SingaporeMotherhood | Baby & Toddler
December 2022
13 Top Kids Dance Classes in Singapore – from Ballet to Breaking
Believe it or not, breaking (or breakdance, as us oldies called it) is an Olympic sport that will feature at Paris 2024. And SportSG even launched a structured street dance programme recently. Yet even as contemporary dance styles gain recognition, classical and traditional forms of dance continue to thrive. The benefits of kids dance classes are numerous too, from physical health to mental wellness. Dance also helps to build character, discipline, confidence, creativity — and friendships!
Is your child ready to be the next Rudolf Nureyev or K-pop dance queens ITZY? Pick from some of the best dance schools in Singapore for girls and boys.
CLASSICAL BALLET
1. Cheng Ballet Academy
Founded by two professional dancers in 2006, Cheng Ballet Academy set out to groom young talent in Singapore. It prides itself on providing high quality dance education that will hold students in good stead on the world stage. Children in their Baby Ballet and Pre-Ballet classes learn listening and coordination skills in a fun and nurturing environment. Students in the Junior Ballet programme follow a formal training regimen based on the historic Russian Vagonova method.
Where #04-00 Boon Liew Building, 204 Bukit Timah Road
Web www.chengballetacademy.com
2. Elevate Dance Academie
An award-winning boutique dance school, Elevate Dance Academie inculcates highly versatile and disciplined young children. It nurtures them to achieve their personal best while experiencing the joys of dance. Besides following the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) syllabus, students also participate in stage performances and local and international competitions. The foundational programme takes in boys and girls from three years, in preparation for formal beginner levels from six years.
Where #02-01 Westway, 27 West Coast Highway
Web www.elevatedance.com.sg
BALLROOM DANCING
3. Dancer’s Dream Studio
Amid representing Singapore in various international championships, Lorencia Kan founded Dancer’s Dream Studio to promote her passion to the next generation. DDS Latin Dance for Kids is a holistic programme for 2.5- to 14-year-olds. Through play-based learning, tots discover simplified Latin dance concepts and music rhythms, with an emphasis on building confidence. Starting at five years, children begin progressively learning the Cha Cha, Samba, Paso Doble, Jive, and Rumba. Parents can look forward to end-of-term performances too.
Where #03-06, 8D Dempsey Road
Web www.dancersdreamstudio.com
(See also: Children’s Museum Singapore: 5 Things We Love about This Brand New Space for Kids)
4. John & Josephine Dance Creative
Ballroom dance legends John Tan and Josephine Liew started teaching ballroom dancing in 1989 at community centres. Today, they are the principals of one of the most reputable ballroom dance schools in Singapore. JJ Dance Academy offers weekend group classes and private lessons for kids as young as four years old. Besides classic ballroom disciplines including the waltz, tango, quickstep, foxtrot, and Viennese waltz, they also cover Latin and social dances.
Where #06-27/28 Peace Centre, 1 Sophia Road
Web www.johnjosephinedance.com.sg
HIP-HOP & STREET DANCE
5. Artistate Dance Academy
Artistate Dance Academy’s street dance education programme is perfect for kids who love trying TikTok viral dance routines. Let their MOE-certified instructors help them harness this youthful energy safely and productively. Through dance, they weave in character-building and social development in a fun and supportive environment. Preschoolers from four to seven years learn the basics of hip-hop, while older kids can up their proficiency levels in various areas of breaking.
Where #01-05 Central Square, 20 Havelock Road
Web www.artistate.com.sg
6. 5th Avenue School of Jazz and Street Dance
Under the watchful eye of artistic principal, Kim Dong Hyoung from Seoul, 5th Avenue is the only school in Singapore offering progressive learning under Rock School London’s PAA Street Dance syllabus and exams. Students can use these certifications in applying to secondary school via the DSA scheme. HiphopAVE Kidz teaches old- and new-school hip-hop dance, while JazzAVE Kidz introduces a funky blend of hip-hop and jazz techniques. Book a trial for kids from five to 12 years.
Where 17 locations islandwide
Web www.5thavenue.com.sg
(See also: How Dance helped my Daughter, who has Dyslexia, gain Confidence in Herself)
K-POP DANCING
7. Dance Factory
Does your kid mimic all the moves of their favourite K-pop stars? Then enrol them in Dance Factory’s K-Kidz programme, where they’ll not only have fun doing what they love, but actually learn a wide range of dance techniques and develop stage confidence at the same time. K-pop dance integrates diverse music and dance styles, including pop, rock, jazz, hip-hop, techno, and more. Using original choreography and a structured syllabus, the coaches teach children from five to 12 years.
