If there’s one thing almost every child loves to do, it’s dance! Anytime a kid hears music, it’s all they can do to not start boogying down right then and there. Dance is a fantastic way for kids to stay active and have fun, and structured classes give them a chance to learn a variety of movements and styles while doing what they love! L.A. has no shortage of creative and unique dance classes geared toward kids of all ages, and we’ve found 10 of the best classes in L.A. for your budding twinkle toes to try.
Whether you’re looking for a drop-in class – easy for your babysitter or nanny to navigate! – where your child can just groove, or you’re hoping for a more competitive environment where your child can develop their skills and grow as a dancer, these studios and classes offer all of that and more. From hip-hop to Bollywood for toddlers to teens, we’ve included several genres of dance and classes that cater to a wide range of ages.
Creation Station Dance
Address: 10746 Jefferson Blvd., Culver City, CA 90230 | Click here for other locations.
Phone: 310-839-8999
Hours: Click here for a full class schedule.
Cost: $200 for a 10-week session | Click here for details on classes & pricing.
Creation Station is a dance school focused on creating dancers through developmental teaching, with movement-based programs for kids from toddlerhood to teen years. They believe in allowing kids to be kids, and each class is geared toward boosting a child’s self-esteem through dance and creative movement. The class schedule includes ballet and tap for tiny tots, “pip hop” for 4- to 5-year-olds, musical theater for 4 years and up, and jazz/hip-hop for 6- to 16-year-olds. Once your child reaches the age of 6, they have the option of transitioning into the Creation Station Academy, which offers formal dance training without the competitive environment of other studios. It’s designed for the child who wants to improve as a dancer but doesn’t want to compete. New students can sign up for a free trial class here.
By Your Side Dance Studio
Address: 12613 Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90066
Phone: 310-391-0400
Hours: Call the studio to schedule private lessons.
Cost: Private-lesson packages start at $100 per lesson for 1-2 kids | Pre-pay available. Click here for details.
With the growing popularity of shows like “Dancing with the Stars,” ballroom is making a comeback in a huge way. By Your Side Dance Studio gives kids the chance to learn classic dances like the waltz, fox trot, and even Latin ballroom, with the convenience of private one-on-one instruction. Ballroom lessons are available for kids ages 12-18, and require a partner of similar age and ability, but no previous experience in ballroom is necessary. Because of the partnering and intricate movement involved in ballroom dance, By Your Side limits these classes to private lessons. But most kids get more out of one 45-minute lesson than they would out of an entire month of group classes, so the price is well worth it!
8 Count Dance Academy
Address: 10662 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064
Phone: 310-914-5678
Hours: Summer Session classes – Saturdays, June 10 – Aug. 19 | Sundays, June 11 – Aug. 20 | Click here for the full class schedule.
Cost: For full 10-week session – 45 min. classes, $250 | 60 min. classes, $330 | 90 min. classes, $500 | Click here for details on summer class pricing.
If you’re looking for a fun summer dance activity, the summer session at 8 Count Dance Academy is right up your alley! During the summer, they only offer camps and intensives during the week, but they have a full weekend schedule of classes open to the public. Classes are available for students ages 18 months all the way up to teens, and they cover styles from jazz and acrobatics to hip-hop. All summer programs end with a fun showcase, so your kids can show off what they’ve learned! They also offer private lessons during the summer months for the dancer who wants to keep their skills sharp. Summer is also when team auditions are held, so if your child completes their session and wants to keep going, you can consider having them audition for a spot on one of the academy’s nationally recognized dance teams.
LA Dancefit
Address: 10936 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025
Phone: 310-473-3530
Hours: Click here for a full kids dance schedule.
Cost: Single-class pass, $18 | 5-class pass, $85 | 10-class pass, $160 | 15-class pass, $225 | Class passes expire 6 months from date of purchase. First-time dancers can try a class for $10.
LA Dancefit aims to help kids develop healthy habits, physical fitness, and confidence. Their kids classes are all centered on hip-hop but include a variety of styles and combinations, like street jazz and lyrical hip-hop. The studio offers two classes for 4- to 7-year-olds and two classes for 7- to 11-year-olds, but beginners are welcome in all classes. So if your child has shown an interest in hip-hop but you’re worried that their skill level makes finding a class difficult, this studio is the great starting point! All the classes are fun, energetic, and will have your kids dancing like their favorite pop stars in no time at all.
