Desert Sun Performing Arts
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Rising Stars - Ages 2 to 5 Programs
Contemporary
Ballet
Pointe
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Maricopa 's Premier Dance School
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Rising Stars - Ages 2 to 5 Programs
Contemporary
Ballet
Pointe
Jazz, Jazz Funk, Acro & Adult Jazz
Lyrical
Tap
Inspire
Thera Barre
Rising Stars - Ages 2 to 5 Programs
HOME
Rising Stars - Ages 2 to 5 Programs
Contemporary
Ballet
Pointe
Jazz, Jazz Funk, Acro & Adult Jazz
Lyrical
Tap
Inspire
Thera Barre
Rising Stars
2 Year Old Rising Stars:In this class, children gain an understanding about moving their bodies in different ways with a variety of different activities. We dance, tumble, stretch and explore creativity all while learning to listen, follow directions, and take turns. We also use different props such as wands, ribbons, and bean bags to teach about rhythm, and music. Our 30 minute class is full of fun to keep up with the changing attention of 2 year olds. 3 Year Old Rising Stars:This class exposes students to the joy of dance through creative movement, imaginative play, movement games, and singing. The class helps the development of motor skills as well as communication and social skills. We introduce the basics of ballet in Center Barre and work on other skills as we move across the floor. Children enjoy using their imaginations as we learn choreography to different music, and pantomime various animals, actions and situations. We explore locomotion and use various props to further our dance experience.4 Year Old Rising Stars:4 year olds will love our 50 minute Rising Stars course as they dance in this combination class of Ballet and Tap. They will learn beginning terminology and steps that work on basic motor skills including running, skipping, hopping, leaping and jumping. Students will begin to learn musicality and music awareness while learning rhythms and enhancing their fine motor skills. They will also take pleasure in learning about locomotion and creative movement as well as learning choreography to different music. This class develops not only movement, flexibility and balance, but also individual and peer group skills. 5 Year Old Rising Stars:This is a fun, yet structured dance class consisting of ballet and tap. Students will learn ballet and tap terminology, center barre techniques, warmup exercises, combinations and many routines to ballet and tap music geared for young children. The students imagination and self esteem are encouraged and strengthened as we use creative movement and props in our learning process. This is a great class to help young children further develop motor skills, flexibility, coordination and confidence as well as make new friends.
Contemporary
HOME
Rising Stars - Ages 2 to 5 Programs
Contemporary
Ballet
Pointe
Jazz, Jazz Funk, Acro & Adult Jazz
Lyrical
Tap
Inspire
Thera Barre
Contemporary
A range of technique and style formed together in one class (modern, jazz, lyrical and classical ballet) that can be danced to any genre of music. Contemporary dance explores body movement and alignment. This class encourages students to explore Improvisation.
Ballet
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Rising Stars - Ages 2 to 5 Programs
Contemporary
Ballet
Pointe
Jazz, Jazz Funk, Acro & Adult Jazz
Lyrical
Tap
Inspire
Thera Barre
Ballet
This is the basis of all dance forms. A highly disciplined stage art based on a centuries old tradition of movement and skills. Ballet focuses on posture, placement and technique. Students will learn terminology (names & meaning of steps), how to properly execute steps and combinations. All of our ballet classes are always almost full, come see why Ballet at DSPA is second to none!
Pointe
Pointe
HOME
Rising Stars - Ages 2 to 5 Programs
Contemporary
Ballet
Pointe
Jazz, Jazz Funk, Acro & Adult Jazz
Lyrical
Tap
Inspire
Thera Barre
Pointe is an extension of the ballet class where, dancers that have reached an advanced level of ballet and are ready to learn how to execute ballet movements with pointe shoes. This class is by placement only as we take great pride in making sure that our dancers are ready & developed enough to go up on pointe with ease.
