Melody & Motion School of Performing Arts has been providing quality dance and music instruction in southern Tuscarawas County for more than 20 years. M&M offers recreational ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, tumbling, baton, voice, and piano for children and teens ages two through eighteen.
Our owner and lead teacher, Jessica Callender, started dance training at the age of two. She went on to dance at Tuscarawas Dance Arts in Dover and the Summer Program at Briansky Saratoga Ballet Center where she studied with the famous Russian Ballet instructor, Oleg Briansky, and several members of the New York City Ballet. She also studied dance at Ohio University and Akron University, and has performed as a guest dancer with the Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet. She is the mother of three children, Clayton, Jillian and Savannah. Her two daughters have grown up dancing at the studio, and now teach classes along with their mother.
Jessica founded Melody & Motion in 2002, and has loved watching her students grow from tiny tots into poised dancers. She believes dance classes are valuable because they “improve coordination, strength and flexibility and provide a sense of accomplishment.” Students in her class can expect to learn the skills needed to enjoy and appreciate the arts for a lifetime.
Come experience the Melody & Motion difference!
Melody & Motion offers a variety of classes in six-week sessions and longer sessions that last through the school year. Click on the button to the right for more information on all of our classes.
Summer classes begin Monday, June 19, 2023. Fall classes begin in September 2023.
We pride ourselves on having open lines of communication with our parents. All announcements, documents, links, photos, and instructions are posted on our parent Facebook group, M&M Parents. Our office manager is available at all times via phone, text, and Facebook messenger and class teachers are available to speak in-person in between classes.
All of our school year program classes have a limit on the number of students per class. We love to get to know our students and ensure that they receive ample attention and time for personal growth during class time.
Melody & Motion performances are done in special order costumes that come complete with everything needed. No sewing necessary. All accessories and tights are included.
Each of our dance styles and levels follow a specific structure during each class time. This allows our students to be comfortable with the class and become confident performing their skills. Our methods make progress easy to recognize by the parent and the student. We want them to succeed!
Melody & Motion has its own online store where parents can order dance shoes, leotards for class, tights, and dance bags. All of our dance classes have required footwear. We have try-on shoes in each size, which takes the guess-work out of ordering. Tumblers take class in bare feet, so no shoes are required.
Tiny Tot is a 45-minute ballet/creative movement class that teaches basic ballet and dance terms, listening skills, movement patterns, colors, and social skills. Tiny Tot students perform a routine in the Christmas show and one in the spring recital.
Pre-Dance is a 45-minute ballet/tap combo class that teaches the basics of ballet terms and technique, tap steps and movements, social skills, pattern memorization, and listening skills. Pre-Dancers perform one routine at the Christmas show and two routines (one tap, one ballet) in the spring recital.
K-Combo is a 45-minute ballet/tap combo class concentrating on music, timing, movements, and, memorization of patterns. Students practice putting all of these elements together in order to dance with their whole body. They perform one routine in the Christmas show and two routines (one tap, one ballet) at the spring recital.
This 45-minuteclass focuses on basic tumbling skills, terminology, stretching and strength. This class does NOT perform a routine in the Christmas show because tumbling skills and routines take longer to perfect. These students will perform one routine in the spring recital.
Our Jazz & Tap classes are 60-minute classes that include stretching, warm-up, skill and terminology practice, combinations, and routines. Some of these classes may be selected to perform a routine in the Christmas show and one in the Spring Recital, but some classes only perform in the Spring Recital. We take age and skill- level into consideration when placing students into these classes.
Our tumbling and baton classes are 60-minute classes that include stretching, warm-up, skill and terminology practice, combinations, and routines. Some of these classes may be selected to perform a routine in the Christmas show and one in the Spring Recital, but some classes only perform in the Spring Recital. We take age and skill- level into consideration when placing students into these classes.
All ballet classes include extensive stretching, barre exercises, center combinations, and routines.
Our twice-a-week ballet classes are leveled 1, 2, 3, 4. Anyone who would like to participate in twice-a-week ballet is allowed to do so, but we take into consideration their skill level, not just age, when placing them in classes. All of our ballet students perform excerpts from The Nutcracker at our Christmas show. Level 2 and up who take part in the summer ballet classes also perform a lyrical routine in the Christmas show. Levels 2, 3, & 4 Ballet classes all perform a ballet routine and a lyrical routine in the Spring Recital.
Pointe shoes are introduced when dancers reach Level 3 Ballet, and when they meet the age and skills requirements needed to dance in pointe shoes.
We would love for your child to join our dance family! We have students who have danced with us for many years, and it is a joy to watch them grow from tiny tots into graceful dancers.
To register, please click on the button below, and fill out our online registration form. When we receive the form, someone from our staff will contact you to complete your registration, and begin your child’s dance journey!
Melody & Motion offers private piano lessons to children beginning in first grade and continuing through high school. Adults are also welcome. The coursework will center on developing the right and left hands; independently at first, then together. Developing proper eye, ear and hand coordination is the sole objective for the beginning student. A Suzuki-like approach is used for this initial stage of development. Classes are tailored to the student and their development, and are taught by a dedicated music educator with decades of experience.
Professional voice lessons are available for middle school students through adult. These lessons will be taught by a university-trained choir instructor with years of experience training students in various vocal styles.
For available class times and rates please call or text (330) 987-9405
