Kid and Teen Academy

Spring 2026 Community Education Kid and Teen Academy Courses

Ballroom Dance for Teens/Adults 

Section #1

Mondays  
January 5 – January 26
6-7 p.m.
CRN# 10568  
CFP 881-51  
Fee: $60

Section #2

Mondays  
February 2 – February 23
6-7 p.m.
CRN# 10569  
CFP 881-52  
Fee: $60

Section #3

Mondays
March 2 – March 23
6-7 p.m.
CRN# 10570
CFP 881-53  
Fee: $60

Section #4

Mondays
April 6 – April 27
6-7 p.m.
CRN# 10957
CFP 881-54
Fee: $60

Students, 16 years and older, will learn the basic steps, style and rhythm of Waltz, Rumba, swing, and foxtrot. No partner or experience necessary. Register for Ballroom Dance.
This course will be held at Dreamlights Studio at the Viaport Mall, 93 W. Campbell Rd., Schenectady, NY 12306

Intro to Latin Dance for Teens/Adults 

Section #1

Mondays  
January 5 – January 26
7-8 p.m.
CRN# 10571
CFP 882-51
Fee: $60

Section #2

Mondays  
February 2 – February 23  
7-8 p.m.
CRN# 10572
CFP 882-52
Fee: $60

Section #3

Mondays  
March 2 – March 23  
7-8 p.m.
CRN# 10573
CFP 882-53  
Fee: $60

Section #4

Mondays
April 6 – April 27
7-8 p.m.
CRN#10958
CFP882-54
Fee: $60

Students, 16 years and older, will learn the basic steps, style and rhythm of Merengue, Bachata, Salsa, and Cha Cha. No partner or experience necessary. Register for Intro to Latin Dance.
This course will be held at Dreamlights Studio at the Viaport Mall, 93 W. Campbell Rd., Schenectady, NY 12306

Introduction to Ballet and Modern Dance for Teens/Adults 

Section #1

Tuesdays  
January 6 – January 27
7-8 p.m.
CRN# 10788  
CFP 742-51  
Fee: $60

Section #2

Tuesdays  
February 3 – February 24  
7-8 p.m.
CRN# 10789  
CFP 742-52  
Fee: $60

Section #3

Tuesdays  
March 3 – March 24  
7-8 p.m.
CRN# 10790
CFP 742-53
Fee: $60

Section #4

Tuesdays
April 7 – April 28
7-8 p.m.
CRN#10956
CFP 742-54
Fee: $60

Students will learn elements of classical ballet, classical modern dance (Horton, Limon, Graham) with a healthy dose of post-modern dance (generally a mix of theater and dance) and jazz. Please wear stretchy clothing, have long hair pulled up in a pony tail, and be prepared to dance in socks or barefoot. Register for Intro to Ballet and Modern Dance.
This course will be held at Dreamlights Studio at the Viaport Mall, 93 W. Campbell Rd., Schenectady, NY 12306

New! Intermediate Swing Dance for Teens/Adults

Section #1

Tuesdays
January 6 – January 27
6-7 p.m.
CRN#  10963
CFP 832-51
Fee: $60

Section #2

Tuesdays
February 3 – February 24
6-7 p.m.
CRN# 10964
CFP 832-52
Fee: $60

Section #3

Tuesdays
March 3 – March 24
6-7 p.m.
CRN# 10965
CFP 832-53
Fee: $60

Section #4

Tuesdays
April 7 – April 28
6-7 p.m.
CRN# 10966
CFP 832-54
Fee: $60

Students will learn the intermediate footwork, rhythm, and styling of East Coast (6-count) Swing. Some basic dance experience is recommended. Register for Intermediate Swing Dance.
This course will be held at Dreamlights Studio at the Viaport Mall, 93 W. Campbell Rd., Schenectady, NY 12306

Intro to Swing Dance for Teens/Adults

Section #1

Thursdays
January 8 – January 29
7-8 p.m.
CRN# 10936
CFP 897-51  
Fee: $60

Section #2

Thursdays
February 5 – February 26
7-8 p.m.
CRN# 10937
CFP 897-52
Fee: $60

Section #3

Thursdays
March 5 – March 26
7-8 p.m.
CRN# 10938  
CFP 897-53  
Fee: $60

Section #4

Thursdays
April 9 – April 30
7-8 p.m.
CRN# 10959
CFP 897-54
Fee: $60

Students learn the footwork, rhythm and styling of East Coast Swing (6 count) Dance. No partner or experience necessary. Register for Intro to Swing Dance.
This course will be held at Dreamlights Studio at the Viaport Mall, 93 W. Campbell Rd., Schenectady, NY 12306

New! Novice Ballroom Dance for Teens/Adults

Section #1

Saturdays
January 10 – January 31  
3-4 p.m.
CRN# 10968
CFP 834-51
Fee: $60

Section #2

Saturdays
February 7 – February 28
3-4 p.m.
CRN# 10969
CFP 834-52
Fee: $60

Section #3

Saturdays
March 7 – March 28
3-4 p.m.
CRN# 10970
CFP 834-53
Fee: $60

Section #4

Saturdays
April 11 – May 2
3-4 p.m.
CRN# 10971
CFP 834-54
Fee: $60

Students with little or no dance background will be introduced to the basic elements of up to 6 ballroom dances: rumba, waltz, east coast swing, hustle, cha-cha, and foxtrot. No partner or experience necessary. Register for Novice Ballroom Dance.
This course will be held at Dreamlights Studio at the Viaport Mall, 93 W. Campbell Rd., Schenectady, NY, 12306

