If you have a budding ballerina or hip hop dancer in your home, you’ll find lots of options to help them develop their skills.
This list of the best dance studios for kids in Toronto is based on user reviews and page visits to more than 2,500 providers of kids’ classes, camps, and birthday parties in Toronto & the GTA in our online directory.
See who made the cut!
1. CDM Dance and Music
LESLIE & FINCH
An established dance and music school that has offered recreational and competitive dance programs for children and adults of all ages for over 30 years. Programs include ballet, jazz, acro, tap, hip hop and modern and contemporary dance. The school aims to challenge every student to help build confidence, maximize their and help guide them to greatness.
2. The SPACE
EAST DANFORTH
The School of Performing Arts for the Community of East York is a full performing arts studio where students can learn from industry professionals in a warm and supportive atmosphere. The SPACE offers a variety of dance programs, including ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap, lyrical, contemporary, musical theatre, and creative movement, for ages 3 and up.
3. Children & Youth Dance Theatre
DUKE HEIGHTS
Children & Youth Dance Theatre brings art, education and cultural awareness through dance. It is a registered charitable dance academy that offers dance classes at all levels (recreational, competitive and pre-professional) in ballet, jazz, hip hop, Caribbean and West African Dance, acro, tap and contemporary.
4. Swansea School of Dance
SWANSEA
If you’re looking for a non-competitive, nurturing dance environment for your child, Swansea School of Dance might be the answer. They offer classes in classical ballet, jazz, hip top, tap, creative movement and modern dance for boys and girls as young as two. Students are encouraged to become strong technical dancers while expanding their creativity and developing their self-confidence. .
5. The School of Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre
REGENT PARK
If you are looking for an alternative to competition-based dance training, The School of Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre (CCDT) may be the answer. CCDT is one of Canada’s leading dance training centres, with programs ranging from recreational to pre-professional. Classes include Royal Academy of Dance Ballet and Limon Modern Dance as well as dance lessons in jazz, musical theatre, hip-hop, tap, and contemporary.
6. The Martha Hicks School of Ballet
YONGE & LAWRENCE
The Martha Hicks School of Ballet is one of the largest and most reputable dance schools in Toronto. It offers classes in many dance styles in addition to ballet, including jazz, tap, across, hip hop, contemporary and musical theatre. Children as young as three can learn an appreciation of music as well as simple ballet concepts and steps in the creative movement classes.
7. Groove School of Dance
YONGE & LAWRENCE
Since 1999, the Groove School of Dance has been offering dance classes for kids in a positive environment with an emphasis on creativity, self-expression, self-confidence and fun. Groove is one of the first dance studios to encourage children with special needs. They offer a variety of classes for children of all ages, including ballet, jazz, acro, hip hop and tap, as well as family dance programs for toddlers aged one to three and their caregivers.
8. Rhythm Dance Studio
DOWNSVIEW
Rhythm Dance Studio has recreational, company and competitive dance programs and classes in tap, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, acro, lyrical and contemporary for children aged two and up. In fall 2019 Rhythm Dance is moving into a brand new 10,000 square foot facility that includes 6 spacious dance rooms with fully sprung floors.
9. The Pointe Dance Centre
BABY POINT
At the Pointe Dance Centre, they believe that it’s not just about training the best dancers, it’s about inspiring their dancers to be their best selves. They offer dance classes for children as young as 2½ up through adult classes. Dance styles taught include ballet, jazz, acro, contemporary, tap, and hip-hop.
10. Creative Children’s Dance Centre
THE JUNCTION
Creative Children’s Dance Centre has offered dance and movement classes for children aged 3 to 18 since 2005. Classes include ballet, jazz, tap, acro, creative movement, hip hop and contemporary. They also have a full- and half-day summer camp programs.
Honourable Mention: The School — Creative Arts Education
PORT CREDIT
Though it’s not technically a Toronto dance studio, this Mississauga studio consistently ranks near the top of our list in Toronto searches. It offers multiple classes in movement, drama, and more for all ages of kids, from babies through teens. Musical theatre, acro, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, and tap are available at the Primary and Junior levels, along with some unique programs like ninja parkour and fitness classes. Some classes are drop-in. Read more.
