FAQs

The easiest way to start is to choose a class online through our website, call us at 610-867-0141, or email at mjdc@mjdancecenter.com.

We’ll help you find the right class based on your child’s age, experience level, and interests — no commitment required.

For class, comfortable athletic or dance-friendly clothing (leggings, a fitted top, or leotard) is perfect. Bare feet or socks are fine to start. Once your child enrolls, we’ll let you know the specific dress code and recommended footwear for their class style.

It depends on the age group. For preschool and older classes, parents typically wait in our lobby area while children attend independently. This helps young dancers build confidence and focus in the studio environment. Our waiting area is welcoming and you’re always close by.

Absolutely. Beginners are more than welcome, and we have beginner classes at every age level. Every child starts somewhere, and our instructors are experienced at meeting dancers exactly where they are.

Whether your child wants to try dance for fun, discover a new activity, or build skills over time, MJ Dance Center is designed to be that welcoming first step.

Yes, MJ Dance Center hosts multiple end-of-year recitals where students can share what they’ve been working on all season with family and friends. These recitals are a highlight of the year — a celebration of each student’s growth and hard work. They are celebratory events, not competitions.

Yes! MJ Dance Center offers summer dance camps and drop-in summer classes all summer long. These are a great option for families looking for fun, structured activities during school breaks, and they’re also a perfect low-commitment way to try the studio before enrolling for the regular season.

We offer a rich variety of dance styles so every student can find their passion:

• Ballet – Classical technique, the foundation of all dance training
• Jazz – Energetic, rhythmic, and expressive movement
• Tap – Percussive footwork and musicality
• Hip-Hop – Street styles, freestyle, and urban movement
• Lyrical –  Emotional, story-driven movement blending ballet and jazz
• Contemporary – Modern, creative movement emphasizing personal expression
• Acro –  Acrobatic arts combining dance and gymnastics-based skills
• Dance with Me / Creative Movement – Imaginative, unstructured movement for toddlers and preschoolers and their parent/guardian

Many students take multiple styles, which develops well-rounded technique and keeps things fun.

For young beginners (ages 3–5), TOT combo classes (which introduce multiple styles in one class) are the most popular starting points. They’re playful, low-pressure, and expose kids to the basic vocabulary of movement before they focus on a specific style.

For older beginners (ages 6+), if a child has their heart set on hip-hop or jazz or something else, we’ll always honor that enthusiasm — starting somewhere beats waiting for the “right” class.

Class length varies by age group with options from 30-60 minutes. Some advanced or technique-focused classes may run longer.

As for frequency, one class per week is a great starting point for most recreational students. Students who want to advance more quickly, audition for our competition teams, or pursue serious training often attend 2–5 classes per week. We’re happy to recommend a schedule that fits your child’s goals and your family’s availability.

We welcome dancers as young as 2 years old in our parent-child classes. These are joyful, musical classes where a parent or caregiver participates alongside their toddler. The focus is on basic movement exploration and having fun.

Many children also take our independent preschool classes where they attend on their own (with parents watching from outside the studio). These continue the playful, creative approach while building more structured movement skills.

Absolutely. It is never too late to start dancing, and we have beginner classes designed specifically for older students who are just getting started. An 8, 10, or even 14-year-old beginner will be placed in a class with peers at a similar level — not with 3-year-olds learning their first steps.

Our instructors are skilled at meeting each student where they are, and many of our most enthusiastic dancers started later than their classmates.

We place students based on age and previous experience as a starting point. After a few classes, our instructors assess each student’s progress and comfort level. If a class isn’t the right fit, either too advanced or not challenging enough, we’ll work with your family to find a better match.

Our goal is for every student to feel appropriately challenged, pushed enough to grow, but supported enough to succeed.

Yes! Beyond recreational classes, MJ Dance Center offers competition dance teams featuring advanced training programs and performance teams for students who want to take their training to the next level. These programs involve more intensive training, rehearsal, and competition performance opportunities in a supportive setting.

For our most up-to-date schedule, please visit the Classes page and choose a class on our website or call us at 610-867-0141 or email at mjdc@mjdancecenter.com.

Yes, and we love it when students explore multiple styles! Taking, for example, tech, acro, and hip-hop, or jazz and lyrical, makes dancers more versatile and keeps their training interesting. Many of our students take two or three classes per week in different styles.

Talk to us about building a schedule that balances your child’s interests with your family’s time and budget.

Tuition varies based on the number of classes per week and class type. We keep our pricing competitive and accessible for Lehigh Valley-area families.

For our most up-to-date tuition schedule, please visit the Classes page and choose a class on our website or call us at 610-867-0141 or email at mjdc@mjdancecenter.com.

Like most dance studios, there may be additional costs associated with end-of-year performances and recitals, including costume fees.

If you have a competitive dancer in the competition program, there will be associated fees.

We always communicate any additional costs clearly and in advance so families can plan accordingly.

Our instructors have a background in dance education at the college level, are professionally trained dancers with real-world performance, and years of teaching experience. Learn all about our studio owner, Miss Ashley, our creative directors, and our teachers at MJ Dance Center on our About Us page.

We believe that to dance is to live. We believe that dancers should find joy in movement and build the entire dancer in mind, body, and spirit. We emphasize confidence, creativity, discipline, and teamwork with dance as the foundation.

MJ Dance Center is a state-of-the-art studio situated right in the heart of the Lehigh Valley (in Bethlehem) with easy access off highway Route 22.

Dancers from all surrounding areas – Allentown, Easton, Nazareth, Emmaus, Parkland, Macungie, and more can get here in no time and start having fun!

Check out some pics of our studio on our About Us page.

Yes! MJ Dance Center is the same studio and carries on the traditions of Miss Jeanne’s School of Dance Arts. Miss Ashley, the owner of MJDC, is an alumni as both a student and teacher of Miss Jeanne’s School of Dance Arts, as are many other members of the MJDC staff.

Miss Ashley worked for and was taught by Miss Barabara and Miss Jeanne prior to their passing and is honored to carry on the legacy of the studio that she loved and adored.

When the studio moved locations, the studio name was updated to both carry on the traditional name while also reflecting the step into the future for the next generations of dancers.

MJ Dance Center is conveniently located in Bethlehem, PA and services Allentown, Easton, Nazareth, and many more!

Easy access from 22 East or West (it’s visible from the highway!) between Center Street (512) and Schoenersville Road.

Many of our families travel to Bethlehem from Allentown, Easton, Nazareth, Hanover, Bath, Macungie, Parkland, Hellertown, Saucon Valley, and other areas in the Greater Lehigh Valley. Our Bethlehem, PA location is centrally located within the Lehigh Valley area, making it an easy commute from many surrounding communities.

Families from outside Bethlehem tell us that the combination of our award-winning instruction, flexible enrollment, and welcoming community is well worth the short drive and it’s right off the highway!

Community is one of the things MJ Dance Center is most proud of. Many of our students have been dancing together for years, forming genuine, lasting friendships. There’s no rivalry between classmates — everyone supports each other and we consider every student a lifelong member of our dance family.

Since we have been operating since 1945, we have generations of alumni – from grandmothers to grandkids who have danced at MJDC through the years.

Families often tell us that their children look forward to class every week not just for the dance, but for their friends.

We’re always happy to talk! Call us at 610-867-0141 or email at mjdc@mjdancecenter.com.