Island Dance Academy

All classes will be in person. Masks are optional. Everyone entering the studio will still have their temperature taken and their hands sanitized. Please text the teacher if your child is ill, or on vacation, so we can suggest make up classes for her/him.

For Summer only, we can “customize” a pre-paid schedule for you, to fit your vacation plans. You’ll only be charged for the weeks you can attend.  “Drop in” fee is $20/class if you have a dancer/visitor. Payment is by cash, check or Venmo: @suen-hughes

If you wish to observe, one parent/child will be allowed into the studio. Please take any conversations outside, as the volume distracts the dancers from listening to the teacher. The studio is a “phone free” zone, so please focus your attention on watching your child’s progress.

Returning students will be in the same class that they were in in the Spring/Summer, unless contacted otherwise.

See the tuition rates for prices and our policies and recommendations.

Summer 2024 Schedule (June 11 - July 27)

Classes are held at 27 Haili St., Hilo, across from the Palace Theater.

Classes and Public Performances

Creative Ballet & Tap is a class for 4 & 5 year olds, and teaches coordination of dance steps to music, ballet basics, creative dramatics and dance games. All other Ballet & Tap classes are for ages 6 & up. Jazz classes are for ages 8 & up. Students are placed at a level corresponding to their ability, age and previous experience. I strongly recommend that all students take Ballet also, as it is the basis of other forms of dance. I encourage all ballet students to continue taking ballet class twice a week, if not more.  Int. Adv. and Adv. Level students should be taking 3 classes a week in their chosen disciplines. We have been out of the classroom for far too long and need to re-establish our artistic abilities!

Students are placed at a level corresponding to their ability, age and previous experience. I strongly recommend that all students take ballet also, as it is the basis for all other forms of dance. From Advanced Beginning Ballet and up, I recommend taking ballet twice per week. Pointe students are required to take Ballet twice a week.

Clothing and shoes: this requirement varies; please see dancewear requirements.

“The Nutcracker”

Shows were December 8-10, 2023

Not everyone is in this show, as the stage is small and costumes are only in certain sizes!

“Sleeping Beauty”

Shows were in May 2023.

“Cinderella”

Shows were May 31, June 1 and 2, 2019.

We have classes on all Teacher Workdays, Waiver Days, and School Holidays, unless noted. If you miss a class you may take a make-up lesson, within a 1 month period of missing that class, in a similar class, or you may try something new… see Suen for suggestions. Your sibling may make up a class for you, too. The make-up lesson must be taken during the current Semester’s time period, and lessons may be pre-made up if you know you’ll be absent.

2 performances this season:

1. The all-studio video performance of “Kaleidoscope of Dance”, was shown via Vimeo May 2022

2. The Nutcracker, Palace Theater, Dec. 9-11, 2022. Auditions/placement will be Sun., August 21, 2022.