Inspire Your Passion & Talent
At Cleveland’s Premier Dance School
Classes at Cleveland
City Dance
For over 50 years, generations of dancers across Cleveland, OH, have pirouetted, glided, and risen their way to confidence, poise, and excellence at Cleveland City Dance.
Offering a variety of professionally taught dance classes for students of all ages, our dance school has always served as a home for dancers to spread their wings and nurture their passion and talent.

Whether you’re seeking a career in dance or are looking to build confidence & lifelong friendships, we welcome you to Cleveland City Dance!
Call 216-295-2222 to Enroll
Meet Our Instructors
Dance Programs for
Children, Teens, & Adults
Students find encouragement, inspiration, and support through instruction by dedicated and passionate teaching professionals. Each student is placed appropriately, based on ability, to achieve their personal best.
Explore a dance style that’s perfect for you and make lifelong friendships along the way!
Dance Programs for
Children, Teens, & Adults
Students find encouragement, inspiration, and support through instruction by dedicated and passionate teaching professionals. Each student is placed appropriately, based on ability, to achieve their personal best.
Explore a dance style that’s perfect for you and make lifelong friendships along the way!
Ballet
Experience the light, grace, and fluidity of Classical Ballet. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced ballerina, our professional instructors are ready to help you perfect the techniques of this timeless art form.
We also offer ballet classes for boys. The strengthening principles learned with formal instruction can help young boys excel in recreational or team sports, in addition to the benefits of focus ability.
Jazz
Jazz Dance combines the elegant elements of ballet and the rhythm of tap in this dynamic and passionate style of dance. Inspired by street dance and Broadway techniques, Jazz will help you master theatrical technique, acting, and movement.
Modern
In Modern Dance, get ready to explore the body’s basic movement impulses and breathe, leap, and hop your way to rhythmic, spatial, and performance excellence. Modern Dance can help you nurture and enhance your strength, flexibility, and inner motivation for movement.
Tap
Tap gives every student the ability to focus on movement and sound as they practice and master precise and dynamic footwork. This is All-American style of dance is enjoyable for children and adults alike.
Hip-Hop
Evolving from street dance, Hip Hop intertwines the elements of jazz and tap styles of dance. Energetic, fun, and fast-paced, students enjoy learning the fundamentals and mastering hip-hop techniques in the process.
Conditioning
Looking to build your core strength, improve your flexibility, and lengthen your muscles? Conditioning can help you develop a healthy awareness of your posture, body movements, and breath through resistance training. Based on Pilates, this program can produce the same results as those who take ballet classes consistently.
Helpful Articles
Cleveland City Dance is committed to helping our students immerse themselves in the world of dance and thrive as they achieve personal new heights. We’ve provided a series of articles to help students and families discover more about the journey to becoming a dancer!
Twirling Tots &
Young Dancer Camp
Want to enroll your child in our Twirling Tots & Young Dancer Camp? Read more about what our rewarding dance camp programs have to offer!
All Boys’ Ballet Camp
Cleveland City Dance started the All-Boys’ Ballet camp to bring boys together in a positive environment building mutual camaraderie, and to build on specific strength and movement qualities necessary for male dancers. The boys learn valuable skills such as jumps, turns, and holding themselves strong for presenting themselves well on stage. They also work on building upper body strength to prepare them for the physical rigors it takes to build their dance skills and eventually to partner other dancers including lifts and assists.
This strong athletic foundation of coordination, flexibility and strength are developed with technique, artistry, and love for the dance profession for students to realize their full potential.
The program is for boys ages 7-12. Wednesday evenings 4:30-6:301pm with Ethan Lee.
For information including reserving a spot in this special boys’ camp, call 216-295-2222
Dancer FAQ
Below we’ve provided information to help our students and families learn more about our dance school and what to expect. If you don’t see an answer to a specific question, get in touch with us today!
What ages does Cleveland City Dance teach?
Cleveland City Dance has some students starting their dance education as early as 3. Some dancers continue taking classes into their 80s. See class level descriptions for further information.
How can I register?
For students under 9 years of age, no audition is required. For dancers without previous experience, please contact the studio 216-295-2222 for assistance in registering for the appropriate classes. Auditions are held during the summer for dancers with previous experience ages 9 and older wishing to enroll for the start of the academic season. All registration is online via the JackRabbit Dance platform.
