AllATdance

“Dance has always been a passion of mine and my goal is to help build phenomenal dancers.”

Annie Thao

Dance Instructor

My name is Annie and I’ve been dancing since I was 7-8 years old. I started with competitive Hmong dance for 5 years and then transitioned to Tap, Ballet and Jazz in High School. From 2018 to 2022, I was creating my own choreography to perform solo at community events. In 2021, I was teaching partner dancing such as Waltz and Salsa for a year to couples and singles. Currently, I teach traditional Hmong dance for ages 4+ and have been since November of 2023.

In pursuing my love for dance, I wanted my classes to be cost-friendly. I believe that every child deserves the opportunity to enjoy hobbies that could one day be a part of who they are. I remember my mom working endlessly on my dance outfits and spending loads of money every year. I appreciate all the hard work she put into my passion that I wanted to ensure the hard-working dance moms could provide a fun activity for their child without it breaking the bank.

I wanted to build my classes as a stepping stone for young ones and beginners. I believe there’s no better way to become an elite dancer than to start young and learning how to dance. This is one reason why I do not host tryouts because the art of teamwork and getting dressed for a stage performance is a thrilling experience that every student of mine should have. Although, the performances are for recreational purposes, it’s my goal to teach my students exceptional skills at a competitive level.

Who and What I Teach

I teach traditional Hmong, Thai and Chinese to ages 4 and up. I focus on the flexibility of my students, particularly on accentuating their hands. I also specialize in body fluidity to build style and technique. I teach beginner level students and guide them through more advanced levels.

Occasionally, I will teach partner dancing in both rhythm and smooth styles for ages 12 and up. Rhythm is your more Latin style of dance such as Salsa and Bachata. Smooth is your princess-like style of dance such as Waltz and Tango.

Performance Teams

Team Lilies is the little girls performance team for ages 4-9. Team Rosettes is the junior varsity performance team for ages 10-17. The max number of students for each team is 14. They focus on one dance routine to perform in the summer and/or fall at community events for recreation. Classes are free with outfit/supply cost being parent responsibility.

Registration for summer performances are held in January and registration for fall performances are held in July. Registration is first come first serve with no tryouts necessary. Commitment is required. Practice is held once per week for 90 minutes. You can find registration links on the this website or Facebook page.

(Registration is currently closed for both teams and will re-open in January 2025.)

Additional Classes

(Open Hmong Dance Class)

Open Hmong Dance is an amazing way for beginners or children to learn Hmong dance without the commitment. Although a performance isn’t included, the classes are beneficial for building a foundation on timing, rhythm and sense-of-self. Class structure includes introductions, stretching and learning a short choreography. These classes are FREE to the public and are held once per week. They are open to ages 4-17. Updates are visible on the ATdance Facebook page.

(Open Hmong Dance Class is currently closed. Re-open date is TBD.)