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Gotta Dance at the Ranch™
With Guest Choreographers
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.
In addition to this event, you can enjoy all of the daily activities that Tucson, AZ offers. Explore our sample schedule.
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 fo
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 premier 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.
Sarah Gourley Idziak
Sarah has been dancing for over 35 years. She spent her childhood years in the studio, at conventions, competitions, and working as an assistant teacher in the studio. In high school she was a member of the L.D. Bell Raiderettes, and served as Captain senior year. Her time on drill team lead to a job working for HTEDance, teaching camps and workshops for ten years. She currently does choreography and judging for studios, pro, collegiate and high school teams across the country. She also is the current director of the Coram Deo Academy
Pom squad.
Sarah is a 2004 Cum Laude graduate of Oklahoma City University with a Bachelor of Performing Arts in Dance Performance. In college she was a member of the American Spirit Dance company and had the honor of taking class from some of the best in the business. After college, she became a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader from 2005-2010, serving as a group leader for 3 years. In that time she performed with artists such as Jason Aldean, The Jonas Brothers, Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Sheryl Crow, Daughtry, Neal McCoy and more. She was a member of their prestigious traveling Show Group. Performances with the USO, and more, took her to places such as: Mexico, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Cuba, England, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, South Korea, Japan, China, Kuwait and Iraq. Traveling the world to dance was absolutely a life changing experience. On top of all that she has had the opportunity to work in radio, T.V., and movies. She has danced in the movies Tekken, and Disney's Invincible. She has performed at the CMT music awards, the NBA All Star game, appeared on the Today show, Good Morning America, Good Day live, Good Morning Texas, House Hunters, Wife Swap, Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?, and four seasons of CMT's Making the Team. She continues to do work for the Cowboys as an alumni, the honor of choreographing and instructing tryout prep classes.
She continues her professional career performing in industrials and performances in the DFW area. The past several years she has been invested in her new passion as a competitive ballroom dancer in International Latin at Dance With Me USA.
Sunday August 11th
9am Ballet Fit
A dance fitness class that integrates the technique of ballet to develop the strength and endurance of a dancer as well of the graceful, flowing movements of ballet all while learning to maintain a calm and joyful countenance.
10am Let’s Tap
Unleash your inner dancer as you learn basic tap steps and fun choreography. Tap shoes not required; tap/dance sneakers recommended.
11am Dance Intervals
An interval training class using dance movement from various dance forms. A fun way to get the heart pumping and to develop dance technique by focusing on one movement at a time.
4pm Dancer’s Stretch
Designed to find the limits of your flexibility and strength at the end of your range of motion.
6pm Choreographer Meet & Greet
Monday August 12th
8am Choreography: Pop
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
9am 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.
10am Show Girl Chair Dance
Come and learn a brain teasing and joyful routine from the Will Rogers Follies called Our Favorite Son. We will learn the original Broadway choreography by Tommy Tune in this iconic and thrilling dance.
11am Jazz
Learn classic jazz dancing for any level! Get moving while learning a fun routine!
1pm Choreography: Rock & Roll
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!
2pm Afro Haitian Dance
Embrace the joy of dance and improve your fitness as you move to the infectious beats of Afro-Caribbean music.
3pm Desert Feet
Learn choreography inspired by the Broadway musical Hot Feet, with one of the featured dancers from the show, Tera-Lee Pollin.
4pm Choreography with Sarah Idziak
Tuesday August 13th
8am Choreography: Pop
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!
9am Sideline Style
Learn the moves and style of NFL cheerleaders seen on the sidelines every Sunday! Great to have fun and move!
10am Theatre Jazz Dance
This class will focus on the joys and technique of Jazz Dance. Class will include a high energy warm up and conditioning exercises, across the floor exercises and a combination based in the Broadway Style. Kyle focuses on each dancer’s unique individual strengths and encourages an environment for risk taking and discovery. Socks or Jazz shoes recommended.
11am 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.
1pm Choreography: Rock & Roll
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!
2pm Popstar!
Awaken your inner backup dancer with guest choreographer Tera-Lee Pollin, where you are encouraged to dance outside the box and bring your own personality to each movement.
3pm Guided Meditation and Improvised Movement
This class will begin with a guided meditation exploring self, intention and embodiment. The meditation will then progress into a session of movement exploration allowing the body and spirit to explore taking space and discovering the body's full breadth of embodiment and expression.
4pm Choreography with Sarah Idziak
Wednesday August 14th
8 am Choreography: Pop
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!
9am 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.
10am Tap
Come and learn to Tap Dance. While learning the basics of tap dance styles Kyle will also teach about the history of tap dance and a style and teach some dances from the catalogue of tap dance classics. Tap shoes recommended.
11am Latin Dance
Get moving with a mix of salsa, cha-cha, samba and Latin grooves to have fun and learn a spicy routine!
1pm Choreography: Rock & Roll
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!
2pm Belly Dance
Shimmy and shake to this Middle Eastern dance as you move your hips and abs to the beat.
3pm 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.
4pm Choreography with Sarah Idziak
Thursday August 15th
8am Choreography: Pop
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!
9am Hip-Hop
Move and groove with this fun upbeat class that will get you sweating with trendy dance steps and fun music!
10am Cha-Cha
Spice up your skills and get your hips moving, as you learn a Cha-Cha routine with guest choreographer Tera-Lee Pollin.
11am 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.
1pm Choreography: Rock & Roll
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!
2pm Sideline Style
Learn the moves and style of NFL cheerleaders seen on the sidelines every Sunday! Great to have fun and move!
3pm Fit Strip
This class takes some of the basic moves of the striptease and combines them with core-strengthening elements to create a fun and sexy workout.
4pm Choreography with Sarah Idziak
Friday August 16th
9am Lyrical
Let the music move you! Dance from your heart with choreographer Tera-Lee Pollin.
