Welcome to Merced Tap and Ballet in partnership with The City of Merced Recreation Department. We believe in creativity and artistic development using a curriculum designed by Betty Gentry who began sharing her joy of dance with Cinnamon in 1975. This foundation in basic tap and ballet is taught in a one hour class that meets once a week. Cinnamon creates excitement to leap into dance and expand the art of movement for self improvement in poise, sports, stage, school, cheer and joy. Still used today in The Newark City Recreation Department at The Betty Gentry Dance Studio and also available to you in the Merced Community by instructor Cinnamon Langs who grew up dancing under Betty Gentry's guidance. Join us in a carefree, active and fun dance environment, every Monday, October-April with an Open House performance in December and April.
To Dance is To Dream
ALL ABOUT OUR TAP AND BALLET CLASS
Every class starts with a tap dance lesson and routine. Then we change shoes for ballet and movement.
Tap and Ballet instruction is given each week, in every class you attend.
Monday
toddler class: age 3-4
10-10:45, 11-11:45, 2:15-3:00pm
one hour full class:
3:15 (ages 5-7)
4:15 (ages 8-11)
5:15 (ages 11-15)
6:15 (adult)
7:15 yoga with "Young Elder"
October 1-December 21
Jan11-April 26
$100 for Fall weekly dance classes.
$140 for winter weekly dance classes
register online at City of Merced
Register in person at the parks and recreation department
City of Merced
632 W. 18th Street
Merced CA 95341
(209)385-6235
open from 9-5 Monday-Friday
(closed for lunch from 12 to 1)
-or register with Venmo/Paypal/Zelle in class-
Tap and ballet shoes are requested.
Your instructor has education in Child Development and Fundamentals of Movement. Cinnamon Langs was a Girl Scout Leader, Foster Parent and Day Care provider for 15 years in Stevinson before buying a home in Merced. She also drove a school bus for 10 years while teaching dance classes on long lunch breaks in Fremont, California. Your dance instructor has 30 years of recreational department dance experience and nearly the same in teaching She joined the City of Merced Parks and Recreation Departmentin 2021 to provide quality and fun dance experiences in the community. Whether your focus is technique, flexibility or you’re just looking for a new way to work out, you can find it here. Feel free to reach out with questions, comments and concerns.
Come dance with us!
MERCED TAP AND BALLET CLASSES
To Dance is to Dream
TODDLERS AGE 3&4
9am, 10am, 11am, 2:15pm
This class is a quick 45 minute favorite among the caregivers. The children delight in the opportunity to explore new dance movements with fun child friendly music. While the adult in attendance sits down and enjoys the show! The “amazing” Cinnamon will make sure all the children get the necessary individual attention they need while keeping the class semi-collaborative. With unlimited patience and abundant material and experience to draw on. Want to find out more? Get in touch today.
SCHOOL AGE 5-7 YEARS
3:15-4:15
This tap and ballet combination class meets for one hour every Monday We will start with 20-30 minutes of tap dancing, change our shoes, stretch to a fun tune, include basic ballet instruction, dance to a routine, take turns practicing steps across the floor, and perform basic tumbling on mats. Dancers are given a sticker as a “Thank you for dancing with me” at the end of class.
AGES 8-11 YEARS
4:15-5:15
This tap and ballet combination class meets for one hour every Monday We will start with 20-30 minutes of tap dancing, change our shoes, do some stretching to a fun tune, add some basic ballet instruction, put the movement to a routine, take turns practicing floor work, and experience somersaults, cart wheels, head stands and back bends on tumbling mats.
DANCERS AGE 11-15
6:15-7:15
This age group is smart and learning about themselves. The class instruction starts at the beginning level and moves with the classes needs. New dancers fit nicely into the program, and dancers with some background in dance will refresh and improve and experience new steps as well as continued movement.
We will start with 20-30 minutes of tap dancing, change our shoes, stretch and leap and turn to a pop tune, add some basic ballet instruction, put the movement to a routine, take turns practicing steps moving across the floor. This age is social. The structure is more relaxed and the activity level stays constant.
ADULTS
6:15-7:15pm
We will start with tap dancing to traditional tap dance music. Exercise with floor movement, cardio barre style strengthening and toning movement, then stretch and cool down. We will put movement to a routine, and enjoy dancing with people. If you are into chair movement, feel free to dance in your chair! This class is exhilarating, friendly and refreshing. New students will learn new dance skills and active tap dancers will gain new skills: a well rounded, open minded class structure.
Merced Tap and Ballet Langs scholarship program
How to apply for the scholarship
3 scholarships for a year of dance training are offered. Apply anytime! Scholarship info:
Please submit child’s name age address and phone number (for registration purposes) to:
along with 1-4 paragraphs including previous dance experience and/or reasons why child is interested in the dance program.
Your effort will then be the consideration to obtain free dance classes! First come, come first serve. 3 scholarships for a year of dance are available. Thank you for your interest. We look forward to hearing from you.
Parents and siblings are delighted to see their children so happily active!! Being close by to watch the children dance and being available for hugs in the middle of class makes this community unique and enjoyable. When you’d like to make a specific statement and have your name or photo placed on this website, please talk with Cinnamon about publicizing your testimonial.
Happy Families
After Cora‘s first adult class, she commented on how easy it is to follow the instructor.
Cora
Christopher Jensen the City's Director of Parks and Recreations shook Cinnamon’s hand in the zoo parking lot and said, “ I have heard wonderful, wonderful, things about what you are doing with the city dance program.”
Christopher Jensen
“One of our most popular classes is back”
Face Book
“Our instructor is fantastic and does a great job with this class”
Recreation Department
GET IN TOUCH
If you would like more information on Merced Tap & Ballet I would be more than happy to help. Please email me or fill out the form below and I will get back to you as soon as possible. Or go to 632 W.18th Street (Recreation Department) in Merced during normal business hours.
Merced, CA, USA
209-385-6235
CINNAMON LANGS
Dance Instructor
Jamie
Yoga Instructor
IRENE
Recreation Department Coordinator
B Boy Kramer teaches hip-hop to youth in Merced
