Last summer, our family was ready to stretch our wings to try out some fun extracurriculars, and dance classes seemed like a great first step. Our family loves to dance – whether it’s impromptu dance parties in the living room, “organized” performances on the trampoline, or occasionally busting a move in the middle of Target. It's true. I have video evidence. Dance is not only a great form of self-expression, it’s also a great way to get some exercise.
That being said, there are 18 businesses between Burlington and Hillsborough that offer some form of dance classes for kids. Eighteen. As a mom in Mebane, they’re all within a ~25 minute drive of my house, so… how to choose? Even after reading up on the local studios and following conversations in local mom groups, I still didn’t have any strong feelings. After all, my kids were 3 and 6 and this was supposed to be a fun adventure – the stakes were not that high – I didn’t need a specific kind of dance school in my life. I just wanted them to be in a warm, positive, creative environment - and to have fun.
 First day of Acro class at Miss Kim's! | Source: Samantha Earnhardt (Disclaimer: We were not prepared with the boys dance dress code yet!) |
Disclaimer: We received discounted tuition as part of a sponsorship by Miss Kim's. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
So how did we end up at Miss Kim's Children's Dance & Arts in Burlington? Funny enough, although our family has grown to love dance at Miss Kim's, it was their Spanish classes that initially caught my attention.
As someone who is bilingual myself, I have been fortunate enough to experience the joy of being able to speak another language – of the doors it can open to travel, jobs, and interpersonal connections. Plus, there is loads of research showing the benefits of bilingualism in children’s brain development – like greater flexibility in thinking, problem-solving, abstract thought, and even empathy. And the earlier the exposure, the better. Since our family doesn’t have access to any of the highly coveted local Spanish language immersion programs – and my attempts to teach at home had mixed results (as any parent trying to teach their kid a skill knows how that can go) - I had my eyes peeled for local Spanish language resources for families. The possibility of a one-stop-shop where both my kids could explore dance and Spanish was incredibly appealing.
Given that my search had begun in late spring, a 6-week summer dance class seemed like the perfect way to give it a try without the commitment of a full year of classes. After signing up, we got an invitation to attend an Open House event where we could tour the school, buy dance clothes, meet the teachers, and, of course, come face-to-face with owner/founder Miss Kim herself.
As it turned out, my kids both LOVED their Acro classes that summer. My daughter has been climbing, flipping, and otherwise being a miniature daredevil since age 2, so it didn’t come as a big surprise. On the last day of classes there is often a parent showcase, and when I walked in the room, I saw her twirling around with the BIGGEST smile on her face - which said it all. Nothing brings more joy to a mama’s heart than seeing her children shine.
  Showing off some new moves at Acro class parent showcase. | Source: Samantha Earnhardt |
At the same time she was in Acro, I was able to sign my son up for a Boys Acro class, too – which I thought might help him feel more comfortable in an environment with mostly girls. I found out later that boys are also welcome in all other classes at Miss Kim’s, too, so it really is about personal preference – and schedules!
(This summer we signed him up for Boys Hip-Hop & Acro Combo, and, while watching his class from the comfort of my car on the free & safe Spot TV app, I came to appreciate the advantage of attending an all-boy class. Many of the boys (mine included) came in with so much energy and really seemed to benefit from an environment geared specifically towards embracing and channeling their hyperactivity!)
 Summer Boys Acro Class Parent Showcase! | Source: Samantha Earnhardt |
When the fall rolled around, we knew we wanted to return to Miss Kim’s. This time my daughter opted for Ballet & Creative Movement (a classic!) and we were fortunate enough to snag a spot in one of the highly coveted classes taught by Miss Kim herself. My son signed up for more Boys Acro and both were able to enroll in back-to-back age-appropriate Spanish classes. The best part was that Miss Kim's offers so many sessions of dance that we were able to schedule it all to happen in one afternoon. So last fall Tuesdays became a special afternoon of dance, Spanish, and an occasional treat at Pelican's Snoballs of Burlington , conveniently... maybe a little too conveniently... located right next door.