Jazz, Jazz Funk, Acro & Adult Jazz
HOME
Rising Stars - Ages 2 to 5 Programs
Contemporary
Ballet
Pointe
Jazz, Jazz Funk, Acro & Adult Jazz
Lyrical
Tap
Inspire
Thera Barre
Jazz , Jazz Funk , Jazz Acro , Adult Jazz Funk / Conditioning
Jazz:Jazz is a form of dance that showcases a dancers individual style and originality. Jazz is energetic with intricate footwork, quick turns & isolations. In class dancers are encouraged to add their personality to the movement to make each step unique. It is here that dancers will learn a ton of technique in a fun entertaining atmosphere! Jazz Funk aka Hip-Hop:This class focuses on combining two styles, jazz and hip-hop. Its a sassier, stronger, sharper movement class. We as well focus on dancing with what is within, breaking out of dancers shells that makes them a better performer. We get crazy and wild learning these sharp, up to date, movements that you see on television, on shows, music videos, or even in live concerts. We learn celebrity choreography at times so dancers witness what it is like dancing like the pop stars they admire. Lastly, we want to make sure that parents know that Jazz Funk classes are always age appropriate.So come join the fun!!!!Adult Jazz Funk/Conditioning:We as adults look for the easiest, most interesting work outs that dont bore us. Well a solution to that is dancing. Usually dancing at clubs, parties is so much fun, so why not take a class that you can exercise in, but not know it by simply dancing, learning new trends and styles? This class is a class of motivation, youre not just told what to do over and over again. We focus on doing new things each and every class. We see our ability to improve and dance at a higher level by simply pushing ourselves. Come try our exciting class of fun, and see some progress!Jazz Acro:In Jazz-acro you will have 2 teachers to enhance your learning. The class in divided into two groups 1 for jazz and the other for acro and then the groups switch. In acro, you learn tumbling skills to enhance your strength, flexibility, coordination and confidence in dance. This class is designed to enhance your physical ability and will help you in any sport you choose to do. You will have fun and come out of class with a sense of accomplishment.
Lyrical
Lyrical
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Rising Stars - Ages 2 to 5 Programs
Contemporary
Ballet
Pointe
Jazz, Jazz Funk, Acro & Adult Jazz
Lyrical
Tap
Inspire
Thera Barre
A dance style that combines modern, ballet and jazz techniques into one. Lyrical is an expressive dance form that focuses on musicality and emotion through movement. Choreography is set to music with vocals to allow students to express the meaning of a song through dance movement. Students will also focus on Improvisation
Tap
HOME
Rising Stars - Ages 2 to 5 Programs
Contemporary
Ballet
Pointe
Jazz, Jazz Funk, Acro & Adult Jazz
Lyrical
Tap
Inspire
Thera Barre
Tap
Fun filled tap classes that focus on technique and choreography. Students will learn a foundation of tap steps used in contemporary tap dancing. This foundation of tap steps will help develop the students' ability to learn and perform choreography. Students should feel challenged and accomplished by the end of every class. Tap-a-Tap-a-Tap-a!
Inspire
HOME
Rising Stars - Ages 2 to 5 Programs
Contemporary
Ballet
Pointe
Jazz, Jazz Funk, Acro & Adult Jazz
Lyrical
Tap
Inspire
Thera Barre
Inspire
Inspire was created in 1997 to fufill the need for dance to individuals with special needs. It was initially created for wheelchair users and has since grown to meet the needs of those with autism and developmental delays. We believe that everyone can dance if they have the desire. Please contact director Ceylan Gentilella for details.
Thera Barre
HOME
Rising Stars - Ages 2 to 5 Programs
Contemporary
Ballet
Pointe
Jazz, Jazz Funk, Acro & Adult Jazz
Lyrical
Tap
Inspire
Thera Barre
Thera Barre
This technique was created to bring pilates to a ballet class. Basic ballet and pilates have been combined to teach students of any level balance, strength, and stamina. Students will focus on Ballet techniques with a thera band and ballet barre. More advanced students will use the thera band without the help of a ballet barre.
Leaps, Jumps & Turns
HOME
Rising Stars - Ages 2 to 5 Programs
Contemporary
Ballet
Pointe
Jazz, Jazz Funk, Acro & Adult Jazz
Lyrical
Tap
Inspire
Thera Barre
Leaps, Jumps & Turns
Students will focus on leaps, jumps and turns from various dance styles including: Jazz, Lyrical, Ballet, Modern and contemporary. Strength and conditioning is incorporated into the class in order to help students achieve difficult leaps, jumps and turns.
