Twirl, shimmy, or cha-cha your child to these standout local studios.
All parents know that kids love to dance. Many bob and sway to music before they can even walk. When it’s time to channel that natural talent into something a little more formal than kitchen dance parties, Chicago’s dance studios have you covered. Schools around the city and suburbs offer classes in any type of movement that strikes your child’s fancy. You can choose from ballet, hip-hop, modern, tap, Irish dancing, and other styles, and pick a program with a philosophy that matches your child’s interest and your family’s preference — from casual to competitive.
It’s never too early to start classes — or too late, for that matter — since many of these studios have options for toddlers to adults. (Just in case watching the kids get down inspires parents, babysitters, or nannies to sign themselves up!) Read on for our list of some of Chicago’s best-in-class studios for dance lessons of all kinds.
All About Dance
Address: 501 W. North Ave., Chicago, IL 60610
Class schedule: Click here
Phone: 773-572-8701
Kids can try out almost any type of dance at this studio. Classes range from an introduction to movement in a mommy and me class to specialized courses in Broadway jazz, break dancing, and cheerleading. Beginners can choose from a variety of recreational classes, like the Dance Explosion class with a blend of tumbling, ballet, jazz, and hip-hop taught to popular children’s music.
More serious dancers can enroll in the studio’s Intensive program, invitation-only Starlet classes, or audition for the Kids Company. The advanced-level classes create well-rounded dancers with required weekly courses in jazz, ballet, hip-hop, and modern. Make sure to get registered ahead of time at All About Dance, as there is a $25 late fee for signing up after the first week of the session.
Old Town School of Folk Music
Locations:
-
4545 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, IL 60625 | P: 773-728-6000
-
909 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago, IL 60614 | P: 773-525-3655
Class schedule: Click here
This Chicago music class fixture also specializes in kids dance classes. Budding dancers can hone their skills here starting in pre-ballet courses for preschoolers and working up to advanced-level classes for teenagers, including barre work and advanced techniques. But ballet is just the beginning. Classes include contemporary, hip-hop, tap, jazz, modern, Irish step, and West African dance — which gets the whole family involved.
Classes are offered on two tracks. The Creativity and Technique program explores creative movement and builds skills without a recital at the end of the session. The Artistry and Performance track provides kids with more structured classes like ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, and hip-hop, with annual performance recitals to show of their hard work.
Hubbard Street Dance
Address: 1147 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60607
Class schedule: Click here
Phone: 312-850-9744
The school associated with the famous contemporary Hubbard Street Dance company offers classes for kids from 18 months to 18 years. Young kids can take parent-child and preschool-age creative movement classes that integrate stories and music with dance before graduating to Primary classes, where they work in groups and create their own choreography.
Technique classes like ballet, jazz, hip-hop, musical theater, and improvisation are taught beginning at age 7, and modern dance at age 10. Hubbard Street’s Youth Dance program includes a more rigorous Academy Track, with required classes and the chance to audition for the Youth Dance Ensemble. The Open Studio Track focuses more on creativity and exercise.
Joffrey Academy of Dance
Address: 10 E. Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60601
Class schedule: Click here
Phone: 312-784-4600
Your child can learn to dance at one of the most acclaimed ballet companies in the country. Joffrey Ballet’s Academy offers classes for kids as young as 2 with caregiver help, moving up to pre-ballet classes for 5- and 6-year-olds. A class especially for 4- to 6-year-old boys focuses on athleticism of dance, working on coordination and setting them up for future dance and sports.
At Joffrey Academy of Dance, 7-year-olds can begin structured ballet, moving up to a required two classes a week and placement tests, complemented by jazz classes. Youth classes for 9- to 17-year-olds focus on technique, coordination, and discipline and cover pointe training, classical modern, and contemporary dance. Expect strict requirements for leotards, tights, and ballet slippers at this traditional school.
Trinity Academy of Irish Dance
Address: 747 N. Church Road, Elmhurst, IL 60126 | Click here for more locations.
Class schedule: Click here
Phone: 877-326-2328
Chicago has a strong Irish tradition, including a love of Irish dance. Kids ages 3 and a half to 10 can learn to jig at Trinity Academy of Irish Dance during their year-long programs. Classes focus on foot placement, balance, strength, and posture. Kids will get a taste of other parts of Irish culture, too — dancing to traditional Irish music and learning to count in Gaelic. In addition to classes at the main studio in Elmhurst, Trinity Academy offers classes at the Irish American Heritage Center and other locations around the city.
