The City of Toronto offers a range of diverse recreational dance programs for all ages, including group and partner-based styles. From ballet to hip-hop, participants can explore various dance techniques and styles.
Registered activities are instructor-led programs offered as a group of multiple classes over several weeks.
Register for Arts - Dance Activities
| Activity | Description | Ages |
|---|---|---|
| Acro | Acro is a combination of classic dance techniques and gymnastic elements. Learn introductory movements from both styles, including cartwheels, elbow stands, jumps and steps through various exercises and engaging choreography. | Early Years, Child, Youth |
| Ballet | Learn basic ballet positions, postures and proper technique through various exercises and engaging choreography. | Early Child, Child, Youth, Adult, Older Adult |
| Ballroom | Learn basic steps, postures and holds of various dance styles like the waltz, foxtrot, tango, rumba and quick step through various exercises and engaging choreography. Partners are not required - dancers will be partnered in this class as needed. | Adult, Older Adult |
| Belly Dance | Known for its energetic and expressive movements, belly dancing engages the whole body. Learn to use your hips, hands and torso through various exercises and engaging choreography. | Adult, Older Adult |
| Bollywood | This fusion of Bhangra, jazz, hip hop and modern dance is known to be lively and expressive. Learn traditional Indian dance steps, footwork and hand movements through a variety of exercises and engaging choreography. | Early Child, Child, Youth, Adult, Older Adult |
| Caribbean | Focusing on fluidity and expression, learn Soca and jazz-style movements through a variety of exercises and engaging choreography. | Child, Adult |
| Clogging | This traditional European folk dance uses steel-plated shoes to create sound through movement. Learn proper posture and basic footwork, like heel and toe striking, shuffles and jumps through a variety of exercises and engaging choreography. Equipment: You must bring your own shoes. | Adult, Older Adult |
| Club Latin | Learn basic steps, postures, and holds of Latin club dances like meringue, bachata and salsa through various exercises and engaging choreography. Partners are encouraged and helpful, but not necessary. | Adult |
| Jazz | This modern style of dance is all about fast footwork and lively movements. From kicks and lunges to leaps and gallops, learn proper technique through various exercises and engaging choreography. | Early Child, Child, Youth, Adult |
| Latin | Learn basic steps, postures and holds of tango, rumba, cha-cha and mambo through various exercises and engaging choreography. Partners are not required - dancers will be partnered in this class as needed. | Child, Adult, Older Adult |
| Line Dance | Using basic steps to create repetitive combinations, you'll learn moves like the shuffle, grapevine, coaster step and mambo step through various exercises and engaging choreography. | Adult, Older Adult |
| Modern | With a focus on expression, you will learn to move your whole body with freedom through a variety of exercises and engaging choreography. | Child, Adult |
| Salsa | Learn to perfect quick footwork and fluid hip movements of salsa through a variety of exercises and engaging choreography. | Early Child, Adult |
| Tap | Focusing on balance and coordination, you will learn basic tap movements like shuffle, flap, heel drop, ball tap and brush through various exercises and engaging choreography.
