This is our guide to dance classes for toddlers and young children in the East Bay. Some are session-based, and others are drop-in. Click through to the providers’ websites for schedule and pricing.
Special thanks to Berkeley City Ballet (BCB) for sponsoring this guide to young dance opportunities. BCB offers classes for little movers as young as 2.5 and classical ballet training in a nurturing and supportive environment. Dancers not only receive top-tier ballet training but also learn discipline, teamwork, and perseverance.
Find all kinds of classes for East Bay toddlers >>
Berkeley City Ballet
Berkeley City Ballet is Berkeley's premier school for classical ballet training. They offer Pre-Ballet classes for dancers ages 2.5 and up, with their youngest dancers beginning with "Dance with Me" and progressing through to Pre-Ballet classes.
Ages: Age Two, Age Three, Age Four +
Pre-Ballet at Berkeley Ballet
Introduce your child to the joy of dance at Berkeley Ballet! Classes teach dance fundamentals - movement, creativity, rhythm, spatial awareness - as well as important skills like turn taking, listening, and respect for self and others.
Ages: Age Two, Age Three, Age Four +
Shawl-Anderson Dance Center (SADC)
SADC’s Dance with Me and Creative Movement classes welcome children 18 months and up (with parent participation). Skillful teaching artists foster whole-child development through creative practices, movement play, and an inclusive, community-centered approach, offering joyful early dance experiences
Ages: Age One, Age Two, Age Three, Age Four +
Alameda Ballet Academy: Dance with Me Ballet
Dance with Me Ballet invites 3-4 year olds with their caregiver to learn the basic concepts, rhythms, and positions of ballet. Pre-ballet begins at age 4.
Ages: Age Three, Age Four +
Destiny Arts Center
Classes for ages 3+ at Destiny’s North Oakland center in dance, martial arts and performance build confidence and self-expression. Right now, Teddy Bear Hip Hop and Teddy Bear Dance.
Ages: Age Three, Age Four +
East Bay Dance Center
Introduction to Dance is for 2-5-year-olds, setting the foundations for pre-ballet in a 50-minute class. Additional classes start at age 4.
Ages: Age Two, Age Three, Age Four +
Gurus Of Dance: Bollywood Dance Class
Gurus of Dance, the Bay Area’s top Bollywood school, offers classes for all ages, including the Gurulettes for ages 3-5.
Ages: Age Three, Age Four +
In the Groove Studios
Katie's Dance Studio
Katie's offers dance classes in tap, hip-hop, and ballet starting at age 4.
Ages: Age Four +
Luna Dance & Creativity
Luna Early Childhood Creative Dance classes begin at age 3.
Ages: Age Three, Age Four +
Tutu School
Baby ballet starts at 6 months, Tutu Toddlers at 18 months, with early and pre-ballet classes available through age 8 at various Bay Area locations.
Ages: Crawlers, Age One, Age Two, Age Three, Age Four +
Van der Zwaan Dance Studio
Spotlight on Berkeley City Ballet
Dance and movement classes begin at age 2.5, where students dance alongside a parent or guardian. From ages 4-6, dancers begin attending classes on their own in the Pre-Ballet division. Students often begin lessons at a young age and grow up in the school. Classmates become lifelong friends, and BCB becomes a second home for dancers.
This round-up of dance classes for little kids includes programs for toddlers, three-year-olds, four-year-olds, and slightly older in Alameda, Berkeley, Oakland, and the surrounding areas. To find other fun classes for toddlers, babies, or preschoolers, see our toddler class guide. To find dance classes for older children, see our PK to Grade 12 dance class guide >
Thank you again to Berkeley City Ballet for its sponsorship.
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