Overview
Heart of America Dance Centre (HADC) in Lee’s Summit provides comprehensive dance instruction for all ages and skill levels. The studio offers classes in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, and hip hop, along with a competitive team program and the Heart of America Youth Ballet company. Directed by Cynthia Monaco, a former Kansas City Ballet soloist with over 50 years of teaching experience, HADC operates from a historic 11,000-square-foot building featuring five studios, a dance shop, and family amenities. The faculty includes instructors with backgrounds in professional performance, university dance teams, and national competition. Annual recitals, summer intensives, and community performances round out the schedule. The facility is located in downtown Lee’s Summit, with parking available. Tours can be arranged by appointment.
Yoga Format
Studio Amenities
Studio Business Hours
| Day | Status | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Open | 8:00 am – 8:30 pm |
| Tuesday | Open | 8:00 am – 8:30 pm |
| Wednesday | Open | 8:00 am – 8:30 pm |
| Thursday | Open | 8:00 am – 8:30 pm |
| Friday | Open | 8:00 am – 8:30 pm |
| Saturday | Closed | – |
| Sunday | Closed | – |
Studio in Details
Overview
Heart of America Dance Centre (HADC) has been a cornerstone of dance education in historic downtown Lee’s Summit since 2001. Founded by Cynthia Monaco—a former soloist with the Kansas City Ballet and director of the Heart of America Youth Ballet—the studio draws on over five decades of teaching expertise. Located in a 1920s all-brick building spanning 11,000 square feet, HADC offers five dedicated studios, a dance shop, parent retreat area, children’s play area, and dancer break space. The facility is surrounded by local shops and restaurants, with a parking lot directly north and an additional parking garage adjacent to City Hall at 220 SE Green Street. Guided tours are available by appointment.
Programs & Classes
HADC provides dance training for all ages and styles, including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, and hip hop. The studio hosts a competitive team—HADC ~ The Team—open to grades K‑12 via auditions, with a separate track for preschoolers. A parent meeting for the competitive program is held annually, covering audition requirements and summer commitments. The Heart of America Youth Ballet, one of the largest youth ballet companies in the Midwest, performs full-length original works like Snow Queen alongside classical repertoire such as The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty. Seasonal highlights include an 8‑week tap class for $130 (registration fee waived), summer schedules released May 5, and a year-end recital at the Music Hall. Priority enrollment opens May 8 for current students; open enrollment begins May 11.
Faculty & Community
The teaching staff brings extensive professional and performance experience. Director Cynthia Monaco holds degrees in communications and counseling and has produced numerous ballets. Her daughter, Christina Rellergert, directs the competitive team and previously danced with the Arizona State Sun Devil Dance Team and Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders. Lisa Anderson, co‑director of the youth ballet, holds a BFA from Missouri State University and has performed in New York City. Other instructors include former University of Missouri Golden Girl Lindsay Weaver, national competition alumna Melissa, and former P&Ds competitor Carissa. The studio also engages with the local community, such as when young dancers perform for residents at John Knox Village. Instagram handles include hadcteam, hadc220, and heartofamericayouth ballet.