I went for the Aerial Silks beginners class and the price for a drop in class was very reasonable…read more There's a parking lot right in front of the entrance along with street parking. Upon entering the building, I located room #9, where Stomping Ground is housed. I was surprised to find that 8 mins before the start time, the door was still locked. The instructor eventually arrived a few minutes after the start time which was a bit disappointing. It's a decent sized space, but a bit in disarray. Anyway, there were cubbies at the front where belongings could be tucked away. This included shoes which are not allowed on the performance/class floor. Although my skills were awful I still enjoyed myself. The instructor was very patient, helpful, and never made me feel like I was holding the class back. She showed several moves, and walked us through as we attempted them ourselves and while encouraging us, never pushed us beyond our comfort levels. About 2/3 of the way through the class, a child came in and was all over the place. It was a bit distracting especially as she continued to pull the instructors attention towards random things. Can't blame the kid (for being a kid), but I do think paid classes should feel more organized and less random. Anyway, I'm glad I tried the class.

I absolutely love the Lyra classes here! All of the instructors are friendly, skillful, and…read moreattentive and I always have a great time. The classes have a great ratio of students to teacher and apparatus, which allows for a little bit of rest time and plenty of practice time. The studio itself is such a cool space and is very clean! I would highly recommend taking classes here!

I've been dancing at this studio for three years now and it's greatly helped me improve my skills…read moreas a dancer. Especially in the ballet department!

From the owner: We are a performance based, non-competition dance studio serving New Brighton, Northeast…read moreMinneapolis, St. Anthony Village, and the surrounding communities of the Twin Cities. We offer classes in classical ballet, pointe, modern, lyrical, creative movement, jazz, and tap dance for students of multiple skill levels and interests, ages 3-adult. Since ballet is the foundation for success in so many dance genres, our emphasis is on non-competition classical ballet. We provide classes in other dance mediums in order to provide students with opportunities to grow and perform. We look forward to serving you, your students, and our community as we share the art and gift of dance.

Great studio, very welcoming atmosphere, and offering a full schedule of groups…read more Kate is great!!!

Dancer Studio is a very welcoming place to learn to dance. Come as a couple or single, partners are…read morerotated so there's a chance to dance with everyone in the class. On this occasion the lesson was Rumba, the class starts out with the basic steps then more steps are added, usually a turn is added by the end of class you've learned a whole pattern. Everyone is kind and are all there to learn together. Jessica is a great instructor, her pink shoes are fabulous.

Love this studio! Best staff and theater program in the Twin Cities. I highly recommend to anyone…read morewho asks (and many who don't ).

I go here and its awesome!!!!! The dancings great. the talents awesome! and they have options for…read moreolder kids! Did I mention the musicals are great!

I discovered this body-positive, family-friendly ballet studio when I did a Google search for…read more"Cecchetti technique" as I was eager for my kids to receive the same type of ballet training I did. Boy, was I pleasantly surprised to find a charming, niche studio that only teaches ballet- and also provides ample performance opportunities for the kids. The best thing about this studio is the owner and teacher- Ms Zachari Wetz. I have an autistic child, and a trans child, and both were welcomed with open arms. My autistic daughter has been going there now for four years- and all of the girls are very nice. It's a wonderful community. We even participated in Dance the World at Disney World this last summer, which is not something I ever could've imagined Lyra would achieve. It's been such a positive experience that I dusted off my ballet slippers and joined the thriving adult program. After four knee surgeries, I wouldn't have imagined myself coming out of retirement and returning to the stage, but Ms Zachari has a carefully curated performance rotation- every fall the studio puts on a storybook ballet (and they rotate through four different ballets- so everyone knows what to expect each year. Some are classics, and some are originals.) In the spring there's a recital, plus competition opportunities. She makes it so much fun, with opportunities for everyone, even an old, broken, ex-ballerina like myself. Where Ms Zachari really shines is as a phenomenal choreographer. And I'm so grateful that she runs a BODY POSITIVE studio- I can't emphasize enough how refreshing it is to have a teacher who is so good with my daughter, and who accepts all types of people- since ballet is not historically kind to anyone who is different. If you're looking for a studio that only teaches ballet- you've found it!

