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Top Dance Classes For Kids In Philadelphia

If "Dancing With the Stars" and "So You Think You Can Dance" has put a spring in your child's step, then it may be time to enroll him or her in dance classes. Philadelphia has no shortage of exceptional and professional dance studios and youth ensembles. Whether your child wants to have fun, get in shape or become the next prima ballerina, the City of Brotherly Love has a class specifically suited to their needs. Check out these top-notch programs that will give your child a leg up in the field of dance.

Living Arts Dance Studios
81 Fairmount Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19123
(888) 257-9991
www.livingartsdance.com

The mission of Living Arts Dance Studios is to provide children and adults with affordable performing arts lessons. Children may take classes in ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, creative movement, musical theater and African dance at the school's state-of-the-art facility. The studio also offers traveling classes that come to your daycare center or school. Packages range from four to 12 weeks and are geared for students ages 12 months and older. In addition, summer camps are offered for girls ages four to 16. Classes not only focus on dance but also teach students the basics of yoga, tumbling, modeling and self-defense.

Koresh School of Dance
2002 Rittenhouse Square
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 751-0959
www.koreshdance.org

Established in 2004, the children's program at Koresh School of Dance may be relatively new, but it has quickly become a staple of the children's dance scene in Philadelphia. A wide range of classes for kids ages two to 18 are available, including creative dance, pre-ballet, ballet, pointe, jazz, hip hop and modern dance. The school's Center City studio has large lobby areas, spacious dressing rooms and four sprung-floor dance rooms where kids thrive. For exceptional students, the Koresh Youth Ensemble is a pre-professional training program that provides an outstanding foundation for future dance majors planning to attend top universities.

Philadelphia Dance Academy
The Creative Arts Building
219 Cuthbert St., 3rd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 922-2422
www.philadelphiadanceacademy.com

The Philadelphia Dance Academy, home to The Philadelphia Youth Ballet, offers young dancers a wealth of programs that combine top-notch artistic training with dancer health and development basics. Tiny dancers learn discipline through creative movement and pre-ballet in the school's Early Childhood Program before progressing to the Primary Program of leveled ballet classes. Dancers age eight and older who are enrolled in more than one ballet class may even audition for The Philadelphia Youth Ballet, a distinctive honor in the local dance community. As student abilities develop, pre-professional, theater dance and teen dance programs are encouraged. Pilates, a summer program, and classes specifically for boys are also available.

Related: Top Ballroom Dance Studios In Philadelphia

Philadelphia School of Dance Arts
9 N. Preston St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 387-8202
www.philadanco.org

Founded in 1960 by Joan Myers Brown, Philadelphia School of Dance Arts, more commonly known as Philandanco, offers high level dance classes for all ages and abilities, with a variety of classes geared especially for children. Young ones ages four to six may sign up for the school's introduction to dance class, a program that teaches technique, discipline, rhythmical movement and elementary ballet. An acrobats class is open to kids age five and older who prefer tumbling and gymnastics. For children age seven and older, classes include modern jazz, tap based on the technique of Henry Letang and classical ballet featuring basic Cecchetti methods and Russian techniques. Pointe, also called toe dancing, and hip hop dance classes are offered after age 10 and as physical abilities increase.

The Rock School For Dance Education
1101 S. Broad St.
Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 551-7010
www.therockschool.org

Boys interested in dance will be glad to hear that The Rock School For Dance provides free ballet lessons for male students ages four to 11. The school's Early Dance program is geared for both girls and boys ages three to 11 and includes creative movement, pre-ballet and gymnastics classes. Ballerinas and ballerinos age eight and older are required to audition for placement purposes prior to enrollment. Intermediate and professional programs are offered throughout the year as well as intensive programs in the summer. Alumni have gone on to dance with the Houston Ballet, New York City Ballet and Dutch National Ballet, among others.

Related: Top Dance Studios In Philadelphia

Susan DeFeo has been a professional writer since 1997. She served as a community events columnist for New Jersey's "Cape May County Herald" for more than a decade. A writer for numerous online publications, Susan has covered health, fitness, beauty and travel, all subjects that are near and dear to her as a married mother of seven children. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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