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Upcoming Events
At the heart of our Michelin award-winning resort experience is our empowering, expert-led events.
Discover what resonates with you and gain fresh perspectives on physical, spiritual, and mental wellness.
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Apr 27 - May 2, 2025
Gotta Dance at the Ranch™
With Guest Choreographers
Reserve your spot now for this limited capacity event.
Unleash the dancer in you. Experience doesn’t matter–this is all about expression, movement, and the magic of music. Gotta Dance is always one of the most popular events at Canyon Ranch Tucson. Guests return year after year to our Arizona wellness center for the pure joy of this uplifting retreat set in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert, surrounded by the serenity of the Santa Catalina Mountains.
Guest choreographers offer inspired classes for all levels. Jump into hip hop, ballet, jazz, Bollywood, and much more. If you have dance shoes – ballet, tap, or jazz, please bring those with you.
Your all-inclusive stay at Canyon Ranch includes all meals, a daily schedule of wellness activities, access to select luxury amenities, and no hidden fees.
For everyone! Whether you’re an experienced dancer or a first-timer, classes are fun, exciting, and a great workout.
- Some guests call this their “Dance Camp” and swear that this wellness retreat takes them back to childhood. Others say it’s about overcoming fears. Many see it as living a lifelong dream. Everyone calls it fun, exhilarating, and unforgettable!
- Guest Choreographers help you to unleash your inner dancer through a series of fun, exhilarating dance classes.
- Jump into hip-hop, ballet, jazz, Bollywood, and much more.
Tera-Lee Pollin
Tera-Lee is a professional dancer/choreographer, registered yoga teacher-500 hours, and a NASM certified personal trainer. She trained at Jacob's Pillow, The Joffrey Ballet School, Steps on Broadway, Broadway Dance Center, and David Howard Dance Center. She studied acting at The Lee Strasberg Institute and American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Some of her favorite performing credits are Mamma Mia! on Broadway (Dance Captain), Urban Cowboy and Hot Feet (Kalimba u/s) on Broadway, American Dance Machine 21 at The Joyce Theater, AEA National Tours of Spamalot (Dance Captain), and Fame. She has also enjoyed being part of The Wiz at La Jolla Playhouse, The Apollo Theatre's Club Harlem, Swing!, and working with David Parsons on the Festival di San Remo in Italy.
Film/Television credits include Dark Horse (Dancing Bride), Old Dogs, The Smurfs, Saturday Night Live, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and Fashion Rocks. Tera-Lee has performed live with Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Kanye West, Earth,Wind,and Fire, Marc Anthony, Gloria Gaynor, The Lonely Island Boys (Featuring Akon), and Brian McNight.
Tera-Lee is on faculty at Marymount Manhattan College, Steps on Broadway, and The Joffrey Ballet School. She choreographed for Musiktheater Bavaria in Germany, CAP21/Molloy College, and is at guest choreographer for the exclusive Canyon Ranch Spa in Tucson, AZ, and Lenox, MA.
Tamara Dyke Compton
Tamara Dyke-Compton is an Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies at The University of Arizona School of Dance in Tucson, Arizona. She teaches jazz technique, modern technique, choreography and dance ensemble. In addition she also teaches a section of Dance History and Teaching Methods. She earned her MFA in dance with an emphasis in choreography and performance from the University of Arizona in 2013.
In 2003, she earned her BFA from the Juilliard School, under the direction of Benjamin Harkarvy and Lawrence Rhodes. Tamara has been on faculty at many dance schools, community colleges and dance conventions across the U.S. and Canada. She has been on faculty for Dance Masters of America, Domain Forget in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and The Dance Project in Toronto,Ontario, Canada. Tamara has also subbed for David Marquez at Broadway Dance Center in NYC, and The Alvin Ailey School in NYC. During the summers Tamara is the co-director of dance, with her husband Chirstopher Compton, at Perry Mansfield Performing Arts Camp in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
Tamara has performed principal roles for Twyla Tharp, in her Broadway first national tour of Movin’ Out, from 2003-2008, and toured with the first national Broadway tour of “Fame” the musical from 1998-2000. She has appeared in various industrials, music videos, commercials and benefits performing with stars such as Paula Abdul, Patti LaBelle, Mary Kate and Ashley Olson and Ted Danson and working for choreographers such as Michael Rooney, Marguerite Derricks, Jimmy Locust and Joe Lanteri. Tamara has been a company member with NOVA Ballet and Convergence Ballet in Phoenix, Arizona.
Dancing with The Juilliard Dance Ensemble, Tamara was proud to perform the works of choreographers such as Robert Battle, Aszure Barton, Peter Chu, Darrell Grand Moultrie and Jose Limón. She was one of Aszure Barton’s first company members with Aszure Barton and Artists, at the Joyce Soho in NYC, Tamara also performed with Robert Battle’s Battleworks at City Center Studios in NYC. Her choreography has been seen at The Clark Studio Theatre in Lincoln Center, The Juilliard Theatre, Ballet Jazz De Montreal, Jazz World Congress, Tokyo Japan, Perry Mansfield Performing Arts Camp, Domain Forget Performing Arts Camp, The Stevie Eller Theatre, Scottsdale Community College, Glendale Community College and many dance schools across the USA and Canada.