Piano Lessons for Kids/Teens

February 2 – May 8
By Appointment
CRN# 10236
CFP 300-51  
Fee: $350

This course, designed especially for beginners ages 6-16, will include fundamental instruction in note reading, rhythm recognition, proper hand position, and chords. Instruction will consist of ten (10), half-hour individual lessons. Register for Piano Lessons.
Note: No class March 16-March 21

Guitar Lessons for Kids/Teens

February 2 – May 8
By Appointment
CRN# 10237  
CFP 305-01  
Fee: $350

This course, designed especially for beginners ages 6-16, will include fundamental instruction in reading notes, strumming chords to songs, and technical development. Instruction will consist of ten (10), half-hour individual lessons. Students must bring their own guitars. Register for Guitar Lessons.
Note: No class March 16-March 21

Voice Lessons for Kids/Teens

February 2 – May 8
By Appointment
CRN# 10238
CFP 306-51  
Fee: $350

Students will learn proper singing technique and vocal independence through solo work. Students should be 6-16 years of age. Instruction will consist of ten (10), half-hour individual lessons. Register for Voice Lessons.
Note: No class March 16-March 21

Cookie Decorating

Section#1: Beginner Plus - Valentine’s

Tuesday, February 10  
6-8 p.m.
CRN# 10581
CFP 504-51
Fee: $79

Section #2: Easter

Tuesday, March 3  
6-8 p.m.
CRN# 10582
CFP 504-51
Fee: $69

Section #3: Cinco de Mayo

Tuesday,  May 5
6-8 p.m.
CRN# 10583
CFP 504-51  
Fee: $69

If you’ve never worked with royal icing or have dabbled just a little, this class is for you. Students, ages 10 and older, will work step-by-step on each cookie to learn hands-on the various decorating techniques used with royal icing. Cindy Burek of Buttercup Cookie will teach students about piping/outlining, flooding, and wet on wet techniques. Students will complete five cookie designs. Register for Cookie Decorating.
Note: All supplies are provided. Once class registration has closed, students will be sent Cindy’s informational blog loaded with basics of baking cookies, tips and tricks of the trade, as well as links to places online to checkout for additional tutorials. Due to the perishables needed for this course, the withdrawal deadline for this class is two days prior to the start date. 

Blacklight Theater Performance 

Monday-Friday
February 16 – 20
9 a.m.-3 p.m.
CRN# 10574
CFP 999-01
Fee: $260     

Actors (grades 5-10) will perform from scripts in an interactive puppet show, retelling events, and playing characters from Through the Looking Glass. Students will learn puppetry skills, blacklight stagecraft, illusion, and special effects. They will use fluorescent puppets, costumes, and props on a darkened stage to create a magical blacklight show to be performed during the final class. No prior experience needed. Register for Blacklight Theater Performance.
This course will be held at Dreamlights Studio at the Viaport Mall, 93 W. Campbell Rd., Schenectady, NY 12306 

New! Krampus and Perchta Masking for Teens and Adults

Thursdays
March 5 – March 26
7-9 p.m.
CRN# 10967
CFP 833-51
Fee: $200

Students will create a personalized version of a Krampus or Perchta mask, which are figures from Germanic Alpine folklore who appear between Christmas and the Epiphany, symbolizing good and evil within people. Krampus festivals and traditional parades take place in Austria, Germany, and some cities in the United States in early December. Materials included in registration fee. Register for Krampus and Perchta Masking.
This course will be held at Dreamlights Studio at the Viaport Mall, 93 W. Campbell Rd., Schenectady, NY, 12306

Blacklight Theater Performance – The Princess and the….Dragon?

Monday-Friday
April 6 – April 10
9 a.m.-3 p.m.
CRN# 10575
CFP 999-02
Fee: $260

Actors (grades 5-10) will perform from scripts in an interactive puppet show, retelling the story of the Princess and the Dragon, but with many zany twists. Students will learn puppetry skills, blacklight stagecraft, illusion, and special effects. They will use fluorescent puppets, costumes and props on a darkened stage to create a magical blacklight show to be performed during the final class. No prior experience needed. Register for Blacklight Theater Performance - The Princess and the...Dragon?.
This course will be held at Dreamlights Studio at the Viaport Mall, 93 W. Campbell Rd., Schenectady, NY 12306

Kid and Teen Academy with Black Rocket

SUNY Schenectady has partnered with Black Rocket to deliver high-quality and fun online tech education to students ages 8-14 years. Students can choose from any of the great cutting-edge courses in coding, game design, eSports, virtual reality and more. Jump-start your future in creative tech with SUNY Schenectady and Black Rocket! 

See a full listing of Black Rocket courses and to learn more.