Children’s literature
brought to life
through dance.
Lantern Hill Children’s Dance Theatre is an independent children’s dance theatre company rooted in Northwest Arkansas.
Stories made
together.
Dance, music, and literature meet in shared performance.
In rehearsal, dancers practice technique and musicality, contribute ideas, and consider how their movement communicates with an audience. Each part contributes to the story the group is telling.
The work invites children to consider another point of view, take responsibility for their part, and discover what they can create with others.
Why stories matter ↗The name
Lantern Hill.
Lantern Hill takes inspiration in part from L. M. Montgomery’s Jane of Lantern Hill, a story about a girl discovering her abilities and growing more sure of herself.
Rooted in the Ozarks, Lantern Hill Children’s Dance Theatre brings that possibility into shared artistic work. Children explore characters, learn choreography, contribute ideas, and bring stories to the stage together. Each dancer has something to contribute.
Amy Kessler
Dance Educator & Choreographer
Known to her students as Miss Amy, Amy Kessler directs Lantern Hill Children’s Dance Theatre. Her experience at Arkansas Arts Academy includes Director of Dance, Performing Arts Chair, and Visual & Performing Arts Director.
Her teaching connects technique, musicality, and character, with the joy of dance at its heart. She works to create a space where children feel safe, seen, and valued, with encouragement to try and challenges that help them grow.
Children learn choreography, contribute ideas, and discover what their movement can express. Clear expectations, thoughtful guidance, and room to make mistakes help them build confidence, take pride in their progress, and enjoy dancing together.
Lantern Hill
& Arkansas Arts Academy
Lantern Hill Children’s Dance Theatre operates independently through Lantern Hill Arts, LLC.
Arkansas Arts Academy school-day dance, after-school dance, and Dance Labs are school programs, separate from Lantern Hill. Their registration and payment instructions are provided with each offering.