Dancing is one of those activities that you can appreciate no matter where you are from.
Whether it be street dancing, ballet, tap, or any of the many forms it has, all have this ethereal beauty to them, especially when you are watching a master of the art.
If you live in Memphis, Tennessee, and would love to become one of these masters but have no idea where to start, or you already have a good grasp of the art and are just looking for a place to practice or meet like-minded people, then don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
Below, we are going to list eight unique schools offering dance classes in Memphis. Ready? Let’s get started.
The List of Institutions Offering Dance Classes in Memphis
Universal Dance Association:
Originally known as Universal Dance Camps, the Universal Dance Association was established in 1980. UDA was founded by Jeff Webb and Kris Shepherd to offer college and high school dancers top-notch educational instruction through summer camps and clinics on college campuses.
UDA has always placed a priority on the greatest caliber of performers, including the top teachers, choreographers, and routines.
Every team was given the opportunity to work one-on-one with the UDA staff through the establishment of summer camps around the country that offered personalized coaching.
At UDA camps, the emphasis is always on team development and progress, but the staff also works to make the camp enjoyable and worthwhile!
This is an association that has received raving reviews from past students and which I would recommend to anyone, especially those who want to become professional dancers. To find out more, you can visit the UDA website.
Address: 6745 Lenox Center Ct Ste 300, Memphis, TN 38115
T. L. Williams Academy of Dance:
T. L. Academy of Dance, a Whitehaven Arts Alliance member, is a Memphis-based dance school that aims to instill technique, performance quality, self-confidence, and discipline in its students.
The Academy is also a qualified member of Dance Educators of America (DEA) and the Southern Association of Dance Masters (SADM).
It offers classes, some of which include West African Dance, Jazz/Hip-Hop, Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical/Contemporary, Adult Dance Classes and more. Most of the reviews of this school are positive, so there is absolutely no reason not to give it a chance. To find out more, visit its website here.
Address: 4104 Elvis Presley Blvd, Memphis, TN 38116
Danzhouse:
This Memphis dance school is led by a team devoted to creating a positive atmosphere that should allow their students to reach their peak.
Its students are encouraged to learn as many styles as possible, and they are also given the opportunity to perform both recreationally and competitively—giving them the much-needed chance to show off their skills in front of an audience.
There are a variety of classes offered at this school, which include tap, acro, hip-hop, ballet, and more.
Note, however, that this school’s target audience is kids. To find out more, check out their website here.
Address: 7277 Winchester Rd, Memphis, TN 38125
Blue Suede Ballroom Dance Studio:
This is a Memphis-based professional school. Blue Suede is the place for you if you’re a professional dancer wishing to hone your abilities and technique, or just someone hoping to learn a few dance moves for a wedding or social event.
With its student-centered programs, this school does its best to create the right path for its students to easily achieve their dance goals.
Whether you are a complete beginner, or otherwise, this school has everything you need to enable you to become the dancer you wish to be, offering a variety of classes that include ballroom dance, Latin dance, wedding dance, and more.
Plus, if you are the type that needs one-on-one coaching to learn efficiently, you can opt for the private lessons this school offers.
If you would like to find out more, you can visit their website here.
Address: 3675 Southwind Park Cv Ste 101, Memphis, TN 38125
Dance Academy of Bartlett:
One of the top dance schools in the Memphis region is The Dance Academy of Bartlett.
They provide programs for kids ages 2 and up and think our teaching strategies strike the ideal balance between learning and fun.
Ballet, pointe, lyrical, jazz, tap, hip-hop, and tumbling are among the dance forms we teach.
Their pupils have performed on Carnival Cruise Lines, with the Moscow Ballet, for college dance teams, as part of the Liberty Bowl halftime show, in a variety of parades and festivals, as well as in countless contests and dance conventions.
Some individual students have even been admitted into college dance programs, earned scholarships to regional and national dance conventions, and performed in national youth dance companies in New York City and Las Vegas.
This school strives to teach its students proper technique while also enjoying the performance aspects of dance and is the perfect place for both those just looking to learn for the fun of it and those interested in becoming professionals.
To learn more about this academy, visit their website here.
Address: 6240 E Stage Plz, Memphis, TN 38134
Dance Dynamics:
This studio was established in 1996 by Annette Allen Wilson and Marion Burgess Flannigan with the goal of giving their daughters and other dancers in the neighborhood the greatest dance education possible.
Since then, the studio has flourished, having had the chance to witness countless other pupils develop into poised, talented, professional dancers.
They strive to foster a passion for dance, a solid foundation, appropriate technique, and a love of the art.
And through their competitive program, they ensure their students have all the necessary skills to pursue dance in college and at the professional level.
This school is designed with everyone in mind, whether you are learning dance just casually or if you want to go on to the next level.
Click the link here to visit their website and find out more about this amazing school.