How can I receive a current or future brochure mailed to me?
What benefits does dance offer mentally and physically?
Through dance education, one learns life lessons including discipline, focus on listening and thinking, and having the ability, confidence, and initiative to complete a task.
Classes also help build confidence, self-esteem, etiquette, social skills, and discipline that will be carried throughout many aspects of life. All the hard work and practice culminate in the end of year presentations to give all students a sense of accomplishment and pride.
Will a beginning teenager or adult be placed in class with young children?
Can I just drop into a class when it is convenient?
Will you start a new class if other classes are filled or if we have a group needing a different time?
I see you have a weekly Level II-V morning ballet class from 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM (this is an intermediate level). Does that class include professionals? May I take the class and what level is taught?
Do you limit the size of classes?
Yes, classes at CCD vary in sizes from 4-20 students. Some of our younger children’s classes also have an assistant. We will close classes to ensure students receive personal attention and do not feel overwhelmed in a crowd. During the 2020-2022 pandemic this is limited with social distancing protocols. See Protocols.
What is modern dance?
Why is ballet recommended for jazz and modern dancers?
Why is jazz recommended for hip-hop dancers?
How do I know what courses are appropriate for me to enroll in when I arrive?
If you have not danced in many years, you will want to reintroduce your body and muscles slowly. Please consult us regarding the appropriate level for your evaluation.
What is the difference between preschool ballet, pre-ballet, and beginning ballet?
No trial/evaluation class is required.
How does one make-up a class?
How can a dancer join the City Ballet of Cleveland?
We hold annual auditions in the spring. The dancers need to be an intermediate ballet level and at least 10 years of age. The dancers need to be an intermediate ballet level and at least ten years of age. The company has an apprentice level for those not at the intermediate level but interested in dancing more to build strength and self-confidence and to have other performing opportunities throughout the year.
Please visit the City Ballet of Cleveland for more information.
Do you offer private lessons?
Privates are based on studio and teacher availability.
Why is there a dress code?
Where do I park?
Do you offer scholarship programs at CCD?
Yes! We offer scholarship forms for young men and children ages 7-18. Fill out our forms below!
When does CCD accept new registration?
We have three sessions at CCD. The Academic School year September through the end of May and two Summer sessions. Current students enroll during the Spring prior to the upcoming Fall academic school year. CCD holds auditions for new students as well as allowing students to take a trial class during the sessions for class placement. See registration process. You do want to register early as many classes fill to capacity before the start of the session.
Fall session (September through May) Early registration begins in April.
Summer session (June through mid-August). Early registration begins in March.
Can I enroll once a session has begun? What is the cut off date for registration?
Do you have boys in classes? Yes, currently we have boys ages 3 to 17.
They are currently enrolled in Boys’ ballet, jazz, modern, tap and hip-hop. See 10 Reasons Why All Boys Should Dance.
It is not uncommon to have a few boys in dance classes. If you are concerned about your son being the only boy, sometimes it helps to have them ask a friend to join them to try the class together. We offer a boys’ only ballet class on Fridays for ages 7-16 during the school year and the summer including a boys’ only conditioning class.
Ballet originally began as a masculine art incorporating skills from fencing. Ballet skills and muscular development can be very supportive for sports. Dance also offers boys a sense of accomplishment, so they stand out from the crowd. Ballet is more difficult than competitive sports in that the strength must be concealed to appear effortless. Dance enables boys to increase their coordination and athletic strength for sports. For example, in basketball, the leg strength generated from dance offers greater power to jump higher to reach the basketball hoop. The agility from petite allegro (fast footwork) increases speed required in all sports, especially to change one’s direction on the field.
Will I be the oldest in class?
Can I take a free trial class?
Will you start a “waiting list” and how does that work?
What if I do not see what I am looking for on your schedule?
May I observe class before enrolling?
Yes, we do have viewing windows for classes. Cleveland City Dance limits in-studio observation especially for our younger classes so as not to distract students during their class time. We have parent observation several times a year and the final week of the summer semester. During observation week students invite their families to sit in on class and get to know the teacher more. During the 2020-2022 pandemic this is limited with social distancing protocols for viewings to be virtual.
