Questions parents ask before enrolling
Families from Edison, Piscataway, Plainfield, South Plainfield, and across Middlesex County ask us these questions every week. If yours isn't here, call us at (732) 659-4237.
Top 10 questions before you enroll
What makes American Dance Studios different from other local studios?
We don't just teach dance. We are a youth development institute that happens to teach excellent dance. Alongside technique, every dancer learns confidence, leadership, etiquette, and character through our Signature Programs: Character Development, Leadership, Etiquette, and Weekly Wins. We educate the whole child, not just the dancer.
What age can my child start, and how do I know which class is right?
Children can start as young as 18 months in our Twinkle Stars Preschool program, which runs through age 5. Ages 2 to 5 begin with a combo class, either Ballet & Tap or Hip Hop & Acro. Older children join Junior Dancers, Preteen & Teen, or our Rhythm Crew for boys, and adults are welcome in Say Yes. During your $39 two-week trial, our team helps place your dancer in the right level.
Are your teachers qualified and good with children?
Our founder, Sherri McLaughlin-Ryan, has been teaching for 33 years, and our teaching team is trained in the Rising Star Method and our Five-Star Fundamental Framework. ADS is a proud member of the Honor Society of Dance Arts, the National Dance Education Organization, and Dance New Jersey.
What styles of dance do you offer?
We teach Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary and Lyrical, Acrobatics, and Musical Theater, for both girls and boys. Our Rhythm Crew is a program just for boys. Not sure what a style is? Our Dance Styles Explained page walks you through each one.
Is your studio safe and family-friendly?
Yes. ADS is a family studio built on kindness, teamwork, and encouragement, and many families tell us it feels like a second home. Parents get weekly updates, photos, and announcements through ClassDojo, so you always know what's happening in class.
What is the tuition, and are there payment options?
Our All-Inclusive Annual Tuition depends on the program your dancer joins. Families start with a $39 two-week unlimited trial, and our team walks you through tuition and payment options after the trial.
Will my child get to perform on stage?
Yes. Every ADS dancer, ages 2 through adult, performs in our Year-End Recital at the Wilkins Theatre at Kean University. Dancers also perform in our Winter Show, Swing Nutcracker Swing, and celebrate at our red-carpet Rise Graduation. Dancers who want more stage time can join our no-audition Performance Company for competitions and community performances.
What if my child is shy or nervous about joining?
That's very common, and it's exactly what we're good at. Our teachers build confidence step by step, and every month dancers celebrate their progress in Weekly Wins. Every 90 days, dancers take a skills test and earn a pin when they pass, so they can see how far they've come.
Do you offer trial classes or assessments?
Yes. Every new family starts with our $39 two-week unlimited trial, so your dancer can take every class in their age group and meet our teachers. After that, dancers are tested every 90 days to track their progress.
How can I stay involved as a parent?
Parents stay connected through ClassDojo updates, our Parent Portal, and family events throughout the year, from the Winter Show to the Year-End Recital and Rise Graduation. Each Signature Programs lesson also sends home a question to talk about as a family.
New to American-style dance?
What is a combo class, like Ballet & Tap or Hip Hop & Acro?
A combo class teaches two dance styles in one class, which is how children ages 2 to 5 start at American Dance Studios. In Ballet & Tap, half the class is ballet for grace, balance, and listening, and half is tap for rhythm and coordination. In Hip Hop & Acro, half is hip hop for energy and musicality, and half is acrobatics for strength and tumbling skills. Your child gets to try two styles while building a strong foundation.
What is the difference between ballet, jazz, and contemporary dance?
Ballet is the classical foundation of dance: posture, balance, graceful arms, and precise footwork, taught with French terms. Jazz is upbeat and energetic, set to popular music, with turns, kicks, and leaps. Contemporary (and lyrical) is expressive, flowing dance that tells a story or shows emotion. Most dancers at American Dance Studios take ballet plus one or two other styles, and our Dance Styles Explained page describes every style we teach.
My child is 10, 12, or 14 and has never danced. Is it too late to start?
No, it is never too late. American Dance Studios in Edison, NJ offers a Beginner Preteen program for ages 10 to 13 and a Teen Dance Program for ages 13 to 17, so older beginners train with dancers their own age. No experience is needed, and the $39 two-week trial lets your child try every class in their age group first.
Do you have dance classes for boys near Edison, NJ?
Yes. Rhythm Crew is our dance program for boys ages 6 and up, taught by Mr. Marcelino Torres on Fridays at 7:30 PM and Saturdays at 2:00 PM. Boys train in hip hop, tap, acrobatics, jazz, and musical theater, building strength and discipline. Rhythm Crew is part of our Performance Company, so the boys compete, perform in the community, and travel on our dance tours. Boys are also welcome in every other class.
Adult dance classes
Are there beginner adult dance classes in Edison, NJ?
Yes. Say Yes is the adult dance program at American Dance Studios, 8A Casey Ave in Edison, for ages 18 and up. Every class is at 8:30 PM: Beginner Tap on Monday, Beginner Ballet on Tuesday, and Beginner Hip Hop on Wednesday. No experience is needed. Membership is $99 per month for unlimited classes, and you can start with a $39 two-week unlimited trial.