Dovetail Studios
Address: 2853 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago, IL 60618
Class schedule: Click here
Phone: 872-208-6169
Whether it’s hip-hop, tap, jazz, or ballet that catches your child’s interest, you should be able to find a class to explore it here. Even little ones have lots of options, from pre-tap classes that introduce rhythm and coordination to 4- to 6-year-olds, to pre-hip-hop and pre-ballet classes that teach techniques from those traditions while playing games.
Older kids build on those basics with more advanced techniques. (Think: popping and locking in hip-hop, and pirouettes in ballet.) An accelerated ballet class can be taken along with regular ballet instruction for students looking for a challenge. Dovetail Studio’s Express Yourself class gives students with developmental and cognitive differences ages 11 to 20 a chance to dance, interact, and build confidence.
Dance Center Evanston
Address: 1934 Dempster St., Evanston, IL 60202
Class schedule: Click here
Phone: 847-328-6683
The instruction is grounded in ballet at this studio, with complementary classes in modern dance, tap, and hip-hop. Kids start in Primary classes, introducing them to ballet, modern, and tap, and they move up to the Student Division at age 6. Student classes build on basic positions and technical training until kids are ready for jumps, turns, and leaps.
Dance Studio Evanston has a special boys program for kids 6 and up. They also offer by-invitation Cecchetti classes — a method of teaching ballet that focuses on working toward performing at exam panels. The rigorous Academy program uses this method with classes aimed at pre-professional dancers.
Ballet Chicago
Address: 17 N. State St., 19th floor, Chicago, IL 60602
Class schedule: Click here
Phone: 312-251-8838
This destination for serious ballet dishes out rigorous technical training. There’s a focus on on-stage experience at Ballet Chicago — even young students work toward twice-a-year performances. Auditions are required for most classes in the school’s Student Division for kids 7 and up. (The Preparatory Division classes for younger kids introduce dance and self-expression in a more casual environment.) The school’s curriculum is based on the techniques of legendary choreographer George Balanchine. Professional Division students train daily to develop advanced skills.
A Fairytale Ballet
Locations:
-
Lakeview: 3234 N. Southport Ave., Chicago, IL 60657 | P: 773-477-4488
-
Bucktown: 2243 W. North Ave., Chicago, IL 60647 | P: 773-606-0318
-
Evanston: 2120 Lincoln St., Second floor, Evanston, IL 60201 | P: 773-477-4488
Class schedules: Click here
Dance gets a literary twist at these fanciful dance studios. In Fairytale Ballet classes, kids get to act out classic stories and nursery rhymes with props and costumes. There’s no shortage of tutus and tiaras. Classes start at 18 months and go up to 5 years old, when students can continue on with more traditional Academy ballet classes — where kids learn about classic ballets, characters, and composers, along with training on ballet technique. Dancers get the chance to perform twice a year in “The Nutcracker” and a spring recital.
Dance to Evolve
Address: 3868 N. Lincoln Ave., Second floor, Chicago, IL 60613 | Click here for other locations.
Class schedules: Click here
Phone: 773-770-5327
This mobile program aims to be the antidote to the stressful side of dance training. (So, no strict dress codes and no competitions.) Classes are offered at play spaces, gyms, and even an ice cream shop around Chicago. So finding a location that works for you shouldn’t be hard. Finding a class to please your child shouldn’t be either because they offer a variety of courses, including combination classes that mix styles like ballet and jazz or tap and ballet. Classes are geared toward kids from 14 months to 12 years old.
Did we list your child’s favorite dance studio? Let us know in the comments below!
Atlanta, GA | Austin, TX | Baltimore, MD | Boston, MA | Burlington, VT | Chicago, IL | Cleveland, OH | Dallas, TX | Denver, CO | Detroit, MI | Houston, TX | Las Vegas, NV | Los Angeles, CA | Miami, FL | Minneapolis, MN | New Haven, CT | New York, NY | Orlando, FL | Philadelphia, PA | Phoenix, AZ | Pittsburgh, PA | San Diego, CA | San Francisco, CA | San Jose, CA | Seattle, WA | Tampa, FL | Toledo, OH | Washington, DC
