River Valley Dance Academy

River Valley Dance Academy has served families in Minnesota's west metro for over 25 years from its studio on North Chestnut Street in Chaska, also drawing students from Chanhassen and Carver. It describes itself as offering a comprehensive dance education for beginners and experienced dancers alike, deliberately capping class sizes so each student gets individual attention. Programming covers preschool classes through ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, modern, lyrical, musical theatre, kick and conditioning classes, plus clinics and a Performance Company track. Primary-program dancers attend once a week and appear in annual recitals; from first grade upward students also perform at nursing homes and community events, and older dancers have performed at the Mall of America, Orchestra Hall, Vikings and Timberwolves games, and on company trips to Disney parks, New York, Branson and Los Angeles. Community service is a stated guiding principle, including an annual benefit concert for Feed My Starving Children. A Nutcracker ballet intensive and summer programming are also offered.