Can adults perform in the shows?
Yes, if they'd like to. Say Yes adult dancers are invited to perform in our two shows each year, the Winter Show and the Year-End Recital at the Wilkins Theatre. Performing is always optional. Adults are also invited to our quarterly pin awards and our private Facebook group, Relax, Relate, Release.
Programs and progress
Do I need to audition to join your competition team?
No. The American Dance Studios Performance Company holds no auditions, because we believe it is our job to train every child to the best of their ability. Service Stars take 2 or more classes a week and compete in two group numbers. Ultimate Stars take 4 or more classes a week and compete in four group numbers. All company dancers keep an A or B average in school.
What is the Rising Star Method?
The Rising Star Method is how American Dance Studios teaches the whole child. Every class ends with ten minutes from one of four Signature Programs: Character Development, Leadership, Etiquette, and Weekly Wins. Each lesson comes with a page made for your dancer's age group and a question to talk about at home. There is no extra program to sign up for and no extra night out.
What are Guiding Stars and Senior Elite Legacy?
Guiding Stars is our leadership program for dancers ages 8 to 17. It includes the Teacher Assistant Program, where older dancers help in classes and backstage, and the Guiding Stars Society, a club built on friendship and leadership. Senior Elite Legacy celebrates high school dancers through all four years: Starlight, Spotlight, Headliner, and Legacy, with a pin and bracelet charm earned each year.
How do dancers earn pins, and what is Testing Day?
Every 90 days, dancers at American Dance Studios take a skills test. When they pass, they earn a pin on Testing Day. Pins give children a goal they can see every quarter, and trophies are presented each June at our Rise Graduation ceremony.
Does tuition include costumes and recital fees?
Yes. American Dance Studios uses All-Inclusive Annual Tuition, which includes recital fees, costumes, graduation trophies, professional photos, edited videos, two performances a year, studio pins, syllabus exams, and monthly workshops. The amount depends on the program your dancer joins, and our team walks you through it after your $39 trial.
Do you offer a sibling discount?
Yes. At American Dance Studios, the second child in a family receives 10% off tuition, and the third child receives 20% off.
Visiting the studio
Is there parking at American Dance Studios?
Yes. American Dance Studios at 8A Casey Ave in Edison, NJ has about 15 parking spaces, with parking in front of the studio and behind it, plus street parking nearby. We're a busy studio, so we recommend arriving about 15 minutes early, especially when dropping off older children.
What happens if my child misses a class? Do you offer make-up classes?
Make-up classes are easy. Your dancer can take any class in their age group as a make-up class. Just send us a quick text or call (732) 659-4237 to let us know they're coming.
How many students are in a class?
Class sizes depend on the room. Classes in our larger studio room have up to about 15 students, and classes in our smaller room have about 6 or 7 students, so every dancer gets personal attention from the teacher.
What should my child wear to the first dance class?
For a first class at American Dance Studios, a T-shirt, leggings, and socks are perfect. New dancers can wear the same outfit to try every class they'd like during the $39 two-week trial. No special shoes or dancewear are needed to start.
Can parents watch class?
Yes, anytime. Each classroom at American Dance Studios has big picture windows, so parents can watch their dancers whenever they'd like.
Do you welcome Spanish-speaking families?
Yes. Many of our families speak Spanish, and Spanish-speaking families are part of the heart of our studio community. Classes are taught in English, and children who are still learning English pick up dance quickly by watching and following along.
Shows, events, and parties
When is the Year-End Recital, and where is it held?
The 2027 Year-End Recital is on July 11, 2027, at the Wilkins Theatre at Kean University, 1000 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ. Every American Dance Studios dancer, from two-year-olds to adults, performs. The recital comes right after our Rise Graduation ceremony.
When is Swing Nutcracker Swing?
Swing Nutcracker Swing, the American Dance Studios Winter Show, is on Sunday, December 20, 2026, at the Wilkins Theatre at Kean University in Union, NJ. Dancers of every age perform, from our youngest Twinkle Stars to our Senior Elite Legacy teens. Call (732) 659-4237 to ask about tickets.
Do you have a summer dance camp in 2027?
Yes. Level Up Summer Dance Camp runs July 19 to August 13, 2027, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, at our Edison studio, for ages 5 to 12. Dance styles rotate every half hour so campers stay moving. Campers bring lunch and two snacks.
Do you host kids' birthday parties at the studio?
Yes. American Dance Studios hosts all-inclusive, two-hour themed dance birthday parties for up to 16 guests in our Edison studio. Each party includes a professional dance teacher and party hostess, face painting, a bounce house, pizza, cupcakes, snacks, juice, theme décor, and setup and cleanup. Call (732) 659-4237 to book.
Do your dancers travel and perform at Disney or Universal?
Yes. American Dance Studios dancers have performed at Walt Disney World on tour after tour and at the International Music Festival in London in 2019. On August 18, 2027, our Performance Company performs at Universal Orlando Resort. Dance tours are open to Service Stars and Ultimate Stars members, including Rhythm Crew and Little Stars.