SMAPA's Grand Opening

SHARRON MILLER'S ACADEMY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS UNVEILS NEW DANCE FACILITY WITH OPEN HOUSE AND RIBBON CUTTING

MONTCLAIR, NJ – Sharron Miller's Academy for the Performing Arts (SMAPA) announced the grand opening of its brand-new dance facility. The community is invited to join in the celebration at an Open House on Saturday, February 1, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM EST at 10 Erie St, Montclair.

During the open house, guests will experience the joy of movement firsthand and learn about SMAPA’s free and reduced cost dance programs. The event will feature an official ribbon cutting ceremony, refreshments catered by Bleu Coffee, a live performance from talented SMAPA students of the Performance Workshop Ensemble (PWE) program, and free trial classes for students of all ages. 

Founded and led by Sharron Miller, SMAPA is a nonprofit arts education organization which has been a cornerstone of Montclair’s vibrant arts community for decades. The move to the brand-new Erie Street location marks a significant occasion as SMAPA approaches its 30-year anniversary, providing enhanced facilities for its comprehensive dance and arts education programs.

Mayor Dr. Renee Baskerville, who will officiate the ribbon cutting ceremony, expressed her support: “Sharron Miller's Academy has been a cornerstone of Montclair for 30 years, bringing together people from diverse backgrounds to celebrate the transformative power of dance. As a former student, I'm thrilled to see this new chapter at 10 Erie Street, where dance will continue to be a universal connector, bridging barriers as a unifying force and shared language.”

Sharron Miller, founder and artistic/executive director of SMAPA, added, “As SMAPA approaches 30 years of arts education in Montclair, this new facility is a dream come true for our teaching artists, students, and me. We’re excited to welcome students of all ages and backgrounds to experience the joy of movement with us.”

SMAPA’s new dance facility officially opens for classes on Monday, February 3, 2025, with the spring session kicking off at the new facility at 10 Erie St in Montclair.

For more information about SMAPA and its programs, visit www.smapa.org or call 973-655-9819.

About Sharron Miller’s Academy for the Performing Arts:

SMAPA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing comprehensive, inclusive developmental training in dance and related theater arts for children, teens, and adults.  SMAPA offers a wide range of classes taught by experienced professionals and teaching artists including ballet, modern dance, jazz, tap, hip hop, and more. Each year, over 2,500 young people and adults participate in SMAPA programming.

SMAPA is supported by generous contributions from the National Endowment for the Arts, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, New Jersey Cultural Trust, New Jersey Arts & Culture Renewal Fund of the Princeton Area Community Foundation, Victoria Foundation, Turrell Fund, Stone Foundation of New Jersey, Community Foundation of New Jersey, PNC Foundation, the Montclair Foundation, and many individual donors.

Winter Break & Moving Schedule

December 23-January 5: SMAPA will be closed for Winter break. Happy Holidays!

January 6-12: Parent Observation Week at 14 South Park Street. Families are invited inside the dance studios to watch, and even sometimes participate in their child's dance class. Because we don't have recitals, this is a special class for us as it serves as the child's "performance" for their family. We hope you can attend and share in your child's pride and success.

January 19: last day of the Fall session at 14 South Park Street.

February 3: Spring session starts in our new location at 10 Erie Street Montclair! Registration is open now.

Drop-In Class Rate Change

Dear friends,

Starting in September 2024, individual adult classes will increase from $22 per class to $25 per class. And the discounted rate for 10 classes will increase from $200 to $220.

Current 10-class cards will be honored at the original rates for one year from the date of purchase. This includes any 10-class cards purchased before the increase goes into effect, so feel free to buy one or two now! Log in to your online account to buy a new class card at the $200 rate.

While it is never an easy decision to raise rates, we are hopeful that with your understanding and continued support, this rate increase will help SMAPA survive as a not-for-profit arts organization in Montclair.

If you would like to know how many classes you have left on your current class card, or if you have any other questions or concerns about the rate increase, please email us at info@smapa.org.