Perhaps Columbus’ strength as a dance community trickles up from its various educational opportunities in the area. For example, the BalletMet Dance Academy is one of the largest in the country associated with a professional company.

John Townsend, who started the Columbus DanceArts Academy (in Dublin) in 2003 with Robin Smith, says he did so as a way to nurture emotional, mental and physical development for youth. The academy supports all levels of dancers, from age 2 through pre-professional, and teaches ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, modern, hip-hop and tap. Its current enrollment is more than 900 students.

“Commercial dance education in Central Ohio is very strong. Children have an opportunity to learn a dance art form from a variety of studios focusing on many different forms,” he says.

The Dublin area also boasts Dublin Dance Centre & Gymnastics, with classes for all ages and experience levels, including creative ballet, tap, creative hip hop and jazz. Because it’s located near Dublin, DDC&G also offers Irish dance classes.

The BalletMet DanceArts Academy will embark upon its multi-city national audition tour for its two programs this summer: the Summer Intensive, June 28-July 23 (for intermediate and advanced students ages 12 and up) and the Pre-Professional Intensive, June 28-July 30 (for advanced students through age 20). BalletMet also offers a full-time, year-round Pre-Professional Program for high school and postgraduate students.

The New Albany Ballet Company, founded in 1999 by Tara Miller, was created specifically to offer training in ballet, tap, jazz and modern dance to students of all levels. The school now includes more than 550 students in four divisions – children, general, progressive and pre-professional. In 2003, the New Albany Children’s Ballet Theatre was formed to allow students more opportunities to perform in professional venues.

The Columbus Dance Theatre, created in 1998 by Tim Veach, is a contemporary ballet company, as well as a school. It partners with various arts organizations such as Opera Columbus, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, BalletMet and Carpe Diem. Students range in age from 3 to 70. In addition to ballet, open classes are offered in jazz, tap, modern dance and yoga. The company has performed at various festivals throughout the country. Its facility, 592 E. Main St., includes a 100-seat theater on site, offering a space for its season, school and for other performing arts groups, including the CM2 dance organization.

Radio City Rockette Anna Richardson got her start at the age of 3 at Westerville’s Straub Dance Center, one of the country’s oldest and largest dance studios. Straub offers a full curriculum of ballet, tap, jazz and hip hop classes to students as young as 2.

Alicia Kelso is editor of CityScene.