Have a twinkletoes or two in your home? Enroll them in one of these great Houston-area dance classes!
I’ll never forget my first pair of tap shoes. I shuffled my way through every square inch of my parents’ kitchen just to hear that tappity-tap, and I couldn’t wait to show of my newfound skills in my weekly dance class.
Enrolling kids in dance is a time-honored tradition for many families. From ballet to tap to hip hop, it can be a great way to teach balance, poise, and rhythm — not to mention fun! And Houston has no shortage of options for two-stepping toddlers, tweens, and teens. Parents, nannies, and babysitters interested in finding a dance class for their little ones should start with these 10 great Houston-area studios.
Claire School of Dance
Address:
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Studio Location 1: Claire School of Dance Lambert Hall, Heights Christian Church, 1703 Heights Blvd., Houston, TX 77008
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Studio Location 2: Grace United Methodist Church, 1245 Heights Blvd., Houston, TX 77008
Phone: 713-880-5565
Class Schedule: Click here.
This studio has tons of options all ages, ranging from toddlers to adults, including ballet, modern dance, tap, jazz, hip hop — even flamenco. A parent & me “tiny toes” class is also available for toddlers aged 18 months to 2 1/2 years, where they’ll be exposed to a wide range of music and movement.
Classes are small — just 10-12 students — making it easy for students to get the individualized attention they need. The limited number also means registration fills up fast, so it’s best to register early.
Energy Dance Center
Address: 1322 S. Dairy Ashford Road, Houston, TX 77077
Phone: 832-533-8636
Class Schedule: Click here.
Energy Dance Center has great options for competitive kids or for those who enjoy the spotlight. In addition to ballet, tap, and jazz, this studio offers classes focused on developing skills needed specifically for performance and competitions. A cheerdance class, for example, is available for elementary-aged kids with eyes on becoming cheerleaders or joining the drill team, while more advanced dancers can join the studio’s competition-based Junior Company.
The Little Gym
Address/Phone: Click here to view locations in the Houston area.
Class Schedule: Click here.
You may know about the Little Gym’s tumbling or parent & me classes, but few know its schedule also includes dance. Kids as young as 3 explore different dance genres, practice coordination and rhythm, and learn how to express themselves through creative movement. If you’re on the fence between dance and gymnastics, the Little Gym is a good compromise. A portion of each dance class is also spent learning complementary gymnastics skills to help kids improve balance and poise.
A huge benefit to the Little Gym is that, unlike traditional dance studios, it doesn’t follow a strict training schedule. Kids can come to class just once, every now and again, or every single week — and it’s all OK. The flexibility allows for families to test the waters without a huge financial commitment or stress out over missing a class or two.
Hunter Dance Center
Address: 747 N. Shepherd Drive, Houston, TX 77007
Phone: 832-962-8982
Class Schedule: Click here.
Hunter Dance Center has classes for the entire family. Start ‘em young in the “Wiggle Worm” class at age 18 months before moving on to “Tippy Toes” at age 3. From there, they can leap into any number of classes for kids, including aerial dance, hip hop, circus arts, and ballet. There are even courses specifically for boys. As your kids grow, so will their options. Classes for teens and adults range from the typical array of dance genres to fitness classes like martial arts, barre, Pilates, and yoga.
If you aren’t quite sure what you’re looking for in a dance class, Hunter offers a great introductory rate. For $30, you can try as many classes as you’d like for 30 days.
Houston Dance Works
Address: 3500 E. TC Jester Blvd., Ste. G, Houston, TX 77018
Phone: 713-956-4870
Class Schedule: Click here.
At Houston Dance Works, dancing is all about fun. Don’t get me wrong. The instructors are highly experienced, and classes are structured according to a curriculum — but the emphasis is always on finding joy in the movement.
