A world-class studio for sure. Google Maps and Waze directed me to the wrong location for dance class, spitting me out at The Rocks, but the location for dance class is in Ultimo. Keep that in mind. Luckily, Uber exists and I was there in 15 minutes. Once you get in, check-in at the front desk, pay if you haven't done so yet, and the friendly staff will tell you which studio your class is located in. The studio is clean, well lit, and has restrooms, changing rooms, and showers. SDC offers a wide variety of classes for all ages and they're priced at the standard. Inside each of the individual studios are cubby spaces tacked on the wall for your personal items. Barres are on three of the walls and a huge mirror is on the fourth one. The individual studios are big and the classes were larger than I had expected. But not to worry, there was enough mirror and floor space for everyone. I loved James Deane's adult beginner hip-hop class. James leads you into a warmup then teaches the choreo step-by-step. Though the class is large, he's very open to questions from anyone, but still goes at a good pace. He also emphasizes having fun, so don't be too intimidated if you don't have experience :) And he films classes every week! Next time I'm in Sydney, I want to take classes from him again (and take even more classes). Absolutely love this studio. read more

Ok here is the truth about SDC Studios. Whenever I mention this place to people it's usually followed by a "wow" or an expression of awe. Then they usually look me up and down to see if I look like a dancer. This is the amount of reverence people have of this place due to the name and reputation. So when people come here for the first time they usually have a sense of apprehension and fear of being looked down by the teachers/other dancers for having two left feet that just want to dance :) Yes, I admit in some classes the feeling is justified as some teachers just weren't meant to teach but are amazing dancers in their own right. But they are in the minority and most of the teachers there are both...great instructors with cool personalities and awesome dancers. I've been dancing for a long time and have taken most of the classes at the studios. The choreography is amazing. Biggest tip is to forget about what people think and dance your heart out. Don't worry as most people will be in the same boat as you and will be too busy looking at themselves in the mirror to care :) Which class to take? Just give it a go. Even though there may be repeats of certain dance styles and levels, every instructor will teach it in their particular way and level and you will have to judge for yourself on whether you like it or not. If you are unsure always go for the beginner or absolute beginner class and start from there. So you want to dance? This is a great place to start. I'm usually there all weekend & on random weeknights, and you can find me either in class or at the reception, so come say hello :) read more

Sydney Dance Company Dance Studios - Studio 4 - Dance Studios Near Me - Sydney, NSW

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Admittedly I was apprehensive about taking a class at Sydney Dance Company. I was sure I'd be laughed out of the studio by pretentious teachers and students alike. I was sure it would cost me double what it should. I was wrong. After checking out the website I decided on 'Beginners Jazz' with Jason Liu Brennan, Friday at 6:30PM - 8:00PM ($20). Sydney Dance Company is in Walsh Bay which is considered to be Sydney's arts precinct. Walsh Bay was long ago a shipping port and the redevelopment of the area has seen most of the industrial warehouse architecture kept in tact. The studios in the Dance Company are no different with their high hardwood beam ceilings. Beginners Jazz with Jason is a must try. The class has a long intensive warm up which is as much fun as learning the dance itself. The pace is fast but Jason takes the time to explain clearly the different steps. The only down side is the timetable for this particular class - Friday 6:30PM or Sunday 11:30AM which are not always the times you feel like working out. That said, it is worth it, even if you get there every couple of weeks. read more

Sydney Dance Company Dance Studios - Dance Studios Near Me - Sydney, NSW

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I'm one of those people who like to start a new hobby from the beginning (well it's impossible to start anywhere else). But I also like to start knowing that the people around me are also starting from the beginning. I like to know that if I sign up to an Absolute Beginner or Beginner class that everybody else in that class is also an absolute beginner or beginner. It is not too much to ask, but this is not the case at Sydney Dance Company. All classes work on a casual drop-in basis and individuals can start at anytime throughout the year. And while I understand the positives of this so you can freely move between the class levels until you find one that suits you, I do find the abilities of people within the levels quite inconsistent. Take for example the time I attended a beginner hip hop class. There was no real introduction, no acknowledgement of whether or not this was your first class and it was straight into the routine they had been working on for weeks. It is easy to say I got lost pretty quickly. I tried my hardest and danced like no one was watching but I can't say that it was an enjoyable experience. In fact I never went back again. In saying that, I would like to give Sydney Dance Company another go. The timetables are flexible and the 10-Class Pass ($150) can be used for any dance style at any time. The casual visit ($20) is quite pricey though, so if I'm not feeling it this time around I will just sign up for another dance school. read more

The classes are fantastic, and so are the dance teachers. Professional, helpful, talented and enthusiastic. However, despite the awesomeness of the actual classes, the service at the front desk is absolutely appalling. Due to George Street's road works I was running 15 minutes late on a weekday, and had left 1 hour from my house to be early for the class (even though I live 30 minutes away) but I still managed to be late. The lady at the front did not let me in the class because of the 15 minutes even after explaining my situation to her. She did not even say sorry!! She couldn't have cared less, that I made a 1 hour trip for absolutely nothing. I've never seen a colder expression before in my life. This woman validated the city's snobbiness and lack of empathy for other people, the fact that she couldn't even sorry is something I've never experienced in my life in customer service. I'm not the one who usually writes bad reviews cause I usually brush things off and I forget about it. This poor service however, I will never forget! read more

