Whether you're looking to join the company or just take some no pressure dance classes, OnStage…read moreDance Company is great for both. Super nice people. Great dancers who are willing to teach less experienced people taking class too. Classes get added often and the schedule is always being updated, so it's really helpful to check the website.

I'd never seen a modern dance performance before. I just happened to have a friend performing so I…read morethought I'd give her some support. The performance was fun, eclectic, and thoughtful. Add it to your list of random cultural browsing (if you keep that kind of thing) in the greater Boston area for sure! The music could have been a little louder (the volume was sometimes awkwardly low for my tastes) so that's why I'm giving it 4 not 5.

Post-pandemics update:…read more This is a weekly (Fridays) swing dance venue on the industrial outskirts of Cambridge, MA. A beginner lesson starts at 8PM, the dance goes on from 9PM to midnight (finding a dance partner after 11:30PM is not easy). Masks are required, so is the proof of vaccination (with a booster!). The latter is better send via email in advance. The venue: the dance goes on inside the Q ballroom (formerly Extreme Dance Studio). The dance floor is pretty large, almost square in shape and of high quality. The only obstacle is a large red support pole in the center that is easy to avoid (or play around it). I had visited in late November, and the temperature control was adequate. The logistics: parking is free and easy. At 8PM, many parking spots are available in the parking lot of the ballroom itself. At this time, feel free to disregard the "restricted" signs and use the parking spots of other businesses nearby. However, per the Central's own web site, avoid the spots assigned to Evolve Fitness (I did not find any). There are coat hangers for the winter clothing in the lobby, cubes for the rest of your possessions at the far wall of the ballroom. Admission is $10 on DJ nights, apparently $15 on the band nights. Water is provided in the corner of the dance floor. Seating is very limited, experienced crowd tends to congregate in and around the front row of the seats closer to the entrance. The music: I have danced to the DJ music. As I understand, the live music is more typical, except during the holiday season. The music selection was excellent for lindy with many familiar mid-tempo pieces and practically no slow blues tunes. The lesson: starts at 8PM and is geared towards beginners, although covers a lot of ground at a pretty fast pace, so it is unlikely that a single lesson will be of much help to an absolute beginner. The crowd: about 50 dancers for the lesson, about 80 for the party. The dancers are mostly on the young side, their skills vary very significantly. There is a significant percentage of true beginners, to the point that leading them is very challenging, very few excellent dancers (on the night I have visited, there was a swing camp in the city, on my previous visit few years ago the number of advanced dancers was way higher), and many intermediate ones. There were more follows than leads during the party, but not disastrously so. The lesson was perfectly balanced. Overall: a must-go-to event in the Boston area. True beginner's mileage might vary. A minor advice for the beginner follows: if you want to dance, do not stand at the counter next to the entrance behind the row of seats: many people use this place to chill out, so a lead like me would rarely venture there - disregarding all the dancers in the front row! - to invite you to dance; sides of the floor will work much better.

This is the best weekly swing dance in Boston. They have a live band almost every week, including…read morelocal greats Beantown Swing Orchestra and the Fried Bananas. They also pull in great imports such as Solomon Douglas and Gordon Webster. The dance crowd is mostly Lindy Hop with some blues and East Coast (the step you learn in the free lesson before the dance). A lot of the dance instructors and advanced dancers frequent this dance. When you aren't dancing it is fun to sit back and watch and listen. You don't need to bring a partner. Most folks will dance with you if you ask them. Several people sport an "angel" bandana meaning they are experienced dancers looking to dance with people new to the dance. The drink of choice in this crowd is water so they are sharp and well balanced on the dance floor. There are jugs of water in the back left corner as well as light snacks. Check out the videos on the Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cambridge-MA/Boston-Swing-Central/15316440838, and the events for upcoming bands. The pictures give an idea of what the crowd wears. You can wear jeans, however you won't be out of place if you dress up, though tuxes or sequins is probably over doing it. Swing Central has quite the following. Recently they reached capacity when a very popular band played and there was a wait to get in. If you get there before 9:30 or after 10:30 you should be able to get in with no problem. If you are new to dancing by all means attend the 8:00 lesson a few times. The instructors rotate so it isn't the same lesson every week. The dance has moved from St. Mary's Church in Central Square to a dedicated dance space, Crosby's Whistle stop at 24 Roland Street in Charleston (how appropriate). It is in an industrial building, but don't let that put you off. The brick walls and wooden floor are a nice step up from the church basement.

When you take that leap and allow your child to join a dance studio, you feel like you might have…read moreto drink the Kool-Aid and become a "dance mom" and that the dances will be too mature (putting it politely) for your child. This is the third year that my daughter has taken part in this program and I have to say that I am extremely impressed with the attitude and skills of all involved. Miss Pam knows her stuff and have a great knack for talking to "kids". This year my daughter did not know if she wanted to continue mostly because her friend moved away. Miss Pam called us up (something a busy study director does not need to do) and asked my girls was coming back and I explained this issue to her. She had me bring her in and she talked to her and listened to her. She found her a class and so far, she is enjoying the group. The whole recital thing at the end of the year is still too much for this humble introvert but it is not nearly as bad as I have seen at other studios.