Blue13 Dance Company
Address: Children’s classes held at Ole Ole Fitness and Dance (1740 Huntington Drive, Duarte, CA 91010) and Dance Conservatory of Pasadena (66 Waverly Drive, Pasadena, CA 91105)
Hours: Duarte – Wednesdays, 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Pasadena – Saturdays, 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. | Click here to see upcoming classes.
Cost: Wednesday classes, $15 | Saturday classes, $18
Introduce your children to a new dance style, and help them learn about a new culture at the same time! Blue13 Dance Company is a traveling dance school, and their classes in Duarte and Pasadena were created specifically to teach kids the art and history behind traditional Indian dances. Kids will learn the art of Bollywood and Bhangra dance, starting with the fundamentals of traditional movement and technique. But the most exciting part of the classes is being able to learn and perform the fast-paced, fun Bollywood choreography that we all know and love. All skill levels are welcome in class, and they’re open to kids ages 6-15.
Beverly Hills Ballroom
Address: 8474 W. Third St., Los Angeles, CA 90048
Phone: 310-990-0160
Hours: Click here for the summer class schedule.
Cost: Drop-in classes, $20 | Monthly packages start at $75/month for 1 weekly class
If you’re looking to get your kids into ballroom but don’t want to commit to private lessons just yet, Beverly Hills Ballroom is the perfect studio for you. They offer ballroom classes for all ages in a group setting, which might be a more comfortable way for your child to learn. The Baby Ballroom and Teddy Bear Ballroom classes are geared toward kids ages 3-8 and focus on teaching coordination, rhythm, listening, and counting to music. The little ones will learn basic dances like the cha cha, samba, and tango, and if you don’t have a partner, no problem! That’s one of the best parts about group classes; there are always partners around when you need one.
International Dance Academy Hollywood
Address: 6755 Hollywood Blvd., Ste. 200, Hollywood, CA 90028
Phone: 323-463-8865
Hours: Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. | Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Sunday, noon – 4 p.m. | Click here for a full class schedule.
Cost: Singles class, $13 | 1-month class passes start at $48 | Unlimited class pass, $210
Do your kids ever watch dance videos on YouTube and wonder where they can learn those moves? International Dance Academy Hollywood is the place! IDA has a roster full of some of the best choreographers in the business, so your kids will be learning hip-hop and jazz funk from the same people who teach all their favorite performers. Kids classes are open to all ages and skill levels, so even the most novice dancer will feel right at home. They also put on a Kids Club during the summer for ages 5-12. Each camp is five days, and classes are held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. Kids will learn hip-hop, jazz funk, and contemporary, and a professional video is filmed at the end of each camp session. Registration is open for the next two sessions (July 10-14 and July 31-Aug. 4). For more info, contact the studio here.
Bloom School of Music and Dance
Address: 2116 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90041
Phone: 323-982-1655
Hours: Click here to view the full class schedule.
Cost: Angelina Ballerina, $84 per month | All other classes, $79 per month
Bloom School aims to create a fun and welcoming environment for all their little dancers so that they want to keep coming back again and again. Rather than focus strictly on choreography or memorizing specific moves, the teachers at Bloom encourage children to just dance and be free, and let their own movement guide them. It’s more about letting the kids explore dance and see where it takes them. They offer classes in a variety of styles, from tap to musical theater, and their classes are designed for babies all the way up to teenagers. The Angelina Ballerina classes, modeled after the popular book and television series, is a huge hit among little girls and boys. During these classes, children can learn ballet just like one of their favorite characters.
Miss Cherylann’s Little Feet Dance Academy
Address: 2225 W. Olive Ave, Ste. A, Burbank, CA 91506
Phone: 818-935-8740
Hours: Classes are held every day except Tuesday; please see the online schedule for times.
Cost: Single class, $20. Class packages start at $75 for four classes.
Miss Cherylann has been teaching kids of all ages to dance for years, but her specialty is working with younger children, from 18 months to 6 years old. The focus at Little Feet Academy is on tap and ballet, with jazz introduction for children ages 6-9. The teachers at Little Feet understand that young kids learn a bit differently, so classes are kept casual and fun, with lots of play time interspersed with technical training. They even offer a class for toddlers that parents can participate in, so your child’s love of dance can become a family affair!