There are a ton of great classes for kids to pick from at Houston Dance Works, but the Mommy & Me course is a great introductory course for families looking to start dance instruction young. The class is designed to help toddlers develop their motor skills, and elements of the American Academy of Pediatrics milestone chart are integrated into lessons plan for each class. And don’t worry, dads. Despite its name, you’re welcome, too!
A nice thing about this studio is that while many toddler ballet classes require kids to be potty trained, Houston Dance Works’ 30-minute Baby Ballet course doesn’t. If you have a late bloomer, they won’t miss out.
Houston Dance Factory
Address: 5711 Hillcroft Ave., Ste. D-3, Houston, TX 77036
Phone: 713-780-8080
Class Schedule: Click here.
If your kids are more into pop-and-lock than they are into pirouettes, the Houston Dance Factory might be a good fit. Sure, they teach ballet, too, but here, kids and teens can also get instruction in less traditional styles like hip hop, salsa, merengue, and bachata.
While payment is typically made for entire multi week sessions, you can try one class for just $15. Or you can purchase a month of unlimited classes for your kids and toddlers. which is helpful if you want them to learn more quickly or, you know, make sure their interest in dance isn’t just a passing phase.
Houston Academy of Dance
Address: 14520 Memorial Drive, Ste. 78, Houston, TX 77079
Phone: 281-497-4783
Class Schedule: Click here.
If you already know you have a serious dancer on your hands, the Houston Academy of Dance takes its instruction very seriously. Tuition is typically paid per year and is a little on the higher side, but you get what you pay for. The 2-year-old ballet class has a student-to-teacher ratio of just 5:1, and the performance costumes for winter and spring performances are included in the cost.
Kids who want more instruction or who can’t commit to the whole year can also partake in intensive dance and musical theater camps.
METdance
Address: 2808 Caroline St., Houston, TX 77004
Phone: 713-522-6375
Class Schedule: Click here.
If the “Wicked” soundtrack is constantly on repeat at your house, you might want to give METdance a try. On top of the ballet, jazz, and tap options, METdance also has a Broadway class for kids ages 7-12 where they can learn to dance like everyone’s watching. The class teaches students performance-based movements seen on some of New York’s best stages.
The diverse class schedule and stellar instructors are reason enough to check out METdance, but its tasty neighbor is a nice perk. This Midtown studio is right next door to Weights + Measures, whose in-house bake shop is inarguably one of the best in the city.
Houston Ballet Academy
Address: 601 Preston St., Houston, TX 77002
Phone: 713-523-6300
Class Schedule: Click here.
For little hearts set on being ballerinas and ballerinos, where better to learn than the Houston Ballet Academy? While some courses here require auditions, the academy’s preschool program doesn’t, and any student ages 2 to 5 can come to learn the basics in movement, coordination, and balance. The Parent and Me class, in particular, is a perfect introduction, especially for those whose moms and dads have a strong interest in dance themselves.
Tuition isn’t the least expensive on this list, but it’s still surprisingly affordable. The Parent and Me tuition breaks down to about $35 a class.
River Oaks Dance
Locations:
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St. John the Divine (First Steps): 2450 River Oaks Blvd., Houston, TX 77019
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River Oaks Baptist School: 2300 Willowick Road, Houston, TX 77027
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Houston Country Club: 1 Potomac Drive, Houston, TX 77057
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Southampton Montessori School: 5012 Morningside Drive, Houston, TX 77005
Phone: 832-531-4731
Class Schedule: Click here.
Yeah, sure, tea parties are great and all, but Princess Ballerina Birthday Parties are where it’s at. The staff at River Oaks Dance not only help you with the planning, but they also come out to wherever you’re hosting the party and lead a one-hour dance class, complete with a mini-performance. Your little princess will go nuts over having a ballerina come to her party and getting to play dress up and putting on a recital with friends.
Don’t have a birthday coming up soon? River Oaks Dance also has run-of-the-mill dance classes, as well as dance camps with fun themes — like Cinderella Ballet Camp and Moana Musical Theater Camp. Where were these when we were kids?
