Amazing place! Great teachers and so many fun classes I want to try! Unlike so many people I know, I never took dance growing up, However I have always enjoyed movement and wished I could dance actual steps. All that to say I was super intimidated to take the plunge now, in my late 30s. I started with a Saturday afternoon line dancing workshop. I was immediately put at ease by the friendliness and the diversity of ages, sizes, and shapes of people that I found taking the class with me. After my wonderful experience at the workshop, I signed up for beginning modern jazz. Tracey Durbin is an amazing teacher! I was up-front with her about my lack of experience and nervousness. She put me at ease by reminding me that everyone is here to have fun, period. I have now signed up for my second session and I have no plans to stop! read more

There aren't may dance classes in Durham for adults. That's what drew me to Ninth Street Dance. I grew up dancing and continued performing in college. When I graduated, it was hard to find a dance studio to take lessons. Ninth Street Dances offers classes in a variety of styles, techniques, and flavors. You can take a dance technique class or a movement/fitness class. I've taken an eight-week hour-long modern and contemporary. I've also taken the dancehall workshop (one three-hour class) which was high-energy and a lot of fun. Most of the adult classes were at night, which was great to attend after work. (This was before COVID-19, of course.) Now classes are virtual. I recently signed up for a virtual mediation class that will take place for four weeks during my lunch break -- perfect while I'm working from home. Other classes offered -- 90's cardio funk, tap, ballet, bhangra, twerk, hip hop, afrobeat and so many more! Here's the link to the class schedule: https://ninthstreetdance.com/classes/ read more

I recently joined a Bollywood dance class and absolutely love it. The instructor is very nice and great teacher. It also is a wonderful workout and appropriate for people of all levels-beginners to advanced. If you are trying out one class, it is free. However, if you choose to attend a class more long term, you need to actually buy all the classes for that session. I absolutely recommend doing this if you live in the Durham area! read more

The business tagline is "dance is for everyone!", and in that vein they offer everything from break-dancing to belly dancing to ballet to gyrokinesis. (I'm still petitioning for Krump to get added.) Classes are offered for the fall, spring, and summer "semesters." Though the building is a little old and musty, it only detracts slightly from the burst of energy one gets in pop & locking to a Jennifer Lopez pop-hop song. There are 2 classrooms, and a minor complaint is that you you can sometimes hear the Riverdancing or whatever-it-is that's taking place in the other room. Pumped up by the latest season of So You Think You can Dance and feeling the heated urge to show 'em what I'm working with, I've taken both a belly dancing and hip-hop class here and had great experiences both times. The teachers were knowledgeable and fun; and my fellow classmates included girls and guys of all shapes and ages. At the beginning of the semester, you can test out a class for free and decide whether it's the sort of groove you can move to. read more

I adore this studio. My daughter and I have each taken two classes here. For her (a 2-year-old), she got joyful movement and physical connection with me, plus a teacher with the BEST attitude, props, and even gift bags (!!!) at the end of the semester. For me, the improv-style and hip-hop classes I took were what finally made me feel comfortable in my body and soul again after having my first kid -- plus the instructors are SO high-quality and bring a beautiful balance of skill-building, solid workouts, and sheer enjoyment. I can't recommend Ninth Street Dance enough. read more

My wife had been planting the seed of an idea to take ballroom dance lessons for quite some time. So for Christmas, I signed us up for a half-semester of Ballroom dancing (that's how it was offered). We had a great time during our first five weeks, and signed up again for another two classes. So much fun! The space is exactly what you would expect, up the creaky staircase shared with Cosmic Cantina and overlooking Ninth Street. Our ballroom instructor, Carol, is awesome and highly recommended. This particular class is more geared to having fun and learning how to get around on a dance floor than training for the next season of "Dancing with the Stars" -- perfect for us. The class demographic is weighted towards twenty-something couples, but a number of singles and older folks don't feel alone either. As you might expect, there can be more single women than single men -- single guys who are looking to meet some attractive women could do worse than signing up for a class or two. The policy is that you pay up front for classes, but you can take a sample class before you commit. Some friends of ours got a little bit of attitude from the desk attendant for taking advantage of this policy -- your mileage may vary. You can also make up a missed class at any other class offered that semester. There is advance registration, but they don't seem to cap the classes -- the start of our second half-semester coincided with Valentine's Day and the studio was jam-packed! I was on the border between 4 and 5 stars, and these little administrative hook-ups are enough to push down to 4 stars instead of 5. read more