I danced at Step-By-Step as a teenager at the original Newtonville location. Miss Pam was energetic…read moreand inspiring! She helped build my confidence and love for dance. I've since returned for adult classes at their Waltham studios, which are gorgeous! The sign on the door says dance school but this place feels more like a community. I'm looking forward to getting back into their adult classes this year!

When I was younger, I took ballet, pointe, modern and jazz extensively in the New Haven area, but…read moretook a hiatus during college. Feeling the desire to move beyond the monotony of the gym, I returned to ballet, starting with the adult classes at Fresh Pond Ballet 2 years ago. Nina Alonso Hathaway is a wonderful teacher. She presents clear, no pressure instruction while helping her students to improve their skills. I've had many teachers who believe the path to becoming a better ballerina involves insults and physical torment, and Nina is about as far from that camp of teaching as possible. She works with Blake Barich as well, who teaches with her, and Blake maintains a similar philosophy to teaching as Nina does. Her studio is affordable and a good choice for adults with hectic lives, as instead of a semester fee, she offers a 10-class card for $105 dollars. If you need to miss a class, you are not going to lose on your investment. Adults of all levels join her adult beginner classes, and students who have had training in the past are welcomed to dance with her advanced students (and even invited to take part in their annual ballet production at Pine Manor College).

There is something not quite right about Fresh Pond Ballet…read more Fresh Pond Ballet is past its prime. I learned the hard way and don't recommend sending a youngster to classes w Nina. I have 2 daughters and both have taken classes at FPB and other schools and the contrast is dramatically different. First of all, the place is a disaster. Having a lifelong relationship with dance - I have always taken lessons and belonged to gyms. I am an athlete, not a princess, so I don't need my workout space to look like a spa. But this "school" is a joke. There is no place to change, you have to step over strollers and parents changing diapers in some weird hallway, and I always feel like I am in the way or somehow in the wrong while trying to get my daughter ready for her class. I asked Nina if the bathroom had any more paper towels one time and she snapped at me with too much detail about her landlord not doing something or another and how it wasn't her responsibility to potty train children! I was astounded. Which brings me to Nina. My girls started classes with Nina last year. They were so excited to take dance lessons and learn how to dance like ballerinas! But Nina's critical nature and short temper soon took the wind out of my daughters' sails. Like I said, I've taken dance classes off and on for my whole life and have an understanding and appreciation for the discipline and hard work it takes to become good at dance or any of the performing arts. But Nina seemed more focused on keeping her students well behaved than well trained. My oldest daughter never asked to quit (even though 2 of her friends did) and went to every class, but I could see her mood change and as we would get closer to the class. She would set her jaw like she had to endure the class. It was stressful. My younger daughter's class was completely disorganized. Beginner classes always have a variety of levels but my daughter's skill actually got worse in Nina's class. The girls went to a different (not to be named) school this year and have blossomed. The school welcomes parents w a pleasant environment and they don't harass us with rules about where to sit and how to stand and when to pay. They have parking for cars and strollers and the teachers can focus on teaching the art of ballet. The teachers are firm but kind and my daughters have re-discovered their love of dance. Reading the previous reviewer's post about how the school really worked for her as an older returning student makes a lot of sense. I think that the teachers at FPB just don't have the energy for teaching to youngsters any more.

Yes, yes, and yes ... If you have kids and they are interested in theater, you need to bring them…read morehere. They are lovely here and I have not had a bad experience even when we had a bad situation arise with my daughter's first production. I love that they are instilling the love of theater into these kids. They also discuss the process of a production and the characterthe child is portraying even when it is a small, non-speaking roll, They utilize all of the children that try out and it works wonderfully. We have thus far only been able to do the musicals but one day the stars will align in our schedules and we will get to do a black box production. My favorite production so far has been "The Pirates of Penzance".

Got kids? This is a great program. Spectacularly-run and lots of fun for serious actors, plus they…read morerun vacation camps with arts themes for those of us who can't just stay home all day with our kids because we, you know, have jobs... Wonderful counselors. Really beautiful facilities in the New Repertory Theatre building. Even if you don't have kids, check out a show sometime and support the arts!

Morningside Music has been a great experience for me. Dan Fox and the whole crew do an excellent…read morejob supporting students.

I started taking lessons as an adult with Morningside. The instructor I was paired up with was…read moreexactly right for what I was looking for. It has been a good experience. And on the scheduling and payment end they have also been flexible and very nice to deal with.

We love Let's Dance Inc.! My daughter started as a 2 year old with Ms. Tracy and Ms. Michaela. I…read moredidn't believe that such little kids (babies!) could learn actual dance technique but they certainly can, with the right instructors. The teachers at Let's Dance Inc. have been so fabulous and nurturing to her and she LOVES going to class every week. The recital and competition routines are professional quality pieces. Beyond their extraordinary talent and dedication to the students, the teachers there obviously love what they do!

The teachers are amazing The classes are fun and exciting…read more They've made a tapper out of me!

My daughters have been going there for only a few months and they treat them as if they've known…read morethem their whole life. Love the intimacy and passion that Christine brings to her studio. Would recommend it hands down.