Char-Mar School of Dance

Business Details

50+ Years

experience

Your Trusted Dance School in Palm Beach Gardens

Char-Mar School of Dance-Mar School of Dance has been cultivating a love for dance in students of all ages since 1973. Our Palm Beach Gardens studio and mobile partnerships with local schools provide accessible, high-quality dance education in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, and more. We prioritize a family-friendly environment where students develop technical skills, confidence, and lifelong passion for the arts. Our dedicated instructors bring decades of professional experience and personalized attention to every class. We continuously invest in improved teaching methods, technology, and studio facilities to ensure optimal learning experiences. Our commitment to community extends through after-school programs at 10+ North Palm Beach County schools.

The studios leadership maintains direct involvement in daily operations, preserving the warm, inclusive culture established by our founders. We emphasize both artistic growth and character development, teaching students perseverance, teamwork, and creative expression. Our flexible programming accommodates beginners through advanced performers, including competitive teams and performance ensembles. With over 50 years of combined teaching experience among our core staff, we remain a trusted pillar of South Floridas dance education community.

Services

Ballet Classes Tap Dance Instruction Jazz Dance Programs Hip Hop Workshops Acro-Dance Training Contemporary Dance Performance Teams Summer Dance Camps Private Lessons Mobile Dance Programs

Details

Year established: 1973

Highlights and features

We offer 50+ years of combined teaching experience from certified dance professionals
Our mobile programs bring dance education directly to 10+ local schools
We maintain a 4:1 student-teacher ratio for personalized instruction
Our instructors include former professional dancers and competition award winners
We provide continuous technical innovation with hybrid in-person/virtual class options

What people say

Best dance studio Amazing experience Grown in confidence Wonderful staff Adapted well to challenges

Website

Update Listing

Services

Ballet Classes

Our ballet program develops proper technique and artistry for ages 3 through teens. Classes focus on classical foundations while fostering creativity and musicality. Students progress through structured levels with performance opportunities in annual productions.

Mobile Dance Programs

We bring dance education directly to preschools and elementary schools across North Palm Beach County. Our traveling instructors teach age-appropriate tap, jazz, and hip hop classes during after-care hours with flexible scheduling options.

Performance Teams

Our competitive teams offer advanced training in multiple dance styles for dedicated students. Participants receive choreography coaching, competition preparation, and performance experience while emphasizing sportsmanship and teamwork.

Private Lessons

Personalized dance instruction available for all styles and skill levels. Sessions focus on individual goals including technique refinement, competition preparation, or personalized choreography development with expert instructors.

Summer Dance Camps

Week-long summer intensives combine multiple dance styles with creative movement activities. Camps include daily technique classes, choreography workshops, and final showcase performances for children ages 5-12.

People

Stephanie Ford

Owner/Creative Director

Stephanie has directed Char-Mar School of Dance-Mar School of Dance-Mar since 2014 after dancing with the studio since age 2.5. A graduate of Bak Middle School of the Arts and Dreyfoos School of the Arts, she maintains the founders' family-friendly approach while modernizing operations.

Fabiana Reyes

Studio Manager

Fabiana oversees daily operations and teaches hip hop. With dance experience from childhood through college, she combines administrative expertise with community engagement to enhance studio programs and outreach initiatives.

Tracy Bailey

Dance Instructor

Tracy brings 25+ years of South Florida teaching experience. Certified in multiple dance disciplines, she combines competitive training expertise with academic knowledge to develop well-rounded dancers through progressive curriculum.

Alexa Grammerstorf

Dance Educator

Alexa teaches jazz and contemporary styles with professional performance experience from Philadelphia to South Florida. She holds an Elementary Education degree with dance minor, blending pedagogical expertise with artistic instruction.

Rachel Clendening

Acro Instructor

Rachel specializes in acro-dance with competitive training from Wisconsin to college. Her teaching combines technical precision with safety-focused progressions, drawing from extensive convention and competition experience.

Questions

What dance styles do you offer?

We teach ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, modern, acro-dance, and musical theater styles for ages 2 through teens.

Do you have classes for beginners?

Yes! Our pre-dance classes start at age 2.5 with progressive levels accommodating all experience from first-time dancers to advanced students.

Are there performance opportunities?

All students may participate in annual recitals. We also offer competition teams, performance ensembles, and community showcase events.

Do you offer virtual classes?

We provide hybrid in-person/virtual options with live-streamed classes and recorded sessions for flexible learning from home.

How do I register for classes?

Registration is available through our Parent Portal online. Contact us via email for assistance with enrollment or program recommendations.

Do you have mobile dance programs?

Yes! We partner with 10+ North Palm Beach County schools to provide after-care dance classes at convenient locations.

Reviews (5)

Write a Review

Mgr

Oct 31, 2021 Report

My daughter has been dancing with Miss. Stephanie for a couple of years now and has really bought her out of her shell. I am new to the dancing world and was worried that the instructors may push unhealthy eating habits on my daughter but they have not and instead encourage them to practice, eat healthy and most importantly have fun!!! I have such admiration for Miss. Stephanie and all she does for her students and am confident and safe leaving my daughter in her hands! She is simply amazing!

Sherri Chisari

Jun 28, 2021 Report

Positive:Communication,Professionalism,Quality
We love CharMar!! It is like a family! My kids have been dancing with them for years and will continue. Ms. Stephanie is very kind and all the teachers are great!

Natalia Jean-Charles

Apr 20, 2021 Report

Positive:Communication,Professionalism,Quality,Value
I love my dance school. They have summer camp so I can play and at the end of Friday we get treats! Are teachers make us do the dance at home. They're the best dance school in the world.

Kala Lynch

Aug 20, 2020 Report

Ms. Stephanie at Char-Mar has been teaching my 7 yr old since she was 3 years old. The way that Char-Mar offers preschool dancers a chance while they are in preschool was a huge advantage to us and our daughter loved it. Its why when she went to an elementary school that wasn't on the Char-Mar School program, we started bringing her to the studio. Ms. Stephanie's knowledge of dance and passion for kids has made each dance season and summer full of fun and movement for our girl. She has loved every summer camp that has been full of dance and arts and crafts! Can not say enough good things about

Jessica Thompson

Jan 31, 2020 Report

I cannot say enough good things about Miss Stephanie and her studio. My daughter has been taking classes with her since she was two, and over the years Char Mar has been like family to us. Miss Stephanie goes out of her way to make everyone feel special and she is probably one of the most hard working people I have ever met. During a time in my own family when we had a really tragic loss, she went out of her way to make sure we felt loved and supported. I will never forget that. This is the best dance studio with the best owner ever!