Stellar experience. I am most likely the worst dancer in the world (tied with my mama for having two left feet!) and the instructors and staff here are nothing but gracious and welcoming. The studio, as others have already mentioned, is located at the top of rickety old stairs covered in graffiti, which makes it feel VERY old-school dancey. I half expected Channing Tatum to pop out of the woodwork and Step Up. (Hardy har!) I'm new to the area, so Ninth Street Dance seemed like an optimal place to get out of my house and interact with fellow humans, and it has the added bonus of being just down the street from Duke - so not only are there fellow humans, there are fellow similarly-aged humans! What a delight. I took a late-ish hip hop class as a trial and the class was pretty tiny - only about 5 people total - so it had the added bonus of making it feel like a private lesson. My instructor (don't know his name, but he was such a nice guy!) never berated or humiliated us, even when it was clear that some of us (namely ME) were fumbling up horribly. It was a lot of fun even if it wasn't a ton of exercise, given that it's beginning hip-hop, after all. Everyone here is earnestly interested in dance, which makes it that much more rewarding and challenges me so much more. I pretty much look like I'm having a seizure whenever I try to follow the teacher but regardless, I'm coming back again! Thanks so much for the wonderful welcome to the Triangle, Ninth Street! read more

I am currently taking my first dance class at ninth st. It's a hip hop class and I've been wanting to try this for a while. In general, I've been pleased with the studio but the teacher has been a bit of a disappointment. She does not explain the dances very clearly at all. This was made more obvious but a substitute teacher (Jose) this past week who did such an excellent job. I am actually planning on switching to his class for the duration of the semester. Another disappointment is that class rarely starts on time. Usually it begins about 10-15 minutes late which can be irritating as the waiting room is tiny. They are great about make-up classes and also will let you sample a class. I will likely continue to take classes there but will be more careful about the teachers in the future. read more

My husband, the not-so-proud owner of two left feet, and I (while not particularly lithe myself, I do speak some waltz, rumba, foxtrot, and swing) took private ballroom dancing lessons here in preparation for our wedding. The prices were completely reasonable, and we both thought our instructor was just excellent. She was incredibly patient and nonjudgmental of our [that is, my husband's] lack of coordination. I still lead when we dance, but he at least knows what a box step is. Kind of. Anyway, I am way self conscious about 1) my body, 2) my coordination, and 3) doing anything at all in front of an audience, but I felt completely confident dancing at our wedding reception. Actually, we were kind of awesome. Ninth Street Dance has been open for nearly two decades and has the positive reputation of being a place for people of all ages, shapes, sizes, and skill levels. This is not a studio for professional dancers. As they say on their website, they "strive to provide a nurturing, non-threatening environment in which beginners as well as experienced dancers/movers can enjoy their favorite movement styles or try out a wide variety of new ones." Ninth Street Dance has consistently been named in Indy Week's Best of the Triangle annual reader-run competition of merit. read more

I had just moved to NC and was looking for some classes to stay fit without having to join a gym. I have to say that I was initially intimidated to go to a dance studio, but the moment the class filed into the studio, I felt at ease. I signed up for a semester of the Zumba class. The classes average $10/class, but you pay/sign up by the semester. The studio is on the 2nd floor across from Cosmic Cantina - and it's a scene straight out of NYC. Not glamorous, but definitely fun character to the place. I love the vibe I get from the old staircase leading to the 2 small studios with the large windows. It's true that people of all shapes and sizes attend the classes. I can speak for the Zumba, Flamenco, and Cardio-Dance classes - they are fun and not intimidating. People are nice and truly just there to have a good time. Particularly the Zumba class...doesn't matter if you are perfect with the steps - as long as you are sweating, then you are doing things right! read more

