Kids Ballet & Lyrical at the barre.
Classical technique and expressive movement for young dancers, taught in a real studio with full ballet barres and mirrored walls. First class is free. Join any time there's a spot, one hour a week, building toward an optional December showcase.
- Two age groups · 6–9 & 10–14
- Tuesdays · 4:30–5:30 PM (ages 6–9) & 5:30–6:30 PM (ages 10–14)
- First class free · then $85/month
- $300 semester prepay option
- 10 dancers max per class
The right group for every dancer.
Classes are split by age so every dancer works at their own level — building real technique with peers at the same stage of development.
Younger · Ages 6–9
This class is paced for younger beginners — playful and structured in equal measure. Dancers learn ballet fundamentals through barre work, positions, and simple combinations, then bring it to life with lyrical movement set to music. Both styles, one hour a week, building toward the December showcase.
Older · Ages 10–14
Older dancers move faster and dig deeper. This class covers ballet technique with more demanding combinations and stronger attention to form, plus lyrical — where precision becomes expression and performance. By December both tracks have the option to take the stage at the winter showcase.
The foundation first. Then the feeling.
Every style of dance is built on ballet — the posture, the balance, the discipline, the vocabulary. We start there, then let your dancer put it to music with lyrical, where technique turns into expression and storytelling.
Ballet
We start here on purpose. Ballet is the foundation of all dance — barre work, positions, posture, and balance taught correctly from day one. Every style your child ever learns will be built on this.
Lyrical
Once the ballet basics are in place, we add lyrical — a flowing, expressive style danced to the words and emotion of the music. This is where young dancers learn to perform, not just move. By December, your dancer will do both.
Every class builds toward something.
Classes run weekly through December, with a showcase at the end for dancers who want to perform. Join now or join mid-season — new dancers are welcome any time there's a spot.
Ballet fundamentals
Barre work, the five positions, posture, balance, and musicality — real classical technique made joyful for young dancers. Small class, lots of encouragement. No experience needed. Your dancer's first class is free.
Lyrical & showcase preparation
Dancers add lyrical movement and begin rehearsing short routines for the winter show. Participation in the showcase is optional — let us know by late October.
Optional showcase: $100 costume fee if your dancer participatesThe Winter Showcase
Dancers who choose to participate take the floor on December 13. Each student performs their ballet and lyrical alongside performances from our adult students and instructors. Drinks and snacks are provided, and families receive photos and video of the show afterward. Costumes, music, applause. The real thing.
The next season
Dancers who fall in love with it continue into the winter/spring session with new music, new skills, and a spring performance goal. Ballet is a path your child can grow on for years.
A real studio, built for this.
Your child learns in Studio 1 — 750 square feet with full ballet barres, two walls of mirrors, and natural light from the windows over Lincoln Avenue.
Small classes mean every dancer gets real corrections, real feedback, and real progress. This is a working dance studio, and kids feel it from the first class.
Simple pricing. No surprises.
Month to Month · $85
Billed automatically at $85/month. No long-term commitment required. Cancel with notice by the 25th of the month. Your dancer's first class is free — if you enroll, the first month is prorated to your start date.
Semester Prepay · $300
Pay the full fall semester up front and save $40 per dancer. One payment, no monthly billing, your dancer's spot is locked through December. Prorated pricing available for dancers joining mid-semester.
Sibling rate
Each additional child from the same family pays $70/month, or $240 on the semester prepay. Applies across all DCC kids classes.
Showcase fee
Dancers who choose to participate in the December showcase pay a one-time $100 fee covering costume, showcase production, refreshments, and the photos and video your family receives after the show. Showcase participation is never required.
Class is limited to 10 dancers so every child gets real attention. New dancers are welcome any time there is a spot. Your dancer's first class is free. If you enroll, the first month is prorated to the number of classes remaining that month. Semester prepayments are non-refundable after the second class except for medical reasons or relocation.
A neighborhood studio with a real dance pedigree.
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Low-risk to start
First class is free. Month-to-month billing means no semester-long commitment before your child knows whether they love it. If they do, the semester prepay saves $40 and locks their spot.
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A studio made for ballet
Full-length ballet barres, two walls of mirrors, and a professional dance floor — not a gym, not a multipurpose room. Kids feel like real dancers here because the room treats them like real dancers.
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A neighborhood studio
Second floor at 3868 N. Lincoln Ave. Easy for families in North Center, Lincoln Square, Roscoe Village, and Lakeview.
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A path, not just a class
A showcase every December, new skills every season, and a full studio of styles — including our Junior Ballroom Latin program — as your dancer grows.
What parents ask us.
Does my child need any dance experience?
How does billing work?
What should my child wear?
What's the difference between ballet and lyrical?
Can I watch the class?
Does my child have to be in the showcase?
Bring your dancer in for a free trial class.
No commitment, no pressure. Come see if it clicks. Spots are limited to 10 per class, so reach out to check availability and schedule your free first class.
Contact us before you come. We keep classes to 10 dancers and need to confirm your spot ahead of time. Walk-ins cannot be accommodated. Email or call and we will get your dancer's first free class on the schedule.
Dance Center Chicago · 3868 N. Lincoln Ave., 2nd Floor, Chicago, IL 60613
dance@dancecenterchicago.com