I have been taking classes with The Cassandra School for about 8 years now and I am so happy to…read morehave discovered such an amazing Middle Eastern dance school that is so highly regarded. I started dancing in my adult life as an absolute beginner. Women anywhere from the ages of early 20's through 70's have been in my classes over the years. All of the instructors are professionals and have studied Middle Eastern Dance for many years, however the star of the Cassandra School is the founder herself, Cassandra Shore. Not only is Cassandra a marvelous dancer and choreographer, but she is also an amazing teacher, taking the time to break down movements and explain things so that you can work on developing the best technique. Instructors follow a curriculum so that dance steps and topics progress throughout the different class levels (levels 1-5). All the instructors are excellent and have their unique dancing and teaching styles. If you are looking for a workout, belly dance is a great way to stay fit as well. The first portion of class is stretching and toning exercises, much like Pilates. Beginner classes focus on base techniques and some musicality. Advanced classes are longer (2 hours) and can be a very good cardio workout. Classes are extremely reasonable considering the classes are 1.5 to 2 hours and cost only as much as most 50 minute to 1 hour yoga/pilates/social dance classes. The studio is a lot of fun to be around, it is a very friendly environment well suited to all levels. If you like Middle Eastern music, like to dance or have an artistic or creative streak, I highly recommend signing up for a class or a session to see for yourself how fun and inspiring taking classes at The Cassandra School can be.

My favorite thing about this place is the inclusiveness of all ages, body types, and level of dance…read moreexperience. From my experience as a beginner to more advanced levels, there has always been a range of bodies and ages from twenties to seventies. There have even been some belly men! Another big positive for me is that instruction is really grounded in a knowledge of and respect for the cultures behind belly dance. Especially as you become more advanced, you'll learn about different regional or folkloric styles of movement and music. Cassandra Shore is an internationally regarded dancer and you're truly learning a new art form. An example of art over fitness is that we practice moving with finger cymbals in every class. It's not always the most athletic thing, but it's awesome. In short, this isn't just about wearing sparkly tops, feeling sexy and getting fit (you could still do all those things, but that' s not the focus). That's not to say the instructors are uptight--they're extremely friendly and helpful and classes are always a lot of fun! You learn a lot of movements that are completely different from other forms of dance and you'll notice muscles you never thought existed. I have to disagree with something Kristen H. mentioned, though, about not wanting to jiggle your stomach to look like a fatass. I've actually learned to appreciate my jiggling from belly dance! Every woman's got something extra that moves, and while my instinct was always to hide that, from really focusing on wanting to get better at belly dance that changed. When you're doing something well, your body can make really neat jiggles and ripples that are rhythmic, that rise up from different parts of your body like waves. By the way, my name is Cassandra but this is not my school. I just take classes here.

I've been a part of the Expertease Fitness aerial program for almost 5 years and have absolutely…read moreloved my experience. The studio recently moved into a larger space - enabling them to have even more space (and higher ceilings) to support the extensive programming they offer across their aerial (silks/hammock, lyra, trapeze and rope), burlesque and pole curriculum. The studio offers either session based classes (sign up for 8 weeks of classes with the same group of students each week) or drop in classes if you aren't quite ready for a long term commitment. I have only had extensive exposure to the aerial instructors - but all of the teachers and staff I have interacted with are extremely passionate, caring, welcoming and lead with "safety first" mentality. They will push you to do new and challenging things outside of you comfort zone - but are great about respecting personal boundaries and safety. During my time with the studio - I have been exposed to the most amazing welcoming and diverse community. Regardless of your age, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identify, profession etc. - you will be welcomed by this community with open arms. The studio has some of the most affordable rates for aerial/pole/burlesque etc. in the Twin Cites (and especially compared to other metro cities) A few other tips/tricks details: -All session based courses offer the opportunity to participate in a end of session performance -Studio regularly offers extremely affordable photo shoot and makeup/hair sessions -Class offerings are constantly evolving and they regularly add new classes and/or workshops -Studio does offer the opportunity to rent out practice spaces and offers private group classes -Studio regularly offers groupons and/or sales for level 1 classes -The booking system online can get a big confusing (you buy credits - and then redeem them to sign up for classes) - but just e-mail or call the help lines and they get back to you quickly!

I just returned to BurlesqueMN for another session of classes. I am in the basic pole classes and…read moreloving it! Some things about it that is different than other gyms with pole is that 1. it's progressive. You're learning skills and building on them. You don't just drop in and try to following along -- you're taught everything so you can master it. 2. You get the opportunity to perform at the end of the session if you want to!! I loved showing off my new skillz to my friends and family . I work in human services and in this profession, self-care is key. BurlesqueMN has really helped with fulfilling my self-care. The pole classes not only give me an amazing work out, I have grown so much more confident with my body and how it moves. A big recommend for any one interested in giving pole a try!! I have yet to try other kinds of classes here but most certainly plan on doing so in the future.