Where 15 locations islandwide
Web www.dancefactory.sg
8. MADDspace – School of Music, Art, Drama & Dance
As not all K-pop choreography is suitable for young ones, MADDspace came up with its Preschool Hip Hop & K-Pop Combo class for three- to five-year-olds. Using kid-friendly music, preschoolers learn basic techniques, including simple blocking to develop their understanding of space. Older kids six years and up can enrol in K-Pop Foundation, Intermediate, Combo, K-Stars, and K-Stars JR. The exciting and diversified curriculum will take them from beginner to star!
Where #01-12 GR.ID Singapore, 1 Selegie Road | #01-17 The Chevrons, 48 Boon Lay Way
Web www.maddspace.com.sg
CONTEMPORARY, JAZZ & TAP
9. The Dance Place
Contemporary dance is a confluence of many elements such as modern, lyrical, jazz, and ballet. Its fluid and emotional techniques encourage non-verbal expression and can even be therapeutic. The Dance Place offers contemporary dance classes suitable for older kids from nine years and up. Younger children from four years will enjoy the energetic, fast-paced jazz dance or tap-dancing classes, while parents can bond with their toddlers in the Dance with Me sessions.
Where #08-02/03 Forum (Office Tower), 583 Orchard Road
Web www.thedanceplace.net
(See also: Helping Children with Special Needs through Dance/Movement Therapy)
10. Stepping Out Studios
Using the Melody Movement Early Learning syllabus, Stepping Out Studios introduces music and movement to two- to four-year-olds. It’s all fun and games with Melody Bear! Next, four- to five-year-olds enter the Little Stars class, where they learn the fundamentals of dance. They can choose from jazz/tap and jazz/ballet, which prepares them for the transition to CSTD curriculum classes. From there, students can progress through the grades in jazz, tap, ballet, contemporary, hip-hop, and more.
Where #08-05 City Square Mall, 180 Kitchener Road
Web www.steppingoutstudios.com.sg
ETHNIC DANCE STYLES
11. Dancematazz International
Get the kiddos twisting, jumping, and shaking with Bollywood dance classes for kids at Dancematazz International. Suitable for kids from three years, Bollywood dance fuses classical Indian dance with trendy hip-hop, jazz, and even Latin techniques. Kids from six years can also join the BollyJAZZ class that promises loads of funk and fun. Teacher Divya is a national-level dancer trained in various dance forms, from Indian classical dance to modern jazz and salsa. Classes are currently conducted at Singapore Sports Hub.
Where OCBC Arena, 5 Stadium Drive
Web www.fb.com/dancematazzinternational | www.sportshub.com.sg
12. Singapore Chinese Dance Theatre
Traditional Chinese dance has a long and rich history, and is a great way to promote Chinese arts as well. Singapore Chinese Dance Theatre introduces the rudiments of Chinese dance to preschoolers from 4.5 to 6 years. From there, children can embark on Beijing Dance Academy’s Chinese Folk Dance Graded Examination syllabus. More active kids may prefer the Kung-Fu Dance classes, which combines Chinese dance with martial arts. There’s also a Parent-Child Dance class, where you can bond with your littlies ages 3 to 4.5 years.
Where #04-07 Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations, 397 Lorong 2 Toa Payoh | Block A, Unit 202, Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Cultural Academy, 5 Sennett Road
Web www.scdt.com.sg
(See also: 8 Fun School Holiday Learning Activities for Preschool and Kindergarten Children)
13. Tahiti Dance Fitness
Founded in 2009 by Tahitian sisters Lila and Beatrice, Tahiti Dance Fitness pioneered the dance in Singapore and Southeast Asia. The traditional Polynesian dance, or Ori Tahiti, empowers girls and women of all ages as they develop coordination, confidence, and learn about a unique culture. These uplifting classes for three- to five- and six- to 12-year-old girls end in yearly performances. There is surely nothing cuter than little girls twirling around in grass skirts! Mums can join Tahiti dance and Tahiti fitness (cardio workout x Ori Tahiti) classes too.
Where #02-47 The Adelphi, 1 Coleman Street
Web www.tahitidance.com
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