Questions We Hear a Lot
If you don't see your question here, just reach out. We are real people and we actually respond.
Where is the studio?
549 W 1400 N, Mapleton UT 84664 — in a quiet neighborhood between Springville and Mapleton. Address is shared at registration.
Is this a competition studio?
No. We are not a competition studio and have no plans to become one. We measure success by growth, joy, and love of dance — not trophies.
Will this prepare my child for university dance?
Yes. Amy is an active tenured UVU Professor who knows exactly what university programs require. Students who train at MDC arrive at auditions already fluent in the methodology and standards those programs expect.
Will this help with drill team auditions?
Yes. Our Performance Dance: Jazz & Ballet class builds exactly the skills drill team auditions require — turns, jumps, performance quality, and stage presence.
Can I watch my child's class?
We hold observation weeks during the season so families can see what their dancer is working on — dates are communicated by email. Outside of observation weeks, parents do not stay during class for any age group. Students focus best and develop independence more quickly without an audience.
Do you offer a trial class?
Yes. One complimentary trial class for new families. No commitment required. Contact us to schedule.
What should my child wear?
Comfortable, form-fitting dancewear in any color — leggings, leotards, fitted shorts or jazz pants all work. Bare feet for contemporary/modern classes. Ballet slippers or jazz shoes for Performance Dance and Ballet. No street shoes on the spring floor. Hair pulled back for older dancers.
Do you offer makeup classes?
We do not offer makeup classes — classes are small and carefully sequenced. Missed classes are non-refundable. We do offer private lessons for individual instruction or audition preparation.
What is a spring floor?
A professional dance surface with cushioning beneath the boards. It absorbs impact, supports joints, and makes movement feel the way it's meant to — the same standard used at universities and professional companies.
Have two dancers? We can help.
Tuesday and Thursday are designed for back-to-back drop-off. Younger classes start at 4:30pm with older classes following at 5:30 and 6:30 — two kids, one trip. A 5% sibling discount applies automatically. Reach out and we'll find the right combination for your family.
How does tuition work?
Tuition is charged automatically each month to the credit card on file in your JackRabbit account. Annual registration is $20 per student and includes a studio t-shirt. There are no costume fees, no recital packages, and no ticket requirements for the Spring Concert.
What is dance good for? What does the research say?
Dance is one of the most complete developmental activities a child can participate in — and the research across neuroscience, education, and child development backs this up consistently.
Body & Physical Development
- ✓Builds strength, flexibility, balance, and coordination across all muscle groups
- ✓Develops spatial awareness, proprioception, and body literacy — knowing where your body is in space
- ✓Supports healthy cardiovascular development and physical fitness without the injury risk of contact sports
- ✓Improves posture and alignment — benefits that carry into everyday movement for life
Brain & Cognitive Development
- ✓Dance is one of the few activities that activates both hemispheres of the brain simultaneously — linking movement, music, memory, and emotion
- ✓A landmark New England Journal of Medicine study found dance was the single most effective activity for reducing the risk of dementia — more than reading, crossword puzzles, or any other physical activity
- ✓Strengthens working memory, sequencing, and pattern recognition — skills that transfer directly to mathematics and reading
- ✓Develops executive function — planning, focus, and the ability to self-regulate — through the demands of learning and performing choreography
- ✓Research by Dr. Jaak Panksepp and others shows movement-based learning accelerates neural pathway development in young children — the body is the brain's first language
Creative & Emotional Development
- ✓Dance is one of the few arts that develops divergent thinking — the ability to generate multiple solutions to a single problem — the foundation of creativity in any field
- ✓Creative dance teaches children to make decisions, take risks, and trust their own ideas — capacities that define confident, innovative adults
- ✓Movement is one of the primary ways children process emotion. Dance gives children a safe, structured way to explore and express feelings they may not yet have words for
- ✓Studies show students in arts-integrated programs demonstrate higher empathy, stronger social skills, and greater resilience than those in non-arts environments
Confidence & Social Development
- ✓Being seen — performing, sharing work, receiving feedback — builds a specific kind of confidence that transfers into public speaking, leadership, and self-advocacy
- ✓Dance teaches children to work collaboratively, listen to others, and contribute to something larger than themselves
- ✓Research consistently links arts participation to lower rates of anxiety and depression in young people, and higher rates of school engagement and academic achievement
- ✓daCi — Dance and the Child International — documents across decades of global research that children who dance develop stronger self-concept, body image, and sense of personal identity
At MDC, every class is designed with this research in mind. Technique, creativity, and joy are not separate goals — they are how the whole child develops. This is what Amy has spent 30 years studying, presenting at national and international conferences, and practicing in the classroom. See the full Works Cited →
Is dance good for boys?
Absolutely. Boys who dance build strength, coordination, spatial awareness, musicality, and creative confidence in ways that transfer into every area of life — athletics, academics, and beyond. MDC offers a dedicated Boys Creative Dance class starting Fall 2026. Join the waitlist now.
Do you offer Pilates?
Yes. Amy Markgraf and Angela Banchero-Kelleher both offer private Pilates mat and reformer sessions by appointment at the MDC studio. Sessions are ideal for dancers building strength and alignment, adults returning to fitness, or anyone wanting focused one-on-one conditioning.
General rate: $65/session · 55 minutes
MDC family rate: $55/session · for enrolled students and families
Trial session: $33 · first session at half price
Amy and Angie are trained in Pilates mat and reformer and are completing their certification. Sessions are by appointment only — email Amy to schedule.
How do I register?
Click Enroll Now to register through JackRabbit, email mapletoncreativedance@gmail.com, or call 801-830-4744. Annual registration is $20 per student and includes a studio t-shirt.
Still have questions?
Amy reads every email and responds within one business day. There are no silly questions here.