Her choreography was chosen to be performed at The Benjamin Harkarvy Memorial at The Juilliard Theatre in 2002. During Tamara’s education at the University of Arizona she was able to choreograph the musicals “Nine” and “Batboy” the for University of Arizona School of Theatre Film and Television. Also, during her graduate degree she served as an adjudicator for The Arizona Jazz Dance Showcase. In 2013, Tamara was the recipient of The Ralphie Spirit Award from The University of Arizona School of Dance.
Kyle Pleasant
Pleasant's directorial and choreographic work includes Chicago, Cabaret, Hair and the upcoming Hedwig and The Angry Inch at Peregrine Theatre, Spring Awakening at The Roxy, the world premiere of Regarding the Disappearance of Amy at Playwrights Horizons, Pippin at Marymount Manhattan College and most recently productions of Caroline or Change, Ragtime, West Side Story, A Chorus Line, Sweet Charity and Titanic. Pleasant has set work for The Young People's Chorus of New York, The Boston Conservatory, Boston Gay Men’s Chorus, Career Transitions for Dancers, and the Only Make Believe Organization. His work has been seen at New York City Center, MoMA, and The Vineyard Arts Project, the OWN Network, ABC’s The View and at The White House for First Lady Michelle Obama. He is a Broadway World Boston and National Youth Theater Award Winner for Direction and Choreography.
Most recently, Kyle was recognized with an Honorable Mention for the Excellence in Theater Education Tony Award. Kyle is the resident choreographer at Rosie’s Theater Kids, Rosie O’Donnell’s school for the arts. He is on faculty at Marymount Manhattan College, The Professional Performing Arts School and previously the Assistant Program Director to Chet Walker at the Jacob's Pillow Jazz Dance Program on faculty at The Boston Ballet School.
Rick Coffey
Rick Coffey is an internet celebrity and dance fitness instructor. With over 4 million followers, Rick has inspired millions of people to get moving and tap into dance as a form of exercise. Rick teaches Turn Up Dance Fitness, a beginner friendly, follow along class that uses a playlist of pop and hip-hop songs that is sure to get you moving and breaking a sweat. Check out @bigkidrick on instagram or TikTok, or Rick Coffey on facebook!
Amanda LaCount
Amanda LaCount is a well known hip hop dancer, choreographer, actress, model and influencer. Some of her most notable performances include dancing on The Ellen Show, The Late Late Show, Access Hollywood, GMA, DWTS, the AMAs, the Latin AMAs, the Emmy’s and performing in Rihanna's Savage X Fenty Show 3 times. She has danced with Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Lizzo, Ozuna, Meghan Trainor, and Rihanna among others. She also appeared in The Prom movie and in Disney's Descendants 4: The Rise of Red.
Sunday, April 27
10 a.m. Hip Hop
Move and groove to the best hip-hop jams in this fun, funky class.
11 a.m.Zumba
Feel the energy and move your body to fun and easy-to-follow Latin rhythms.
2 p.m.DJ Country Line Dance
Join our country line dance class, where DJ Herm plays your favorite country hits while you learn fun and easy line dance steps! Perfect for all skill levels, this class will have you dancing to classic tunes in no time!
5:30 p.m. Choreographer Meet and Greet Dinner
Dine with the guest choreographers of Gotta Dance at the Ranch™. Sign up required.
Monday, April 28
8 a.m. Choreography: ‘80s Jazz
This class with Tera-Lee Pollin will build on choreography over 4 days. You will learn the choreography for an entire song, and it will finish on Thursday with an in studio performance!
9 a.m. Ballet
Start at the barre with exercises set to classical music, inspired by Tera-Lee Pollin’s study at the Joffrey Ballet School. Ballet shoes or socks are recommended.
10 a.m. Hip Hop
Move and groove to the latest hip-hop jams as you learn the basics with guest choreographer Tamara Dyke-Compton.
11 a..m. Fosse Style
Come take a class focusing on the work and style of Bob Fosse. We will explore his iconic movement style and learn a piece of choreography from one of his iconic Broadway musicals.
1 p.m. Choreography: ‘60s Broadway Musical Theatre
This class with Tamara Dyke-Compton will build on choreography over 4 days. You will learn the choreography for a Broadway musical song, and it will finish on Thursday with an in studio performance!
2 p.m. Motown
Dance with soul to Motown rhythm and blues with guest choreographer Tera-Lee Pollin.
3 p.m. Broadway Tap
Join us for a tap class with guest choreographer Kyle Pleasant! Warm up with basics, then learn exciting choreography—perfect for beginners and seasoned tappers!
4 p.m. Choreography: Sing, Sing, Swing
This class with Kyle Pleasant will build on choreography over 4 days. You will learn the choreography for an entire song, and it will finish on Thursday with an in studio performance!
5 p.m. Dance Fitness
Join Rick Coffey, a social media celebrity, in a beginner friendly, follow along class that uses a playlist of pop and hip-hop songs, sure to get you moving and breaking a sweat!
