves on creating a warm and inclusive community where every step "feels like home." This environment offers a safe space for students of all ages—from toddlers to teens—to express themselves, grow artistically, and belong to a supportive community dedicated to the art of dance. They cater to a wide range of ability levels, ensuring that both brand-new beginners and serious, advanced dancers have a place to thrive and explore their passion.

Location and Accessibility

The First Street Academy of Dance is conveniently located within the downtown area of Menominee, making it a central and easily accessible location for families across the region of Michigan and bordering communities. The studio’s physical address is:

521 1st St, Menominee, MI 49858, USA

The location benefits from being situated in Menominee’s historic waterfront district, which offers a recognizable and accessible setting. To ensure the facility is welcoming to all members of the Michigan community, the following accessibility and convenience features are provided:

• Wheelchair Accessible Parking Lot: The academy provides designated wheelchair accessible parking, prioritizing comfortable and convenient access for all families and students, aligning with its mission to be an inclusive space.
• Payment Flexibility: To streamline the registration process and tuition payments for busy Michigan parents, the studio accepts major Credit Cards. They also offer an online portal for account management and bill pay.
• Good for Kids: The entire structure of the studio, from class offerings to the nurturing environment, is designed to be highly appropriate and beneficial for children of all ages, ensuring it’s a positive experience for youth in the area.
• Downtown Proximity: Being located on 1st Street offers excellent visibility and easy navigation for local families in Menominee and Marinette.

Services Offered

The curriculum at First Street Academy of Dance is comprehensive, designed to accommodate all ages and skill levels, from the youngest pre-ballet students to serious pre-professional dancers. The classes are structured to provide developmentally-appropriate instruction and a clear path for progressive skill-building. Key class types and services include:

• Foundational Classes: Offering Pre-Ballet classes for the youngest dancers (ages 3 & 4) to teach rhythm and self-expression, and Ballet/Tap Combo classes for students aged 5 and up to introduce basic skills and improve coordination.
• Core Dance Disciplines: Comprehensive instruction in Ballet Class, Tap Dance, and Jazz Class, which form the cornerstone of the studio’s offerings and focus on proper technique, flexibility, and performance quality.
• Specialized and Advanced Training: Providing Pointe classes and advanced Technique Classes to build strength, control, and precision for the more serious dancer, with levels broken into Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced.
• Modern and Energetic Styles: Hip-Hop Classes are offered for dancers looking to explore this dynamic, urban-inspired art form, focusing on rhythm, coordination, and strength without the commitment of the required technique classes.
• Performance Opportunities: Students in recital-track classes learn choreography to perform in the annual recital. Advanced students have additional performance opportunities by auditioning for the Junior, Apprentice, and Senior Companies.
• Lyrical Dance: In addition to the core styles, FSAD also offers Lyrical dance, a genre that combines elements of ballet, jazz, and contemporary to allow for free and expressive movement.
• Performance and Technique-Focused Classes: Offering specific classes focused purely on Technique, as well as Choreography Classes to teach dancers the creative and performance-quality aspects of dance.
• Year-Round Sessions: Classes are offered throughout the year with separate Fall/Spring school year sessions and shorter 8-week Summer Sessions, including limited Dance Camps for a flexible commitment.

Features / Highlights

The longevity and success of the First Street Academy of Dance are built on a few core strengths that make it a premier choice for dance education in the Michigan Upper Peninsula region:

• Established Legacy and Experience: Operating since 1993, the academy possesses over 30 years of continuous experience in dance education, providing a time-tested and reliable curriculum for the community.
• Family-Focused, Nurturing Community: Parents and alumni consistently highlight the warm, inclusive, and encouraging community ("#FSADFAM") that provides a supportive environment where dancers feel safe to express themselves and grow their passion.
• Diverse and Progressive Curriculum: The studio expertly balances traditional dance forms (Ballet, Tap, Pointe) with popular modern styles (Jazz, Hip-Hop), ensuring a well-rounded dance education that can carry students from their toddler years through to advanced, pre-professional company levels.
• Focus on Life Skills: Beyond technical training, the academy is explicitly dedicated to instilling character, confidence, and leadership skills in its students, recognizing that dance is a vehicle for lifelong personal development.
• Clear Communication Tools for Serious Dancers: The Junior, Apprentice, and Senior level students utilize a dedicated Band App for vital, quick, and effective communication regarding performance information, creating a safe and supervised space for peer and faculty interaction outside of private social media platforms.
• Dedication to Proper Conduct and Safety: The studio maintains clear policies on attendance, conduct, and safety, including a zero-tolerance policy for harassment or bullying, ensuring a respectful and focused learning atmosphere for all.

Contact Information

For registration inquiries, class schedules, or to speak with the team at First Street Academy of Dance, local Michigan families may use the following contact details:

Address: 521 1st St, Menominee, MI 49858, USA
Phone: (715) 600-0251
Mobile Phone: +1 715-600-0251

Prospective students are encouraged to use the provided phone number to inquire about current class availability and to get started with this established Menominee dance institution.

What is Worth Choosing

First Street Academy of Dance is worth choosing for Michigan families who prioritize a long-standing tradition of quality instruction combined with a genuinely warm and encouraging community. While the academy aims for professionalism, the primary strength lies in its commitment to the *holistic* development of the child. You are choosing a dance home, not just a class.

The quality of instruction in core styles like ballet and tap is consistently well-received by patrons. The ability to cater to all ages and experience levels means a family can grow with the studio for years, from their first Pre-Ballet class to high school competition companies. Furthermore, the dedication to building strong character and confidence alongside dance technique is a significant advantage for any parent seeking positive extracurricular activity for their child in the Upper Peninsula. While the feedback suggests there may be occasional logistical issues with recital organization, the strong, positive impact of the instructors and the comprehensive dance education generally outweigh these minor challenges for the committed student. For quality dance education spanning over three decades in Menominee, FSAD is a trusted choice.

First Street Academy Of Dance

521 1st St, Menominee, MI 49858, USA