Founder
Our Founder & Director
Ceylan Gentilella is a professional dance instructor with over 20 years of dance teaching experience and has been dancing for over 30 years. She holds a BFA in Dance and a BS in Therapeutic Recreation from Montclair State University in New Jersey. In addition, she has a Massage Therapy Certificate from Helma Institute. Ceylan is very proactive in staying up to date with current trends and learning new techniques for her students. Her diverse background affords her the ability to educate individuals with various needs that cannot be found elsewhere. She remains totally committed to quality education and instilling a love of the arts within her students.While in college Ceylan developed a program called "Inspire" to teach dance for wheelchair users and received a scholarship to study with the Cleveland Ballet Dancing Wheels. In 2003, Ceylan was approached to teach a dance class specifically for children with autism. Through educational workshops, she acquired an abundance of tools to successfully design and implement a dance program for this special population that still stands today.Her numerous accomplishments include gala performance at The Kennedy Center for The Arts, award winning choreography, and most recently being nominated for a Disney Teacher Award for the Arts. It is her personal belief that dance is not just about how technically proficient you are, but how passionate you are.
Our History
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Our History
Desert Sun Performing Arts is Maricopa's premiere dance and performing arts school. Under Artistic Director and Founder, Ceylan Gentilella, we provide Maricopa dancers opportunities to broaden their horizons through technique, performance, and competition. Our nationally recognized school instructors brings decades of professional experience from Musical Theatre, Television, Film, Plays, and many other productions. DSPA dancers are successful because our instructors continually stress technique, discipline, and life values that have encouraged our students to be kind hearted and creative. DSPA dancers are featured in local and national competitions and most recently on the hit TV series, "So You Think You Can Dance." Our intensive programs ensure our students progress year round.DSPA has an array of programs designed to fit the student's individual needs. We feature our Rising Stars program for ages 2 years thru 5 years, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Lyrical, Jazz Funk, Adult classes, Jazz Acro, Cheer, Pointe, Thera Barre, Inspire, a program for dance lovers with special needs, DSPA Gems Competition Team, and Maricopa's only ballet company, The Pearls. Classes are based on a well rounded dance curriculum. Our Competitive classes are permissible by auditions only. Private lessons are available by appointment. We look forward to providing a quality dance education with a personal touch. We take pride in providing a nurturing atmosphere to enable students to reach their fullest potential and build their self-esteem while experiencing the true joy of dance.
Gallery
Recital & Competition Photos
Recital Photographs
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Instructor BIOs
Instructor BIOs
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Ceylan Gentilella - FounderCeylan is a professional dance instructor with over 20 years of dance teaching experience and has been dancing for over 30 years. She holds a BFA in Dance and a BS in Therapeutic Recreation from Montclair State University in New Jersey. In addition, she has a Massage Therapy Certificate from Helma Institute.Sandee Walker/DSPA Gems Competition DirectorSandee Walker has been in the dance field for 14 years and is our Competition Director. She began her training at Center Stage Dance Academy in Long Beach California. Her training includes ballet, tap, jazz, modern lyrical and hip hop. She trained at several Ballet summer intensives including: The Kirov Ballet in Washington D.C., American Ballet Theatre in New York, The Colorado ballet in Denver, Joffrey Ballet in New York, State Street Ballet in California, and The Iowa Ballet in Des Moines. She went on to train at The Orange County High School of the Arts in Santa Ana California. Sandee was in the Classical Contemporary Dance Department for 4 years. Since moving to Arizona Sandee became the director of the dance department at the Chandler/Gilbert YMCA for 2 years. She is currently involved in a professional dance company located in Gilbert called Gravity Jazz Dance Theatre. Sandee is also working on her degree in Dance and business from ASU and Chandler/Gilbert Community College.Miguel AceroMiguel Acero is an aspiring professional dancer who has been dancing for 10 years and is currently enrolled at South Mountain Community College pursing an Associates in Dance. His educational goals are to attend Arizona