Participants must bring their own tap shoes. |
Early Child, Child, Youth, Adult, Older Adult |
| Basics | Combining influences of lyrical, jazz, ballet, hip hop and modern dance, this activity is perfect for beginners. Learn basic positions, body awareness and proper technique through a variety of exercises and engaging choreography. | Early Child, Child, Youth, Adult |
| Break Dance | This athletic dance combines elements of hip-hop with acrobatics. Learn basic moves, including top rock, down rock, power moves and freezes through various exercises and engaging choreography. | Child, Youth |
| Contemporary | This dance style combines the technical elements of ballet with the fluidity and expressiveness of jazz and modern dance. Learn basic movements such as leaps, turns and floorwork through various exercises and engaging choreography. | Child, Youth |
| Creative Movement | Express yourself creatively with dance. Pairing basic movements with imagination, learn dance elements like body awareness and rhythm through a variety of exercises and engaging choreography. | Early Child, Child |
| Fusion | Experience a mix of dance styles including lyrical, jazz, ballet, hip-hop and modern dance. Learn basic steps that focus on flexibility, strength and endurance through a variety of exercises and engaging choreography. | Early Child, Child |
| Hip Hop | Hip Hop is a street dance that uses strong, fast and fluid movements. Learn basic steps like body rolls, contractions, bounces and waves through a variety of exercises and engaging choreography. | Early Child, Child, Youth, Adult |
| Irish | Learn basic posture, rapid foot movements and steps of traditional Irish step dancing through various exercises and engaging choreography. | Early Child, Child |
| Lyrical | Draw inspiration from music and lyrics as you explore elements of ballet, modern and jazz dance styles. This class will focus on expressive body movements, music interpretation and floorwork through a range of exercises and engaging choreography. | Child, Youth |
| Hawaiian | Hawaiian dance, known as Hula, is all about storytelling. Focusing on etiquette and musical style, you will learn hip and footwork movements with flowing hands through a variety of exercises and engaging choreography. | Older Adult |
| STOMP | Learn the basics of various urban dance styles such as step, break, hip-hop, dancehall, Bollywood, jazz, ballet and contemporary through a variety of exercises and engaging choreography. As you continue to practice and develop skills, you will work towards creating and performing a routine for the Stomp Urban Dance Showcase recital event. | Youth |
| Urban | Through various types of music and rhythms, you will explore movement and learn to express yourself through a variety of exercises and engaging choreography. | Child, Youth, Adult, Older Adult |
| Argentine Tango | This Argentinian style of dance is all about sharp and quick movements. Learn basic steps, postures and holds through various exercises and engaging choreography. | Adult |
| Social | In this enjoyable and laid-back environment, you can learn ballroom and Latin dance techniques while making connections. | Older Adult |
| Bhangra | This traditional South Asian dance is a blend of music and movement. Learn kicks, leaps and arm positions through various exercises and engaging choreography. | Early Child, Child, Youth, Adult |
| K-pop | Korean pop, or KPop, is a music genre that has inspired its own dance style. Blending classic dance moves from jazz and hip-hop with Korean pop sounds, you will learn basic routines through various exercises and engaging choreography. | Early Child, Child, Adult |
| Soca | Caribbean culture is on display in this style of dance. With a focus on fluid hip movements, you will learn basic footwork through a variety of exercises and engaging choreography. | Child, Youth, Adult, Older Adult |
Recitals offer participants the opportunity to showcase their skills. They are held at the end of the program.
Not all programs offer recitals. Programs with recitals are typically a minimum of 18 weeks long, and participants will be required to attend most or all classes to perform in the recital.
Recital details will be provided by the instructor when the program starts.
Participants will be required to wear matching clothing for performances. The clothing required is usually a specific colour tee shirt and/or leotard, and is not provided.
Ballet shoes are required for ballet with recital programs.
These basic dance programs will introduce individuals with disabilities to a variety of dance techniques. The program will focus on movement, flexibility, strength and endurance.
For more information, visit Accessible Recreation.
Drop-in activities offer an opportunity for participants to take part in a non-instructional activity at their convenience. No registration is required.
Visit the Arts, Hobbies and Interests Map to find an activity at a location near you. Fees may apply.
Enhanced Youth Spaces are supervised spaces for youth between the ages of 13 and 24, offering a variety of drop-in dance activities. For more information, please visit the Youth and Recreation page.
If participating in a tap program, shoes with metal plates on the sole and heel are required and not provided.
These activities all require specific shoes that are not provided. The shoes must be made with:
for easy pivoting and turning on the dance floor. The shoes should also have a low heel to maintain balance.
It is recommended to wear comfortable, non-marking shoes and comfortable clothing.
Dance programs that involve dancing with a partner include:
Dancers will be partnered in class to learn different steps and movements.
For participants who want to have a specific partner, all dancers must be registered in the program to participate.
Participants without a partner will be partnered on the first day of lessons.
For further information regarding partner accommodations, contact the community centre directly.
Some activities are offered “With Caregiver” option. These activities will be listed with “With Caregiver” in their title. For all “With Caregiver” activities, the caregiver must attend the activity.
Caregivers must be at least 14 years of age to directly supervise the child(ren).
The caregiver is required to participate with the child in proper clothing and footwear.