Detroit Windsor Dance Academy

History

Detroit Windsor Dance Academy was established in 1984 by Bruce Hunt and his wife Deborah White-Hunt. In 1984 the school was very small and only offered a few basic classes, but since then it grown to about 500 young students and many adult students. They offer dance classes for every style of dance, and for all ages on most days. The academy started a few small rented rooms at 1515 Broadway, near the Opera House in downtown Detroit. As numbers grew they moved into a much larger space in the New Center Building in downtown Detroit.

Classes

Classes are usually split up by age and skill level. Students may enrol from three years of age. There are over fifty classes, from basic classes including tap, jazz, modern, hip-hop, liturgical, and ballet. There are also classes such as ballroom and belly dancing. For more advanced students there are classes including pre-professional (pre-pro). Most classes for children are held outside the school week, but there are also weekday evening classes.

Annual concert

Detroit Windsor has held a public recital at the end of every term since 1985, usually in late May or early June; where students can show what that have learned. The concert is usually held every year at the Music Hall in downtown Detroit, but it has sometimes been held at the Opera House. Usually about 50 children's classes participate. During the year all of the dance classes take pictures in the costumes that they plan to wear in the end of year annual concert. At the concert a souvenir booklet with the class pictures and other information is sold.

Fees and scholarships

There is a fee for classes, but scholarships are available to talented students and to those who cannot afford the fees. The scholarship covers most of the nine months' classes leading up to the annual concert.

Crystal Ball

Every year a "Crystal Ball" is held to raise money for different charitable causes.