Please see our school calendars:
June 7‒26 2021 Summer Class Schedule
July‒August 2021 Session 2
September‒May 2021 Class Schedule
Calendar 2021‒2022
Once my child enrolls, am I allowed to watch them during class?
Of course, the viewing windows are always open. During the 2020-2022 pandemic this is limited with social distancing protocols for viewings to be virtual. Cleveland City Dance limits in-studio observation especially for our younger classes so as not to distract students during their class time. We have parent observation several times a year and the final week of the summer semester. During observation week students invite their families to sit in on class and get to know the teacher more. Please see our school calendar.
What do you recommend for my child who is not interested in ballet?
What is jazz dance?
What type of hip-hop do you teach?
Why is ballet recommended for tap dancers?
How can I be certain my child is placed in the appropriate class level?
It is rare that a child is not mature and focused enough to participate in a structured classroom environment. If a child is unwilling or unable to participate in the group setting, or is distracting the class, we will speak with the parents to see if some activities can be implemented at home to assist their child.
When will I know it is time to progress to the next level?
The lower-level students receive an evaluation prior to the end of school. This includes preschool ballet, pre-ballet, beginning ballet, and jazz & tap combo.
Summer students are evaluated at the end of the summer term. Typically, the lower-level students will continue in the same level from summer to fall. Upper-level students can grow quickly in the summer due to the accelerated program and will be placed accordingly.
You may request a conference with the teacher and director after the evaluations should you have any concerns or questions.
Is there a performance at the end of the academic school year?
The lower-level classes, which include preschool ballet, pre-ballet, and jazz & tap combo, have free performances in May at the studio in an intimate and non-stressful setting. The Company performs for the students for free at the end of class presentation with a story ballet such as Alice in Wonderland and Peter & the Wolf.
There is no performance at the end of the summer semester. The Level I , Level II and the Intermediate/Advance camp do have an opportunity to perform at the Saturday Open house at the end of the summer.
My child is serious about a career in dance. What do you recommend?
Auditioning for the City Ballet of Cleveland, a501 (c) 3 non-profit ballet company, is an option for those who want the opportunity to perform with more frequency and are ready to devote more time to serious training involving additional weekly rehearsals.
What are the policies at CCD?
We have extensive financial, dress code, and studio general policies. They are here on our website along with the annual calendar which are distributed at time of registration. Beginning in 2020 we have COVID-19 social distance protocols.
Can I purchase a class card and how does that work?
10-class cards are for adults only. These cards cannot be used for beginning level classes, as consistency in classes is the key to progression and we do limit the class size. We recognize the need for flexibility with family and work schedules; however, a class card does not register you for a class nor hold your space in a class. Class cardholders will not be able to take a closed/full class. A class will be cancelled if there is NOT a minimum of four (4) individuals registered for the entire semester.
- Class cards expire six months from date of purchase.
- Class card students must sign-in prior to taking each class.
- Semester discounts do not apply to class cards.
- There are no refunds for unused class cards.
Do you teach social dances such as ballroom, tango, or salsa?

Class Schedules
Cleveland City Dance is now hybrid! Please take a look at our in-person and virtual program schedules for the 2021 dance year and reach out to us if you have any questions.

School Policies
We encourage new students and their families to have a look at our policies and to contact us with any questions or concerns.
Inclement Weather
In case of inclement weather, please call the studio line 216-295-2222. If you gave your email address at registration, we will send out timely notices when possible.
If the Shaker Heights schools are closed, the classes prior to 3:00 PM will be canceled. Evening classes will be determined by road conditions and weather reports. Please call the studio line for updates.
As always we ask for parents and students to use their best judgment, as your safety is our chief concern during these times. For class make-up information, please refer to the CCD make-up policy.
We’d love to hear from you. Contact us at 216-295-2222 today!
Cleveland City Dance
9:00 AM ‒ 1:00 PM
4:15 PM ‒ 9:00 PM
Friday:
10:00 AM ‒ 1:00 PM
4:30 PM ‒ 7:30 PM
9:00 AM ‒ 2:30 PM
Closed
Cleveland, OH 44120
Contact
Phone: 216-295-2222
Email: info@clevelandcitydance.com
Most Loved Dance Studio 2022!
Check us out on Hulafrog