State University and achieve his Bachelor's of Fine Arts, then attend Julliards in New York to pursue a Masters Degree in Dance. He recently auditioned for So You Think You Can Dance.Miguels goal for the students is to assure them a Jazz Funk education they will never forget. Miguel helps those in need in becoming a confident dancer by teaching them how to be an explosive, great, motivated performer. He focuses on getting to know each dancer by sharing or exchanging stories and experiences that help one another break the ice so the student feels comfortable in expressing themselves through dance. Miguel shows his students that anything is possible if you put your mind, body and most importantly heart into what you do.Sarah DoyleSarah Doyle is excited to be part of the instructional dancing team for DSPA. This is her fourth year working with Miss Ceylan and her many dancers. Sarah grew up in Arizona and began her own journey in dance as a toddler, receiving formal dance training for over 12 years in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Cheer. She took off her dancing shoes long enough to earn an elementary education degree from ASU, and is a certified teacher with over eight years experience in the classroom. Sarah now lives in Maricopa with her husband, Jeremy, and their three children: Olivia, Nate and Zackary.Candice HayzlettCandice found her passion for gymnastics in high school when she joined the gymnastics team. She coached in California for 10 years. She coached a competitive group gymnastics team who was very accomplished. They won many first place awards and took 3rd at their first national competition. After moving to Arizona in 2008 she had to stop coaching full time to find a job to care for her family. She couldn't stay away so she coached part time at her daughters gymnastics school. When her daughter wanted to dance she followed her and taught the tumbling classes. Fate brought them to DSPA where her daughter now dances. Candice is very excited to be part of DSPA as their tumbling teacher. Candice's goal is to make the dancers accomplished tumblers to enhance the dance skills.Chris JefferyChris Jeffery received his Tap training at Elite Dance and Performing Arts. It was at EDPA that Chris first began teaching tap as a substitute teacher. During his time at EDPA, Chris danced competitively, receiving high scores and a Mr. Teen Dance regional award. After high school, he taught tap at Dance Unlimited and Artistic Motion Dance for a year. Since then, he was a part of Gravity Jazz Company, where he performed both in Jazz and Tap. Chris has a passion for tap dancing and continues to improve himself as a teacher and tap dancer.Kathryn BirdKathryn Bird is our instructor for Ballet Technique and Pointe. Kathryn is originally from Portland, Maine where she danced with American Ballet East, later the Maine State Ballet. She studied under Linda MacArthur Miele, formerly the youngest member of the New York City Ballet, for 12 years and became a founding member and soloist with the Maine State Ballet. With strong roots in the Balanchine Technique and training in the Cecchetti method her foundation in dance is strong. She danced many roles through the years in well-known ballets and in original works by choreographer/artistic director Miele, including Nutcracker every year for 12 years in front of audiences of 1000s in which she enjoyed the roles of Clara, Party Scene Doll, Spanish Soloist, Corps de Ballet for Snowflakes and Waltz of the Flowers, and her most recurring role as Reed Flute Soloist. Kathryn continued her dance training at Connecticut College where her love of Contemporary Dance was kindled. After her years there she moved to Washington State where she danced with the contemporary troupe Blacken Tan Dance Company, under choreographer Danielle Brosco. She left Washington to further her career as a massage therapist in 1999 and met her husband and soul mate, Shane, on her first day of work. After 8 years in Las Vegas they now enjoy life here in Maricopa with their 3 beautiful and talented children Baylie, Ethan and Abby. After 10 years off to raise her kids, Kathryn is excited to delve back into to the amazing world of dance!Kathryn has loved dance since the moment she could move, but she attributes her growth as a dancer to the amazing opportunities she was given at a young age to perform on a very regular basis in front of audiences great and small. She is both a technician and a performer and is thrilled to bring her passion for dance to the students at DSPA. Vince ThackerJulie LostrittoJulie began her dance instruction at the age of three. She studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Hip-Hop at June Claire School of Dance in New York. She has two darling daughters that are following in their moms footsteps. This is Julie's first year teaching at DSPA and we are so happy to have her on board.
