MOVEMENT & MUSIC FOR TODDLERS
Where Little Bodies Find Their Rhythm
A joyful 12-week class for toddlers and the caregivers who love them, rooted in dance/movement therapy.
Movement and Music for Toddlers is a 45-minute weekly class for children 19 to 36 months and their caregivers, weaving together circle time songs, playful movement games, and child-led exploratory play.
Program Details
Class Dates: May 14 to July 30, 2026 (12 weeks)
Session Length: 45 minutes
Ages: 19 to 36 months with a caregiver
Cost: $30 per class, with packages available in 3, 6, 9, or 12 session bundles at the same per-class rate
Experience: No prior experience necessary
This class is taught by clinicians trained in dance/movement therapy, with the full Dancing Dialogue team available to families who would like more individualized support along the way.
If your child or family ever needs one-on-one care, anyone on our team, including Dr. Suzi Tortora, Dr. Renee Ortega, and Jenn Whitley, is here to walk with you.
You do not need to be musical, coordinated, or a performer. You simply need to show up alongside your child. Each session weaves together familiar songs, gentle movement games, and 20 minutes of child-led discovery at stations designed to support balance, climbing, bouncing, and coordination.
Our classes are built on the same dance/movement therapy principles that guide every program at Dancing Dialogue, with attention to what the body is sharing in each playful moment.
At Dancing Dialogue, we believe toddlers know the world through their bodies long before words arrive.
This class meets each child exactly where they are, whether crawler, cruiser, or confident walker.
A Felt Experience, Rooted in Early Development
While many early childhood classes focus on entertainment or performance, we offer something different. This class is a felt experience, where toddlers listen, sense, and express through how the body speaks.
We hold a body-mind view of development. The body leads, the mind follows, and connection grows from there.
Toddlers are natural movers, and their first language is the body. Each session is thoughtfully built to honor that early way of learning, with familiar songs, gentle structure, varied props, and rotating play stations that create a steady, welcoming rhythm week after week.
This is not about teaching choreography. It is about giving each child space to discover their body, their voice, and the joy of moving in community.
A Typical 45-Minute Session
This class is rooted in dance/movement therapy principles and supports important developmental milestones, including walking, balance, spatial awareness, and body confidence. All activities are accessible for children at various developmental stages.
✔ Circle Time Songs: Familiar favorites like "The Wheels on the Bus" and "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" with simple, achievable movements
✔ Active Movement Games: Freeze dance, follow the leader, and other playful invitations that get little bodies moving
✔ Exploratory Play Stations: 20 minutes of child-led discovery at stations designed to support balance, climbing, bouncing, and coordination
✔ Props and Play: Scarves, balls, rhythm instruments, tunnels, and more to engage curious minds and active bodies
Stations Rotate Weekly
Mini trampoline for bouncing practice
Balance beams and stepping surfaces
Climbing structures and tunnels
Push toys and ball play
Sensory exploration areas
Caregiver involvement is essential. You will be right there with your child, supporting their exploration, dancing alongside them, and enjoying this special time together. The class creates a warm, welcoming community where children and caregivers connect, move, and play.
Come move, giggle, and explore together.
How Movement & Music Nurture Whole-Child Growth
When toddlers move, sing, and play in a thoughtfully designed environment, they develop more than motor skills. They build body awareness, emotional confidence, and a sense of belonging that ripples into every part of their early development.
✔ Body Awareness & Confidence
Toddlers grow in spatial sense, balance, and coordination at their own pace, building a steady, trusting relationship with their developing body.
✔ Felt Connection with Caregivers
Singing, swaying, and exploring together strengthen attunement, creating moments of true co-regulation between child and caregiver during a tender developmental window.
✔ Joyful Community
Families connect with one another, creating a supportive network during a chapter of early childhood that can sometimes feel isolating.
✔ Self-Expression Through Movement
Long before words arrive, toddlers express what they feel through the language of the body. This class welcomes that natural expression with warmth and care.
✔ A Foundation for Whole-Child Growth
The same dance/movement therapy and infant and early childhood mental health principles that shape our clinical work are gently woven into every class, supporting development across body, emotion, and connection.
✔ Sensory Integration & Regulation
Varied textures, sounds, surfaces, and rhythms support the integration of multiple senses in playful, accessible ways that honor each child's sensory profile.
Frequently Asked Questions About Movement & Music
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Not at all. This class is designed to be accessible for children at every stage of early mobility, from crawlers to cruisers to confident walkers. The play stations and movement activities are intentionally varied so that each child can engage in a way that feels right for their body in this moment. Many caregivers find that the class actually supports their toddler's progression through these milestones, since the environment invites exploration without pressure.
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This happens, and it is always welcome. Toddlers have full inner worlds, and some days they want to dance in the middle of the circle, while other days they want to watch from your lap or wander quietly to a station. Both are completely fine. Our approach honors what the body is sharing in each moment, and we trust that observation, rest, and gentle re-entry are all valuable parts of the experience. You will never be asked to push your child into participation that they are not ready for.
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Yes. Caregiver involvement is a core part of how this class works. You will be right there alongside your child, singing, moving, supporting their exploration at the stations, and sharing in the joy of the experience. This shared presence is what allows the class to strengthen attunement and connection between you and your little one, while also giving you simple, playful tools you can carry into everyday life at home.
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You are exactly who this class is for. There is no choreography to learn, no performance expected, and no skill level required. The songs are familiar, and the movements are simple. What matters most is your willingness to be present with your child and to let yourself enjoy the music, the silliness, and the connection. Many caregivers tell us they end up feeling more relaxed and confident in their bodies by the end of the twelve weeks.
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We understand that life with a toddler is wonderfully unpredictable. While we cannot guarantee make-ups for every missed class, we do our best to accommodate when space allows in another session that week. Class packages also offer flexibility, since you can purchase the number of classes that fits your family's rhythm rather than committing to a fixed schedule. Please reach out to our administrator, Lasha Guzman, with any scheduling questions, and we will work with you.
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Most toddler music classes focus on songs, instruments, and entertainment, all of which are wonderful. Our class includes those joyful elements, and it is also built on the foundation of dance/movement therapy. That means we pay close attention to the language of the body, we design activities that support sensory integration and developmental milestones, and we hold a body-mind view of how toddlers learn and grow. Families who want more individualized support beyond the class can also connect with our broader clinical team, which makes this a unique entry point into the full Dancing Dialogue community.
Ready to Move, Sing, & Grow Together?
This is a tender chapter of early childhood, and we would be honored to share part of it with your family.