I've been thinking about taking a class at Ninth Street Dance for about 5 years and finally got my act together to do it. I'm currently taking a Zumba class which is like going to a dance party every week. The hour goes by so fast and I'm always disappointed when it comes to an end. If you've been wanting to try out a class but have been intimidated because you're not a dancer or you're not in shape, get over it! This studio is really for everyone. As mentioned by other reviewers, there are truly people of all shapes and sizes in the classes. There are people with rhythm and those without. No one cares! Just come and have fun. read more

I used to be a dancer for a long time and sometimes get the urge to take a class as an adult. Ninth Street Dance is a great place to satisfy that. They offer a lot of classes for adults in the evenings as well as on weekends and lunch time. A few years ago I decided to take a hip hop class. The teacher was LeBrandi and she was so much fun. People in the class ranged from really good to having no rhythm. LeBrandi made it fun no matter what level you were. This time around I decided to take ballet. It was my least favorite growing up but figured it would be good to help strengthen everything for running. My class is Tuesday nights with Shaleigh. She really knows her stuff. She explains how everything works and all the names of movements. It's a very informative class and more classical. I had to make up a Tuesday class and so I went to the Thursday class with Danielle. Danielle is fun and goes over everything as well. She plays more modern fun music and after that class I was very sore. It was more of a workout. If you are thinking of any kind of dance class I definitely recommend Ninth Street Dance. read more

I hadn't taken dance lessons since I was probably 9 years old, so signing up for hip hop was a little intimidating. However, the teacher I had was great and she spent time with everyone to show them how to do the moves - we even had choreographed dance routines down by the end of the 10 weeks. The classes really are made up of people of all shapes, sizes, and genders, giving you a good mix. The building is a little old and you can sometimes here your neighbors in the next dance studio, but all-in-all Ninth Street Dance is an inexpensive and fun way to get a little exercise and skills on the dance floor. read more

I am a fan, indeed! I have taken Latin and Ballroom at Ninth Street and loved both experiences. The instructors are very experienced and know what they are talking about. They are very participatory, too, so you get lots of feedback and some one-on-one help. You can usually join classes part way through a session at a pro-rated price. Be prepared to share your partner if you come in a pair. Personally, I liked rotating partners, it gets you used to different styles of dancers. It also allows singles to join in and have a great time. In all the classes I have attended the other dancers are friendly and warm, no creepy peeps, yet! It's a little dingy inside but still a great place to go. If you have an afternoon class the sun shines in the studios, especially the corner studio, and it is very uplifting. read more

We signed our daughter for dance classes here. She is 4. At first we were a little hesitant because it is not at all what I would picture as a traditional dance class. It is more of a creative movement class but the teacher is amazing and it is clear she knows what she's doing. She was great with the kids and the things they are learning are perfect for little ones starting to learn how to dance and move your body in certain ways. Couldn't recommend this place more. read more

Virtual dance classes have been so helpful and fun in quarantine! It's a great way to break up the monotony of WFH.

My girls (3-7) have taken many classes at Ninth Street Dance. We all love it. They are young so zoom classes are a challenge, I can't wait to allow them to return in studio when COVID is under control & it's safe to do so. read more

My kid loves her online dance class! I was worried that a virtual dance experience would fall flat, but signed her up anyway because who can wait for COVID to end? She looks forward to it each week and thinks Ms. Emy is a superstar. It's pretty fast paced and new to my kid, but I'm impressed with how much she's learning. Highly recommend! We've already registered for the next session to make sure she doesn't lose her spot. read more

It's known as the best place to take dance classes around here, and the classes are pretty good. I've done some ballet and some hip-hop, and had great experiences every time. My first complaint is the ventilation; the building is old and the studios are small, so prepare to sweat massively in the summer (bring water!!!). it gets crowded between classes, with everyone transitioning at once. The prices are good, and the instructors are great, the classes chill but definitely worth what you pay. There is a changing room, bathroom, and two dance studios overlooking 9th Street. The studios themselves are lined with ballet barres and a wall of floor-length mirrors, sprung wood floors, and full stereo sets (that get screwed up from time to time). I can't compare it to places like Barriskill, but it's great for people of all ages and experience levels (i did an intermediate ballet class with only 1 year basic experience :P) read more