Tuesday, April 29
8 a.m. Choreography: ‘80s Jazz
This class with Tera-Lee Pollin will build on choreography over 4 days. You will learn the choreography for an entire song, and it will finish on Thursday with an in studio performance!
9 a.m. Broadway Jazz
Explore classic jazz dance styles with guest choreographer, Kyle Pleasant. The class includes a warm-up focusing on musicality, technique, and conditioning, followed by choreography from a Broadway musical.
10 a.m. Disco
Dance the day away with songs from the 70's and Studio 54 Era. Freestyle and groove with guest choreographer Tamara Dyke-Compton while you tap into your inner disco queen.
11 a.m. DJ Dance Party
It's the can't-miss, high-energy cardio party. Dance instructors teach you to move and groove in this workout with attitude.
1 p.m. Choreography: ‘60s Broadway Musical Theatre
This class with Tamara Dyke-Compton will build on choreography over 4 days. You will learn the choreography for a Broadway musical song, and it will finish on Thursday with an in studio performance!
2 p.m. Latin Ballroom
Spice up your skills with energetic Latin dances led by guest choreographer Tera-Lee Pollin.
3 p.m. Modern Dance
Begin by learning traditional modern dance floor work, and progress to phrases based on Tamara Dyke-Compton’s training at the Juilliard School, where she studied the technique of Jose Limón and Martha Graham. Bare feet or socks are recommended
4 p.m. Choreography
Learn some moves with choreographer Kyle Pleaseant
5 p.m. Dance with Rick Coffey
Wednesday, April 30
8 a.m. Choreography: ‘80s Jazz
This class with Tera-Lee Pollin will build on choreography over 4 days. You will learn the choreography for an entire song, and it will finish on Thursday with an in studio performance!
9 a.m. Ballet
Start at the barre with exercises set to classical music, inspired by Tera-Lee Pollin’s study at the Joffrey Ballet School. Ballet shoes or socks are recommended.
10 a.m. Single People
Join guest choreographer Kyle Pleasant and learn the iconic choreography to a hit song. Get ready to sweat it out and discover the origins and inspiration behind the moves that became social dance sensations!
11 a.m. Musical Theatre Dance
Join guest choreographer Tamara Dyke-Compton in a jazz dance class and immerse yourself in a delightful blend of fun and storytelling with a captivating musical theatre narrative.
1 p.m. Choreography: ‘60s Broadway Musical Theatre
This class with Tamara Dyke-Compton will build on choreography over 4 days. You will learn the choreography for a Broadway musical song, and it will finish on Thursday with an in studio performance!
2 p.m. Zumba
Feel the energy and move your body to fun and easy-to-follow Latin rhythms.
3 p.m. Jazz Basics
Discover the basics of jazz dance technique and master a lively, upbeat combination with choreographer Tamara Dyke-Compton, leaving you feeling energized.
4 p.m. Choreography: Sing, Sing, Swing
This class with Kyle Pleasant will build on choreography over 4 days. You will learn the choreography for an entire song, and it will finish on Thursday with an in studio performance!
5 p.m. Jaz Funk
Learn some beginning and intermediate friendly moves from Amanda LaCount, catered to make you feel like the most confident version of you! This class is all about attitude, performance, and high energy!
Thursday, May 1
8 a.m. Choreography: ‘80s Jazz
This class with Tera-Lee Pollin will build on choreography over 4 days. You will learn the choreography for an entire song, and it will finish on Thursday with an in studio performance!
9 a.m. Rhythm Tap
Explore Rhythm Tap with guest choreographer, Kyle Pleasant. This tap style focuses on unique rhythms, time steps, warm-ups, and choreography. Perfect for advanced tappers and beginners alike!
10 a.m. Witchy Broadway Jazz
Become a Broadway star in this fun class featuring choreography from a popular musical, led by guest choreographer Tera-Lee Pollin.
11 a.m. DJ Dance Party
It's the can't-miss, high-energy cardio party. Dance instructors teach you to move and groove in this workout with attitude.
1 p.m. Choreography: ‘60s Broadway Musical Theatre
This class with Tamara Dyke-Compton will build on choreography over 4 days. You will learn the choreography for a Broadway musical song, and it will finish on Thursday with an in studio performance!
2 p.m. Guided Meditation and Creative Movement
A guided meditation exploring self, intention and embodiment will progress into a session of movement exploration. Allow your body and spirit to explore space and discover the full range of embodiment and expression.
3 p.m. Swing
Dance the day away with guest choreographer Tamar Dyke-Compton, swinging, jiving, and lindy-hopping to songs from the 30s and 40s Big Band Era with fun original choreography.
4 p.m. Choreography: Sing, Sing, Swing
This class with Kyle Pleasant will build on choreography over 4 days. You will learn the choreography for an entire song, and it will finish on Thursday with an in studio performance!
5 p.m. Hip-Hop Style
Learn some hip-hop choreography from Amanda LaCount. A class meant to get you out of your shell and channel your alter ego, with a heavy focus on hip-hop grooves.
Friday, May 2
9 a.m. Lyrical
Let the music move you and dance from your heart with guest choreographer Tera Lee-Pollin.