So when I first moved to Sydney there were a couple of things that really caught my eye. One of these things was the iconic Sydney Dance Company building on Hickson Road. Being a dancer all my life, it's a personal mission of mine to take class at every new studio I come upon... always. There are some really great things about SDC, most profoundly its accessibility. Yes it seems big and scary and fancy, but it's a warm and welcoming place for beginning dancers to find their footing. The best class I've come across so far in Sydney is Ilona Fabiszewski's JFH or Hip-Hop classes. She teaches at many studios around town but because she recently left to go overseas, she is only temporarily on the schedules now. I'm sure it won't be long until she's permanent at SDC again, however, as she has quite the following. I enjoy her class because it's indulgently girlie, set to hot music, and is ultimately carefree and fun. It's the type of choreo you might be tempted to drunkenly bust out at the club on a Friday if your friends cheer you on long enough. Boomskies! Get ready to be a star. read more

Going to casual dance classes can be intimidating - paranoia abounds that you'll be the least coordinated in the room, forced to perform solo in front of professionals and gain a little too much momentum when pirouetting. Maybe that's just me. Not the case at Sydney Dance Company, where the labelling of class difficulty levels is accurate and tutorials are structured to include everyone. You will get your odd advanced student attending a beginner's session to show off (you can pick them by the Flashdance inspired outfits and Bloch jazz sneakers) but generally the lower grades are more about fitness and fun than technique. Classes have increased in price over the years, now setting you back $20, but the workout is long with an extensive stretch portion to start off with, followed by a bit of floor work and isolations to warm up, finished with at least 45 minutes of learning a short routine. Students can also buy passes in bulk at a good discount rate - $150 for a pack of ten. Wrap up with one of the awesome sandwiches from the attached café - American Apparel threads help to look the part. read more

At the Wharf on Hickson Rd this is a legendary dance school. The energy is a particular fashion and you have to go with it. It's all about being in your body and strengthening your core and leg muscles. Flexibility and concentration is a must and starts at the counter when you buy your session ticket. You come here to learn to dance you have to accept that satisfaction is going to be hard to attain, the goal is perfection and the gruelling journey can be heart-wrenching. Inspiring as it is, dance classes attract a variety of people, mainly female, although you do spot the odd male amongst the crowd. I like Ramone the beginners Jazz Ballet teacher, he's a bit camp but very amusing. Absolute Beginners Ballet Class is also excellent - it is a fun atmosphere at the beginners levels = although you can really feel the professional vibe. Classes are about $20 each single or you can buy 10 for $150 and they are valid for a year. The classes are really well taught and you do leave feeling you've achieved something. I'm not the best dancer but I like the challenge of learning something that I'm not 100% about. It's a real character building experience being out of your comfort zone. read more

Sydney Dance Company Dance Studios - Dance Studios Near Me - Sydney, NSW

Sydney Dance Company has a strong reputation for its high quality dance classes. Although it can be rather inconvenient to get to, I always enjoy my classes there. The range of styles and levels makes it suitable for anyone. Being an ex-dancer myself it gives me the opportunity to revive my muscle memory whilst also challenging myself in more advanced classes. Love it! read more

This place can't be beat for adult, drop-in dance classes of every type and every level. They are especially great with beginners and know how to keep you coming back. Although I no longer live in Sydney, taking the bus down to The Rocks for dance classes here was the highlight of many of my Saturdays. I took mostly jazz and hip-hop classes, all of them were great. The studios, as you can see from the pictures, are gorgeous. The change rooms are spartan, but I'd rather pay for great instruction in a beautiful studio than a tricked out bathroom. Even if you don't think you have a dancer's body or are that great at dance, give this place a try. read more

I love Sydney dance company and have been using the studio for almost 2 to 3 years now the teachers are amazing and the classes are WONDERFUL. I do ballet jazz and hip hop (at the moment because of work) if you are 16 years plus and a beginner and have never done a class before i promise you this is the place to go the classes are very techniqual but the teachers make it fun and its never as daunting as you think because usually you will go into a class and there will always be someone else who hasnt done a class before in that style of dance. read more

I was on vacation in Sydney for only 5 days, but started taking ballet classes as an absolute beginner adult 2 years ago in Japan. I was also hyper-intimidated by not knowing what the descriptions of the classes actually meant (some knowledge of ballet-considerable knowledge of ballet basics? hmmm..) The class I attended was larger than I imagined and was very mixed in level, but the teacher was great, we all sweat a great deal and I really enjoyed the whiff of authentic "dancerdom" the whole experience lent. As a visitor, I can't make any mention of the convenience of the location, but it is a GREAT location. I'd love to take another class there if I find myself in Sydney again! read more