13 Places to Try Summer Dance Classes in Metro Phoenix

Outdoor fitness options are all good and fine during days with double-digit temperatures. But a steady stream of triple digits will soon be upon us, prompting most people to think about indoor alternatives. It’s tough to hike or bike inside, so we figure dance is really where it’s at for those who favor fitness options with a decent dose air conditioning.

We’ve found several places offering cool dance classes ranging from ballet to hip hop, where you can stay in shape and increase your prowess in the smooth moves department. Although summer officially starts on June 22, we’re including some choices that start a bit earlier for those of you eager to hit the dance studio a bit sooner. They’re all adult classes, but we’ve noted those that let older teens take part.

Ballet Arizona

Open dance classes for adults and teens ages 14 + include Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Ballet. You can pay $18 per class, get a six month 10 class card for $150 or buy a six month 20 class card for $275. Ballet Arizona also teaches Zumba for $12 per class, and Ballroom Dance for $15 per class (or $25 per class for couples). Jazz, American Tribal Style Belly Dance, Modern, and Horton Technique classes are $15 each. Horton Technique incorporates movements and expressions drawn from Native American, Afro-Caribbean, Japanese, Javanese, and Balinese cultures. Classes are held at the Ballet Arizona studios. Find more information on the Ballet Arizona website. 

Ballet Fusion Fitness 

Ballet Fusion Fitness offers a variety of classes every day of the week. Summer classes include several levels of Ballet, Ballerobica, Barre Fit, Swan Arms, Hip-Hop, Bellydance, and Contemporary Ballet. The drop in rate is $17 per class. Passes for 10 classes cost $150 and passes for 20 classes cost $250. Various types of monthly rates are also available. Find more information on the Ballet Fusion FItness website. 

Dance Theater West

Center Dance Ensemble, for which Dance Theater West is the official school, holds open company classes Tuesday nights from 6 to 7:30 p.m. for $10 per class. Several additional companies hold classes at Dance Theater West. Movement Source will have open company classes at 6 p.m. on Monday nights during the summer for $10 per class. Dates and times for Desert Dance Theater summer classes at Dance Theater West are pending. Find more information as it becomes available on the Dance Theater West Facebook page.

Express MiE Dance Studio

This studio is all about bringing the sexy to dance, as evidenced by the fact that they offer classes in several levels of pole dance, as well as instruction in striptease and lap dance techniques. Their $30 “teaser” pole dance class, which meets Monday, June 11 from 7 to 8:30 p.m., serves as an introduction to pole dance — and also includes some lessons in lap dancing and striptease. A beginning pole dance class, which costs $175 to $195 depending on when you sign-up, meets Mondays from 5:30 to 7 p.m. from July 5 to August 15. Express MiE Dance Studio also offers a variety of dance fitness classes. Find more information on the Express MiE Dance Studio website.

Fifth Row Dance Studios

A new Intro to Flamenco class with Angelina Ramirez comes to this Roosevelt Row dance studio on Monday, June 15. The class takes place 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Monday nights, and each class costs $15. Or you can do 5 weeks of the Intro to Flamenco class for $65. Fifth Row Dance Studios offers several additional classes this month, and posts schedules for future months as they become available. Flamenco Por La Vida presents a 3-week Intensive Flamenco Workshop with Alejandro Pais and Illeana Gomez from New Mexico at Fifth Row Dance Studio from June 15 to July 4. Find more information on the Fifth Row Dance Studio Facebook page.

Kaleidoscape Dance

Kaleidoscape Dance is offerings several types of classes at Dance Theater West on weekday evenings and Sunday mornings this summer. Barre Fitness is offered five times each week. Other classes include Lyrical Jazz (Thursday), Stretch (Wednesday and Sunday), and Ballet (Sunday). Single classes are $12, but you can stay for a second class for $5. A 5-class card costs $45, and a 10-class card costs $80. Find more information on the Kaleidoscape Dance website.

Mesa Arts Center

Several Bollywood dance classes are starting at Mesa Arts Center during early June. Options starting after the official first day of summer on Sunday, June 21 include ballet, belly dance, and more. Seven-week Ballet Basics and Ballet Pointe/Partnering classes for adults and teens starts on Wednesday, June 24. The center is also offering several 4-week Belly Dance classes, including different levels and styles, starting on various dates in July and August. Epik Dance is teaching 4-week sessions in both Hip Hop I for beginners and Hip Hop II during July. Find more information on the Mesa Arts Center website.

Paragon Dance Center

Summer choices at Paragon Dance Center include Argentine Tango, West Coast Swing, Salsa/Mambo, and Ecstatic Dance. Classes are $10. Find more information on the Paragon Dance Center website.

Phoenix Center for the Arts

Summer classes are already underway at Phoenix Center for the Arts, where they’ll continue through the end of August. They’ve got Contemporary Modern with Jordan Daniels on Monday nights, and with Julie Akerly on Wednesday nights. In addition, they also offer Love Your Hips-Bellydance on Monday nights, and Ballet Basics on Thursday nights. People can register in advance or just show up when the dance whim strikes. Dance classes are $10 each, but the Center also sells packs of three tickets for $25 and packs of ten tickets for $75. Find more information on the Phoenix Center for the Arts website.

Phoenix Theatre

The Summer of Dance program at Phoenix Theatre runs from June 1 to July 30, with a weeklong break from June 29 to July 5). Classes for the age 16+ set take place Monday through Thursday between 6 and 9:40 p.m. inside their Hardes Theatre and Mainstage Rehearsal Hall. Classes include Burlesque/Fosse, Turns & Leaps, Tap, Musical Theatre, Techno Ballet, Musical Theatre, Contemporary, Jazz Funk (a combination of hip hop, street, and contemporary dance). The drop-in rate is $10 per class. Monthly passes are $75, and the All You Can Dance pas s is $130. Find more information on the Phoenix Theatre website.

Scorpius Dance Theatre

Scorpius Dance Theatre is offering teen/adult Modern and Aerial Arts classes for most of the summer. Aerial classes include instruction in basic aerial fabric skills. Modern classes are $10 each and Aerial Arts classes are $20 each. Find more information on the Scorpius Dance Theatre website.

Terpsicore Dance Company

Open classes at Terpsicore Dance Company Studios include various levels of Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Contemporary, Tap, Hip Hop, Jazz Funk, and Sexy Jazz — some of which are taught by Switch Studios. Terpsicore classes are $15, and their 10-class cards cost $130. Switch Studio charges $8 for one hour classes, and $10 for 90 minute classes. Find more information on the Terpsicore Dance Company website.

Wall-2-Wall Dance Center

The center specializes in tap dance also offers some hip hop classes. All classes are designed for adults, but teens ages 14 + can attend. The summer session runs from July 6 to September 20. Several levels of tap dance are offered, and each class runs 55 minutes. Class price varies based on the number of class sessions each week. Eleven-week classes that meet once a week cost $99. The drop-in rate is $10 per class. Ten-class flex passes cost $90. Discounts are available for college students, military, and seniors. The center is located at 617 South McClintock , suite 3, in Tempe. Find more information on the Wall-2-Wall Dance Center website.

 It's always best to check in with studios before attending a particular class since summer schedules have been known to change around these parts.

Follow Jackalope Ranch on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.