At Joni's School of Dance we help dancers build confidence, creativity, and lifelong friendships in a positive and inspiring environment.
We believe dance is about far more than technique. It is about building confidence, creativity, discipline, and lifelong friendships in a supportive and inspiring environment.
Every dancer deserves to feel proud of themselves. Our classes focus on helping students grow in confidence while learning proper technique and developing their unique artistic voice.
We believe dance should be fun! Our studio is built on encouragement, respect, and teamwork so that every dancer feels welcome and supported.
For many families, the studio becomes a second home. Students build friendships, create memories through performances, and develop skills that extend far beyond the dance floor.
Since opening its doors in 1984, Joni’s School of Dance has inspired generations of dancers through Joni Calcagni’s passion for teaching and her love of the art of dance.
What began as a small local dance program grew into a beloved studio that has served families across Central Vermont. Many of Joni’s former students have grown up, returned with their own children, and continued the tradition of dance she helped start decades ago.
Through the years, Joni’s School of Dance has remained committed to providing high-quality instruction while maintaining the warm, family-like atmosphere that has always defined the studio.
Today the studio continues to thrive, helping dancers discover confidence, creativity, and friendships that last a lifetime.
Our classes are designed to help students build strong technique, coordination,
musicality, and confidence while having fun and making lasting friendships.
We offer classes for dancers of all ages and skill levels in a variety of styles!
Registration for classes opens in August of each year. Classes begin in September
and run through mid-June.
Strong technique, posture, grace, and foundational training.
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Ballet focuses on body alignment, coordination, flexibility, and grace. Dancers build a strong technical foundation through barre work, center practice, and across-the-floor movement while developing discipline, control, and artistry.
Expressive movement that blends technique, emotion, and storytelling.
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Lyrical combines elements of ballet, jazz, and modern dance to create fluid, expressive movement. Dancers learn to connect emotion to music and tell a story through softness, control, lines, and musicality.
High-energy training focused on strength, style, rhythm, and performance.
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Jazz classes build flexibility, coordination, performance quality, and technical skills through turns, leaps, isolations, and stylized choreography. This energetic style encourages confidence, precision, and strong stage presence.
Rhythm-driven movement that builds confidence, coordination, and individuality.
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Hip Hop classes focus on musicality, groove, coordination, and personal style. Dancers explore age-appropriate street-style movement while building confidence, strength, and performance skills in a fun, high-energy environment.
Percussive dance training that develops timing, rhythm, and coordination.
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Tap teaches dancers how to create clear rhythmic sounds with their feet while building timing, balance, coordination, and musical awareness. Classes progress from foundational steps to more intricate combinations and performance-focused choreography.
Give your dancer a place to grow, shine, and belong.
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We are thrilled to offer families TWO performances each year!
In February, we have our Winter Snowcase performance, where dancers give a little preview of what they've been working on.
Our End-of-the-Year Recital is the highlight of the dance season! Dancers showcase everything they've learned throughout the year in a fun and exciting performance for family and friends. This recital is held in early to mid-June.
Both shows are held at the Barre Opera House.
Watch performances from our 2025-2026 Season
Coming Soon!Watch performances from our 2024-2025 Season
February 9, 2025 Winter Snowcase
Owner • Director • Instructor
Joni has dedicated her life to teaching dance and inspiring generations of students. As the owner and director of Joni’s School of Dance, she has created a studio that feels like a second home to so many families in the community. Her passion for teaching goes far beyond technique — she strives to build confidence, kindness, discipline, and a true love for dance in every student who walks through the door. Many of her former students now bring their own children to dance with her, a testament to the lasting impact she has had on generations of dancers. Joni is incredibly proud of the positive, supportive dance family she has built and feels grateful to continue sharing her love of dance year after year.
Competition Director • Instructor
Jackie was a competitive gymnast from the age of 5 through 16 and began teaching gymnastics at just 12 years old. In addition to gymnastics, she was also a competitive dancer from ages 7 to 18 and has been teaching and choreographing dance since she was 16. By day, Jackie works as an educator at a local school, which is why she values continuing education in dance and instruction and takes every opportunity to further her training. She teaches tumbling, jazz, lyrical, and hip hop, and proudly serves as the fearless director of the JSOD Competition Team.
Competition Instructor
Bio coming soon!
Our Competition Team is comprised of four smaller teams: The Elite Team, the Senior Team (high school and middle school aged students), the Junior Team (middle and elementary aged students), and the Mini Team (elementary age students).
If you would like more information about these teams or how your child can become a member of the JSOD Competition Team family, please contact Jackie directly!
Ages 6-8 competition dancers.
Ages 9-12 performance team.
Advanced competition dancers.
Elite competition dancers.
"My daughter has been going to Joni's School of Dance for 10 years and counting! She always makes her classes so much fun! We LOVE Joni, she's the best!"
"The recitals are absolutely magical. Best dance studio in Central Vermont, hands down."
"Joni’s School of Dance has been such a wonderful experience for our family. Ms. Joni is patient, encouraging, and truly cares about each dancer. My girls have gained confidence, friendships, and a love for dance. They have learned so much and always leave class smiling!"
"My daughter has learned so much and gained so much confidence over the last year dancing at Joni’s dance studio. Joni is amazing and she creates such a positive environment for the dancers. Harlow looks forward to her dance class every week and loves dancing at the recitals!"
"We’ve watched our child grow not only as a dancer, but also in confidence, coordination, and self-expression—all thanks to Joni’s guidance. We are deeply grateful for the positivity, encouragement, and heart she brings to the recitals which showcase not only the kid’s talent but also their love of dance."
"Our daughter has been dancing at Joni’s School of Dance for two years now and it’s consistently her favorite part of the week! Joni is an amazing teacher—so patient, kind, and creative with the young dancers. We are so grateful for the joy, confidence, and friendships that Joni’s School of Dance has brought into our daughter’s life!"
"My daughters have so much fun dancing at Joni's! They look forward to dance class every week and dance camp every summer!"
"Joni and Jackie have created a wonderful environment where dancers grow in both skill and confidence while forming lifelong friendships. I’m so grateful my daughter has found a studio where she feels supported, valued, and truly cared for. 💕"
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