Best Of

Best Dance Classes For Kids In Sacramento

July 4, 2014 / 5:00 AM PDT / CBS Sacramento

Children love to twirl, tumble, wiggle, bounce and dance, with all of the energy and unrestrained joy that comes to them so naturally. Whether or not your little ones dream of stardom on stage, screen or performance hall, dance lessons can help them in many ways. Through dance, children and teens can develop self-confidence, physical strength and flexibility, while achieving a healthy balance of self-discipline, positive body image and creative expression. Just as importantly, the kids will have a lot of fun while doing it. And if the idea of dance lessons only brings images of giggly little girls in tiaras and frothy pink tutus, these Sacramento studios will be a real eye-opener. Yes, your daughter can get the full princess experience in ballet classes if that is desired. But girls and boys can also learn contemporary dance, hip-hip, jazz, tap, cheer, advanced ballet and musical theater training.

Fancy Feet Dance Academy
712 57th St.
Sacramento, CA 95819
(916) 451-4900
www.fancyfeetdance.net

Fancy Feet offer classes to children as young as three years old, all well as older youth and teens preparing to pursue serious, competitive careers in the arts. The academy's teachers are all talented dancers in their own right, with a combined resume including performances and collaborations around the world, as well as with the Sacramento Ballet, California Musical Theatre, San Francisco State University Dance Theater Company and at Disneyland and the American College Dance Festival. Dance classes are available from introductory to advanced levels, with courses including ballet, tap, tumbling, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary and princess ballet. Classes on musical theater intend to develop a student's "triple-threat" of talents, so they can sing and act as well as dance. During the summer, there are dance camps including some for young kids that include crafts and other activities. Parents appreciate being able to watch the kids in class without distracting them via a flat-screen in a separate viewing area. The studio also has a boutique featuring apparel, dance shoes and other accessories.

Step 1 Dance & Fitness
1920 T St.
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 448-7837
www.step1danceandfitness.com

Step 1 is an urban dance and fitness studio that offers comprehensive dance programs to adults as well as to children from age three to 17. In addition to the more traditional classes in ballet, tap and jazz, young students can learn hip-hop, contemporary dance, musical theater and break dancing. Children who have progressed through basic and intermediate classes may also take accelerated training in order to join the studio's dance competition groups; three youth sessions are offered each year, each ending with a performance showcase. The competitive dance teams are normally focused on jazz and hip-hop. Musical theater camps for kids this summer include a fun and energetic Hip-Hop Intensive, as well as one for three- to five-year-olds and six- to 11-year-olds that culminates with a production of "The Wizard of Oz."

Deane Dance Center
3385 Lanatt St.
Sacramento, CA 95819
(916) 453-0226
www.deanedancecenter.com

Now in its 20th year in Sacramento, the prestigious Deane Dance Center offers training for boys and girls from 2.5 to 18 years old and at any stage of dance training. Known as the founding school for the capital city's professional ballet company, the studio offers classes in modern dance, ballet, jazz, pointe, partnering, tap, contemporary, musical theater and flamenco. Students can also learn specialized classic ballet techniques from Enrico Cecchetti's training system and from the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet. Summer programs include an intensive skills and stamina training camp for young dancers. Deane Dance Center students have the opportunity to participate in ballet productions with accomplished performers from Sacramento Ballet Company and from around the world.

Valerie Heimerich is a freelance writer out of Sacramento. She typically covers animals and community issues. She has volunteered and worked for many organizations helping animals and people.
Her work can be found at Examiner.com.