Welcome to Merced Tap and Ballet in partnership with The City of Merced Recreation Department and The Multicultural Arts Center. 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 at MAC
9am "Mommy and Me" a parent exercise program with an infant/toddler focus.
10am "Bright Eyes" Tap and ballet ages three and four
10:45 Bright Eyes" Tap and ballet ages three and four
11:30 Bright Eyes" Tap and ballet ages three and four email: info@mercedtapandballet to register.
The City of Merced Parks and Recreation Department at The Senior Center:
3:00-3:45 (ages 3&4)
one hour full class:
3:45 (ages 5-7)
4:45 (ages 8-11)
5:45 (ages 12-15)
6:45 (adult)
7:45 yoga cool-down with "Young Elder"
October 1-December 21
Jan11-April 26
$100 for Fall weekly dance classes.
$140 for winter weekly dance classes
register online for school aged dancers 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)
Register for morning classes by emailing the instructor at info@mercedtapandballet.com (8 students per morning 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 Department 2021 to provide quality and fun dance experiences in the community. She began offering morning dance classes to toddlers and Mommy and Me in the fall of 2026 at The Multicultural Arts Center. 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!
"Mommy and Me"
Monday at 9 am at The MAC
"Mommy and Me" and "Dance Daddy" at The MAC is being offered through Merced Tap and Ballet. This dance program is not gender specific-I only ask for an adult to participate with the child.
This is an exercise program designed for parents with an infant and toddler focus. We will dance! I will teach you how to exercise while standing still. How to incorporate healthy practice in playing with your child, waiting in line, doing dishes, ect.
3 months to cradle will benefit from music and your self care, 6 months to connect their baby muscles with music, 12 months to stretch and isolate extremities and socialize in dance, 18 months old and 2 years to explore and discover in confidence with dance. We are giving our children the gift of self-realization through movement.
What to expect:
1. I encourage you both to move freely. I am introducing suggestions in these notes. This is YOUR class, this is your life! I am just 45 minutes a week, offering you (possibly) something you haven't thought of before:
If you are a parent working on independence with your dancer: your dancer may stand in front of you.
If you are a parent working on bonding: your dancer may stand beside you.
If you are a parent with an infant: you choose to hold or rest, your bundle.
2. This is a slow moving tap and ballet class. Full of motion.. Your tiny dancer will choose how they want to dance (no need to bend baby like Barbie) We are all in assorted developmental phases-let us discover our body! I use sign language and child friendly music. I will speak and sign to the tiny dancers. Parents: you will set a good example on how to participate in a dance studio: by dancing! Your dancer might wander off, greet a friend, lay in the corner, ect. No need to chase your child around (within reason). We are here to dance, and your dancer will return to your side.
3. I want you to notice how my foot stays elevated, my arms are always up and out, my core is straight and tight. If you would like to add small hand or leg weights to your dance, you may. If you are holding your dancer-lift them away from your body. You will use these subtle techniques to build strength as your child will see my heel dropping, toes tapping, arms moving and they will choose the movement that feels best for their developing body.
4. We are encouraging independence, language skills, self awareness and friendships!
5. Please bring a yoga mat, hard soled shoes or tap shoes and ballet slippers or grip socks. There is a borrow box for children's tap shoes-check there first before making a purchase.
6. Minimize the toys and snacks you bring with you to class. This is a 45 minute dance class.
If you are a parent who has children in the morning classes, and you wish to register for the afternoon classes, as well, add that to our discussion and I will get your afternoon dancers registered for you.
I am licensed, insured, and carry a music license. "Mommy and Me" at The MAC began in 2026.
We are expressing our dance, together!
MERCED TAP AND BALLET CLASSES
To Dance is to Dream
TODDLERS AGE 3&4
10am, 10:45, 11:30 and 3:00
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 October-April-with a few weeks off for Winter. We will start with 20-30 minutes of tap dancing, change our shoes, enjoy stretching to a fun tune, add 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. Please limit the snack foods you provide in this class. There is a bathroom and water break midway through our dance class. Dancers may wear hard soled shoes or tap shoes and ballet slippers or grip socks for ballet. There is a "BORROW BOX" for tap shoes.
DANCERS AGE 11-15
6:15-7:15
This age group is smart and trying new things. Let this introduction dance class be a quick, easy, once a week for an hour, break from the chaos of school and life. Come alone or bring a friend. We are here to dance. The class instruction starts at the beginning level and moves from the foundation up. 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 top the charts song, add basic ballet instruction, put the movement to a routine, take turns practicing steps moving across the floor and increase our cardio. Let us develop our grace and confidence through movement. The class structure is relaxed, self centered and judgement-free. The activity level stays active and 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. 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. There is an additional cool down yoga class offered by "Young Elder Yoga" add that stretch into your registration cart!
YoungElder* Yoga collaborative
Practices to create a more comfy home for us within our own bodies
Young Elder yoga is an offering of incremental meditative and movement practices informed by ancestral wisdom, Indian traditions, and exploration of our Self. This space is cultivated to provide a nourishing practice for folks who desire:
• A practice that centers yoga (union) with the Self and the collective energy we all share.
• Dedicated work to listen deeply to our bodies' comfort levels in each practice, thereby centering our own pleasure and growth, while honing the skill of trusting our own cues.
• Searching always for deeper connection with self-wisdom and inherited wisdom, and cultivating trust in those gifts."
Dance With Us
You will dance with Cinnamon and periodically a substitute will step in for a well rounded dance experience (usually with plenty of notice ahead of time) Also, join the adults for a quite evening wind down with Yoga and tea offered by Jamie every Monday night.
All classes require registration.
Cinnamon Langs
Dance Instructor
JamieAsdorian
"Young Elder" Yoga Instructor
Irene Segura
Recreation Department Coordinator
B Boy Kramer
hip hop in Merced
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
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.
