with Tiffany's Dance Academy
Young dancers wearing child-sized eye-tracking glasses in a class at Tiffany's Dance Academy Fall classes in Fremont & Livermore

A research study for ages 3–4

Examining Learning Through Dance

The Minds, Experiences & Language (MEL) Lab

The MEL Lab at the Stanford Graduate School of Education is partnering with Tiffany's Dance Academy to offer free dance classes for 3- and 4-year-olds as part of a study on children's learning through dance.

Fill out the interest form Email the MEL Lab

The form lets the MEL Lab know you're interested. It doesn't sign your child up. The lab will contact you with next steps.

Ages 3–4
Bay Area families
10 weeks
8 classes + 2 assessment sessions
2 studios
Fremont & Livermore
Free
+ tuition credit for all 8 classes

Fall class times

Choose the class that fits your week. Each class meets once a week for 8 weeks.

Fremont

When
Mondays, 4:00–5:00 PM
Dates
Sep 28 – Dec 7, 2026

Livermore

When
Thursdays, 10:30–11:30 AM
Dates
Oct 1 – Dec 10, 2026

How the 10 weeks work

Two assessment sessions bracket eight weekly dance classes.

  1. The week before classes

    First assessment session

    • Child-friendly behavioral assessments
  2. Weeks 1–8

    Weekly dance class

    • One class a week at Tiffany's Dance Academy
    • Classes are video- and audio-recorded
    • Parents complete a weekly questionnaire
  3. The week after classes

    Final assessment session

    • Child-friendly behavioral assessments

What's involved

Here's what your child and your family will do as part of the study.

Kid-friendly eye-tracking

Children wear eye-tracking glasses designed for kids and complete short, task-based assessments.

Weekly parent questionnaires

Parents answer questions each week about recent household events and experiences.

Video & audio recording

All 8 dance classes are video- and audio-recorded for the study.

Good to know

  • The form shares your interest. It doesn't enroll your child. The MEL Lab will follow up with full study details.
  • Space is limited. The lab may use a waitlist for either class. You'll learn whether your child has a spot after the first assessment session.
  • Waitlisted families will be asked to take part in the final assessment session.
  • Classes are free. Families who attend all 8 dance classes receive a tuition credit at Tiffany's Dance Academy.
  • Stanford runs the study. The MEL Lab conducts the research; Tiffany's Dance Academy hosts the classes.
  • Questions about the research go to the lab: mellab@gse.stanford.edu.

Interested in joining this fall?

Let the MEL Lab know your family would like to learn more. It takes a couple of minutes, and there's no obligation.

Fill out the interest form
Prefer to ask first? Email mellab@gse.stanford.edu.