If you are an inexperienced adult recreational dancer who just wants to have fun and socialize, this place is for you. The teachers all tend to be very nice; however, niceness seems to be the studio's biggest consideration in selecting teachers, so quality of instruction can vary. If you sign up for a class with a particular teacher, the studio may not tell you that the teacher will be gone for the majority of the session. Just remember that you are signing up for a class, not a specific teacher. They won't give you a refund, but, to be fair, no studio will do that. That said, their payment policy is pretty straightforward, and the fees are reasonable. As for the facilities, the studio often smells and is not kept particularly clean. That might just be because it is in an older building, though. Despite the high ceilings, it can get very warm during summer months. Also, there is really no place to change: there is one bathroom and a broom closet. That's it. The classes are stacked back-to-back, so there is no transition time between classes. This causes classes to start late and run late. Another issue is that there is no real real sense of etiquette: for example, students wander into class late and leave early, blurt out questions or comments during classes, interrupt to demand personal attention, etc. Some people might really like this type of atmosphere, but for me it was too disorganized. I think it just depends on what you want from a dance class. read more

I love this place. It really is a one-of-a-kind dance studio. It is aimed at adult dancers of all backgrounds, which makes for a very relaxing, low-pressure environment. There are many different styles of dance to dabble in, and so far all of the teachers I have had have been excellent. If you love to dance but don't want a studio overrun by little kids and dance moms, this is your place. Highly recommend!! read more

Studio has two main dance classrooms, can be hot and stuffy sometimes but the instructors are great and super enthusiastic! Taking the advanced beginner class - the instructor gives us a good amount of time to stretch for 15 min in the beginning, teaches us the routine step by step and we drill for the last 20 min. Class is an hour long read more

I am so thankful to have found this studio! Ninth Street Dance has the understanding that "not everyone wants to be a professional dancer," but still provides quality, challenging, fun classes from knowledgable instructors. A large variety classes for both adults and children are offered for all skill and experience levels. I have taken two sessions of Jazz Funk with Christina (who is amazing!) and I am looking forward to exploring other classes as well. Don't be phased by the side street entrance or sketchy staircase. Once you enter the well lit brick-walled studio and start to move, you will be hooked. I was. read more

I am so glad I found a studio that has dance classes for people my age. I'm 25 years old and use to dance in highschool, and wanted to get back into it to do something I enjoy while getting a workout. I am taking a lyrical/contemporary class with Becca. She is an amazing instructor and really knows how to dance. The class starts with a warmup where the stretches actually really push you, non of those half *** warmups. Then you do a lot of situps, promising abs at the end of this.. and then learn choreography. The studio has is very laid back and people literally wear whatever, very casual. The only negative thing I can say so far is the floors are not the cleanest. They should really clean them in between classes. read more

This is a welcoming studio with a good caliber of instruction. If you are an adult and looking to dance, this is one of the few options in the area. Parking is less than ideal and the studio is small. For the price of classes, the sessions are short. They could do a better job trying to help place you in the right class for your level of experience, but there is never any pressure or embarrassment if you are in the wrong level. Depending on what class you're in, it can be a great work-out! read more

I definitely recommend ninth street dance! You can join at any time and the teachers are amazing and very talented. I have been going there for a couple years now and it is my favorite dance studio! read more

this is another 1st for my granddaughter. Tap class is the class we enrolled her in for the summer. we have only missed 2 classes. the 1st miss we were not able to find shoes her size locally. started the class a week late. but while waiting kept in contact with the dance studio and they provided me with name of a lady that would meet me at studio to fit my grand child. THE TEACHERS ARE GREAT AND DETERMINED TO Provide YOU, YOUR MONIES WORTH yeah! The second miss was illness. and as a makeup class my grand daughter took a hip hop dance lesson. and to think all this started with 1 demo. at our public library. the only negative comment.is not about the services provided but the building. I don't like steep steps. take the trip and enjoy there is fun at the top of those stairs; my grand child loves the experience and it gives her something to talk about that other children are not doing. read more

I love this small community of adult dancers. Hoity-toity prima-ballerinas need not come. I live for ShaLeigh's classes and Jesse's barre class. I wish there were a few more options but the small space is limiting. read more