In the News
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Class Information
If you or your child misses a class, make-up sessions are available. Please call ahead of time to let us know your child will be absent and to schedule a make-up. Make-ups are only available during the current sessions.Our classes come with a money back guarantee! If your child stops dancing, tuition will be pro-rated and refunded. There is a non-refundable $25 registration fee.A sibling discount is available! The first class is full price; each sibling additional class is discounted 25% (with the exception of tap classes). There is also an unlimited class price of only $2400 for the entire year!
To View Our Class Schedule Click Here
CONTACT
CONTACT
Calendar
Calendar
*Please check back frequently as we will be adding special events and performances as they as are scheduled.
Directions
Desert Sun Performing Arts19756 N. John Wayne Parkway Suite 107 Maricopa, AZ 85139(Inside the Maricopa Manor Business Center behind Great Western Bank)
We Support
F.O.R. Maricopa Food Bank
MUSD 20
DSPA Gems, Inc.
F.O.R. (Food, Opportunity and Resources) Maricopa has been in existence since 2008, making an immediate impact in a city founded in 2003 that saw its population and needs explode in just a few short years.What began as an effort to feed an aid just a few families first out of the trunks of cars via home delivery and then by pickup at a local grocery store parking lot has evolved into a full-fledged resource center and food bank. On an average week, F.O.R. Maricopa, now housed in a building on the east side of town, serves 300 families, and that number is sure to continue to grow.Though growth in the number of families it serves each week is not a goal F.O.R. Maricopa wants to see in fact volunteers at F.O.R. have helped in doing what they can to get interviews for those finding themselves unemployed F.O.R. has grown to meet the needs of the community in more ways than the twice-weekly food pickups.Via a Christmas gift drive, F.O.R. was able to provide toys, clothes and other essentials for more than 1,300 area children in need last Christmas. More than 350 families received special holiday food boxes for both Christmas and Thanksgiving. More than 38,000 people were served by the food bank in 2010 alone.None of it would be possible without the support of the community. Via a community garden, a summer food drive competition between local congregations, support at its two main fundraisers (an annual golf tournament and wine tasting) and a variety of other donations and efforts year-round, F.O.R. Maricopa has been able to keep its doors open to those in need.F.O.R. Maricopa is a 501c3, so donations be they food, financial or otherwise are tax deductible.Visit www.formaricopa.org for additional information.
Maricopa, Arizona is a growing city located about 20 miles south of Phoenix. Our small, friendly community and our outstanding neighborhood schools are just two of the things that make Maricopa Unified School District stand out.At Maricopa Unified School District, we pride ourselves in providing the best for our students. Our schools and their facilities provide state-of-the-art teaching and learning tools, and we are proud of our dedicated teachers and support staff, who are enthusiastic about helping our students reach their potential. To learn about us, visit our schools and our various departments at www.maricopausd.org.
The mission of DSPA Gems, Inc. is to provide high quality dance education and performance opportunities to children in Arizona, with a focus on the City of Maricopa, regardless of their ability to uphold financial commitments. This also encompasses all programming offered at Desert Sun Performing Arts including, but not limited to, Inspire (a unique program for special needs children), competition and recreational dancers. We believe anyone who wishes to dance should be afforded the opportunity and we strive to achieve this goal. DSPA Gems, Inc. Mission StatementSince inception, August 19th, 2009, DSPA Gems, Inc. has held several fundraisers to help families with financial difficulties pay for tuition, costumes, and a trip to perform at Disneyland. Funds raised have also paid for tuition and costumes for Inspire, a unique dance program for kids with special needs children including, but not limited to: Autism, Cerebral Palsy, developmental delays and physical disabilities. Currently, DSPA Gems, Inc. is working to create a scholarship program which will allow a ballet company to be formed. Qualifying ballet company members will focus on community performances. DSPA Gems, Inc. future goals include expanding performing arts programs with multiple opportunities to expand our offerings to the community. DSPA Gems, Inc. strives to instill an understanding of moral obligation and empathy to all people, as dance students interact with others in their lives. DSPA Gems, Inc. goals include assisting students to understand that in order to be successful, they have a moral obligation to help others.Visit www.dspagems.com for additional information.
DSPA Gems, Inc
F.O.R. Maricopa
MUSD 20
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