Address: 8059 Stage Hills Blvd Ste 114, Bartlett, TN 38133
New Ballet Ensemble & School:
Another great Memphis dance school, New Ballet Ensemble & School, was established in 2002 with the mission of bringing excellence to dance.
The curriculum and dance repertory at New Ballet include multicultural dance styles in addition to providing students with a rigorous classical ballet education.
This particular fusion of many approaches and a focus on culture inspires New Ballet’s captivating and innovative performances, such as the yearly NutRemix.
New Ballet is dedicated to the whole development of children, integrating rigorous dance instruction with academic assistance, family involvement, and wellness programs.
Their Creative Youth Development Programs were so successful that former First Lady Michelle Obama honored them with the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award in 2014.
So, if you are on the lookout for a school that will not only teach you to dance but also help you improve in every other area of your life, then this is the school for you. Click here to visit their website and learn more about them.
Address: 2157 York Ave, Memphis, TN 38104
Ultimate Ballroom Dance Studio:
This dance studio based in the Memphis area strives to ensure that its students realize their goals, and they put their decades of experience and highly-trained instructors to good use in the name of achieving that goal.
They teach a lot of classes, including Foxtrot, Salsa, Bachata, Rumba, Swing, Tango, and more.
You can find everything at their facility, including wedding dance choreography, enjoyable and educational group sessions, breathtaking performances, and ballroom contests.
With affordable prices, an accepting and loving community, and numerous positive reviews from its former patrons, this is another must-try school.
To find out more about this dance studio, visit their website here.
Address: 7990 Trinity Rd Ste 106, Cordova, TN 38018
Pole Dance Classes in Memphis
I am sure we have all seen the same sight. A man, or woman, dancing around a pole and moving in such a way that we can’t help but be in awe, while at the same time wondering whether the human body is truly capable of whatever it is we are seeing.
That is pole dancing, a somewhat demanding form of dance that has been around for hundreds of years.
It is a combination of dance, gymnastics, and strength training that never fails to leave its audience wowed.
It is visually pleasing and also a great way to keep fit due to its somewhat physically demanding nature.
Listed below are schools in Memphis that have pole dance classes, so if you are interested in learning this amazing dance form, read on.
BodyWorkz Pole Fitness:
BodyWorkz Pole Fitness is a Memphis pole dancing studio. It is a very popular school, with hundreds of 5-star reviews on Google.
It is community-oriented, and its classes are usually described as fun and easy to follow. It is staffed with professional tutors—both male and female—whose job it is to make sure that the classes are safe, and who do their best to ensure that students enjoy maximum gain from the studio.
This school offers a variety of classes which are suitable for students of all levels, from utter beginners to advanced learners, and as a plus, if you are just looking for a place to practice your skills, it is possible to rent their studio for a small fee.
Sounds great? Visit their website here to find out more. One last thing to note, children, guests, etc are NOT allowed by this studio, since it is exclusively for adults.
Address: 5963 Summer Ave # 106 Memphis TN, 38134
Bendy Beast Fitness:
As Memphis’ premier pole dancing and pole fitness community, Bendy Beast Fitness aims to teach self-love and self-care to everyone in the Memphis area through pole dancing.
They are open to accepting students regardless of their gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, or level of expertise.
They offer a variety of classes, some of which are yoga, aerial hoop, flexibility, freestyle pole, and more.
There are even multi-level classes that ensure that their students get taught according to their level, with the early levels being for beginners and the higher levels being for more advanced learners.
To learn more about this school, you can visit their website here.
Not Your Average Workout:
Not Your Average Workout is another good Memphis pole fitness center. The center does not post too much about its goals or origins, but judging by the mostly positive reviews—with an average of 4.5 stars—they are good at what they do.
The school offers a variety of pole classes, some of which include intro to pole for those new to pole dancing, aerial hoops, open pole for those who need a place to hone their skills, and more, making it a place you can learn from regardless of your skill level.
With affordable prices to boot, there is no reason you should not give this place a try. If you would like to find out more about this school, click here to visit their website.
Address: 4143 Willow Lake Blvd, Memphis, TN 38128
PoleDance Academy:
You may access a vast collection of pole dancing knowledge and classes at your fingertips with OpenDance Academy.
They are an online pole dancing school that provides a wide range of lessons taught by several qualified instructors, like Kira Noire, Slava Ruza, and others.
If you want to learn pole dancing without having to go far from home to a class, OpenDance Academy may be your best option since no matter what level you are at, you are sure to discover a course that is right for you.
Click here for additional details if you’re interested.
Email: info@opendance.academy
Pole dancing is a beautiful dance form, but unlike many of the other dance forms like street dancing or contemporary, it can be very difficult, and to some extent, even dangerous, to try to learn pole dancing on your own.
With the list above, you should be able to find a safe environment filled with like-minded people where you can learn how to pole dance safely and quickly, or even just find a safe place to hone your skills if that’s what you are looking for. Anyway, good luck, and happy dancing.