The testament to what they were learning came in small pieces - like a noticeable increase in my son's Spanish vocabulary - or my daughter's enthusiasm to learn more Spanish. They often came home with art projects that had been used to engage the children and enhance the language lesson of the day, so my kids would get in the car with a smile, a sticker, and a personal creation. At home they would roll and jump around, showing off their new dance movies. And the first time I overheard my daughter sweetly saying "petal... petal... watch me bloom" as she gently moved her arms about, I almost died from the cuteness.
Another first for my daughter was the experience of performing on a stage. Dancers at Miss Kim's participate in 2 recitals every year - the Nutcracker in December and the end-of-the-year recital in May. It was the first time she had been on a stage and she seemed to delight in being at the center of attention (hence her lingering a bit longer than her classmates at the front of the stage! ) As a first-time dance mom I hadn't realized we would need to purchase end-of-year recital costumes, but she has since dressed up in her sequined "fairy" outfit to dance around the house (and in front of the mirror!) more than once, so we have definitely gotten our money's worth out of it!
 Trying on recital costumes for Miss Kim's ballet class | Source: Samantha Earnhardt |
One of the things I appreciate the most about Miss Kim's is its focus on younger dancers as classes are for children up to age 11. While they have recently started a small competitive program, the priority really is about instilling a love of dance in young children. And that is what I was looking for in a dance studio!
Miss Kim herself works particularly well with the younger dancers - which I got to witness first-hand at Parent observation day for ballet class - as she captivated and inspired the dancers by appealing to their sense of wonder and imagination.
Something else they do to keep the magic alive is finding ways to celebrate holidays throughout the year with little traditions - like inviting children to dress in costumes on Halloween, bring in Valentines for classmates in February, and wear bunny ears (and other fun accessories) for Easter. Miss Kim also hosted on-site weekend events for trick-or-treating and meeting Santa Claus.
  Halloween fun! My children's Spanish teacher, seeing my daughter's Baby Shark costume, rushed back inside to throw on an adult-sized shark costume before greeting her at the door! Source: Samantha Earnhardt |
This summer, in addition to my son's Boy's Hip-Hop and Acro combo class, we tried out our first summer camp at Miss Kim's. My daughter spent a week filled with song, dance, crafts, and language learning at We DO Talk About Bruno Camp - inspired by the hit movie Encanto. She came home every day telling us how much she loved that camp, which I could see on her face as she showed off her skills and creations at the Parent Showcase on the final day.
In summary, we have had a delightful year of getting to know what Miss Kim's is all about. We have been impressed by the loving atmosphere and all the little details sprinkled throughout our time there that have made it an unforgettable experience for our family.
 My little señorita loved her week at Spanish summer camp (and she definitely did talk about Bruno!) | Source: Samantha Earnhardt |
About Miss Kim's Children's Dance and Arts
Miss Kim’s is owned and operated by Kim Black who has taught dance in Alamance County for more than 30 years. She successfully launched Miss Kim's Children's Dance and Arts right as the COVID-19 pandemic hit and emerged stronger at the other end.
Miss Kim has won numerous awards, including: 2018 Discount Dance Company Teacher of the Year, 2020 National Dance Teacher of the Year by Dance Teacher Magazine, and 2022 Burlington Times-News Reader's Choice Person of the Year.
Additionally, Miss Kim's Studio has won the Burlington Times-News Reader's Choice Best Dance Studio in 2021 and 2022 as well as Best Summer Camp and Best Birthday Party Venue in 2022.
Miss Kim's offers classes in Ballet, Acro, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Mommy & Me, Spanish, Art, and more. She also offers a special non-profit My Time to Shine dance program for differently-abled dancers. Learn more about class offerings and schedules on Miss Kim's Website.
 Source: Miss Kim's |
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