Move your feet at these drop-in dance classes in Toronto
If you're tired of the old exercise routine and looking for a new active hobby, why not add some dancing shoes to your wardrobe – and your workout. Or perhaps you're an experienced dancer looking to rediscover an old passion. From swing to hip hop, ballet to salsa, and tango to tap, these studios around the city offer a fantastic range of drop-in dance classes to get those feet moving. [Image credit: iStock.com/PeopleImages]
Dovercourt House
805 Dovercourt Rd, Toronto, ON M6H 2X4This venue has got to be the swing and West Coast Swing (yes, there’s a difference!) capital of the city. An ongoing program of classes offers a great variety of times for drop-ins. You may find yourself joining the Zumba, Kizomba or Salsa classes, too. Regular social dance nights give you a chance to show off what you’ve learned in class.
Argentine Tango Classes Toronto by Bulent + Lina
6 Beverley St, Toronto, ON M5T 1Z3Stir up your passion with one of the sexiest dances on earth. Dance duo Bulent Karabagli and Lina Chan teach a raft of classes ranging from beginner level technique to performance skills training. They also put on a regular tango night for you to try out your new skills, including specialist workshops and an annual tango festival packed with classes, workshops, social dance nights and guest teaching.
Metro Movement Dance Studio Inc
833 Broadview Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 2P9All that jazz is the bottom line here with Theatre Tap, Theatre Jazz and Jazz Funk making up the core of the program. The impressive roster of teachers includes regular instructors for grounding in basics, to weekly guest teachers who hone in on technique. You can take a single class, pay for two classes, or for continuous learning, they have class passes starting from five to 20 classes. Start at Jazz Basics and work your way up.
Byfield Dance Experience (BDX)
819 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4W 2G9What do you do after you’ve won a Dora Award and been nominated for a Gemini? You open a dance studio to share your joy of dance like Shawn Byfield did. At his Yorkville studio, he runs classes in tap and hip-hop exclusively for adults at all levels of dance. Your pins are going to get in shape!
City Dance Corps
950 Dupont St, Toronto, ON M6H 1Z2You’ll learn ballet arabesques, tango ganchos and breakdancing body popping at this downtown cornucopia of dance. There’s just about every style imaginable and regular social nights for you to mingle and dance with your fellow students. Sample what’s on offer with a special-rate card that allows unlimited access to classes for two weeks. There’s every chance you’ll find a style that you’ll fall in love with.
The Walter Carsen Centre for the National Ballet of Canada
470 Queens Quay W, Toronto, ON M5V 3K4The Walter Carsen Centre is a public dance school branch of the National Ballet of Canada. Classes here start at pre-beginners ballet, go all the way up to pointe work, and expand to ballet performance and choreography. Drop-ins are welcome for classes in a prestigious environment that will help focus you on classical training. Jazz classes are also on the program.
Lula Lounge
1585 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M6K 1T9If you’re not sure you’re a natural salsa dancer, here’s where you find out. Free, high-energy and fun group classes take place every Friday and Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. A teacher takes you through enough moves for you to be able to hit the dance floor to great live music immediately afterwards, courtesy of a seasoned salsa band.
Joy Of Dance Centre & Teachers College
302-95 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 1N2Ever wanted to give Bollywood dancing a go? Classes in this expressive dance take place at Joy of Dance on Danforth, along with salsa, lyrical, line-dancing and hip-hop. Check to make sure what’s available for drop-in for the day, get your dancing shoes on and enter a whole new world of joyous moves.
