Dance Studio

My four-year-old daughter has enjoyed taking ballet classes at Monarch Movement (now Leslieville School of Dance) for the past 2 years. She loves it! Kristen and her teachers are not only top professionals but are also so patient and sweet with the little ballerinas, it’s a pleasure to watch! We also recently tried Children’s Yoga Class and I was afraid my super active girl wouldn’t sit through it but the instructor Alana kept her engaged and interested all through the 45 min class… I couldn’t believe it. Thank you!

I have been dancing for 13 years. I returned to Toronto almost a year ago. When I first arrived I was fortunate enough to run into a young lady who gave me a list of dance studios in Toronto but she was very clear, she told me that in her opinion the top of the list had to be the Joy of Dance. I came with letters of introductions from my coach back home for specific teachers and so I felt obliged to try not only their recommendations but all of the dance studios that were on the list. As time rolled on eventually I moved to Greektown and came into the joy of Dance Center and found Mark. I have now been a member on the unlimited program for going on two months now. I have to say in all of my experience and all of the dance studios that I've been connected with over the last 13 years that the Joy of Dance offers the best program and the best value for your money that I've ever come across. If you sign up for their unlimited classes You Can Dance a minimum of three classes every single day. The range of dances you can learn it's quite simply unbelievable. The members of staff and the volunteer members of this studio are phenomenal. Especially in the last five days over the Halloween celebrations.. I have watched all of them bend over backwards and work unbelievable hours to create a fun environment where we can learn and enjoy ourselves completely. Everyone has contributed and most especially I've noticed that Steven and Annie have worked harder than any two people I've ever come across in the dance world. They will tell you that they love it and I'm sure that they must but they have created an environment where we can love it too. There is Colin, Amanda, Charlotte, Lisa and the list just goes on and on... I'm positive I'm forgetting everybody because I'm so terrible with names. In summary, these people have become my second family and this studio has become my second home and I am in love with everything I'm learning. I can't imagine any other dance studio that could go further to give me more than I expected I've never met the owner of the studio but she sure can pick great staff. Thank you everyone and just so you know, you're stuck with me forever. :-)

I signed up for a Friday evening group dance session, a few months ago, and now I'm a regular attendee. At first, I wasn't sure whether I would be able to keep up with the other dancers in the group (even though I had some prior dance experience) but I was pleased to find this class is geared to dancers of various levels of experience - even those with no prior dance training. Damian is an excellent and very personable instructor who easily puts new attendees at ease. With his engaging smile and occasionally made-up new words , he makes us smile and laugh as we go over the steps to a difference dance that we learn each week. (Yes Damian, you know that you make up new words). He is attentive to the various skill levels of his students and manages to devote time to those who are unfamiliar with the dances while keeping the class moving at a pace that challenges those with more experience. I am not looking to enter any competitions at this point, rather, I just love the friendly group of dancers, the great music, the exercise and the stress-releasing "therapy" this class provides at the end of a busy work week. I really emphasize that this Friday night group dance is worth a try!

I have taken belly dance classes here (on and off) since 2008 and have only great things to say about this school. The classes are organized into beginner, intermediate and advanced levels and are taught by experienced instructors in a fun, engaging manner. The beginner class breaks down the fundamentals in a way that makes it easy for anyone to follow along while the intermediate and advanced classes build on the fundamentals and incorporate more complex choreography. The instructors, particularly Nadia (who owns the school) and Katy, are amazing!! They are friendly, patient and encouraging. Everyone, from the beginner to the advanced dancer, is invited to present a choreographed dance for the annual recital, which is the highlight of the year as all the dancers share what they have learned for family and friends. The classes are very high energy and are great physical exercise as well as good for building self confidence and mental strength (it’s not easy remembering and performing a choreographed dance!). There is flexibility within the weekly class schedule, however, despite being able to attend classes on different days each week, a camaraderie develops between dancers as everyone is there to learn, grow and (most importantly) have fun. Class prices are reasonable with a variety of payment structure options, including discounts if you pay for a full year of classes. Parking (especially in the winter)is the only drawback to taking these classes located on the Danforth.

I first started to learn to dance here Lindy Hop with Mandy, Reesa, Kevin and a slew of wonderful instructors. They instilled in me a deep appreciation for this dance.

Arabesque Academy is THE school to learn authentic Arabic dance and music. All the teachers are well trained. There is individual attention and encouragement. If you are looking to learn technique, there is no other teacher like Yasmina Ramzy. She breaks down each movement step by step. You'll find muscles you never knew existed :) How wonderful is that? If you are only interested in dancing for exercise and listening to beautiful music, that's OK too. There are many classes to choose from and the school is directly across from the subway. There are drumming classes as well. The atmosphere is friendly and I love this school.

Great classes, gf talks about this place all the time. Guys send your gf here.

Although the facility is still partially under construction, the studio (mainly the 3rd floor) is very spacious. Most importantly, the atmosphere is pretty amazing and the teachers are superb

Wonderful environment. So clean, and the staff are really respectful to the customers. Many of them go above and beyond to ensure the facilities are clean. The instructors are fantastic! They challenge the dancers and share valuable knowledge and information with them. It really is a great place to be.

Dragonfly Bellydance is an amazing studio that I was absolutely blessed to stumble upon during my travels in the Annex a few years ago! They are conveniently located right by Bathurst subway station and their classes run in the evenings & on the weekends so it's easy for the 9-to-5ers to make it to class. There are a wide variety of classes available from your basic technique classes to specific classes (arms, improv, etc.) and from traditional oriental styles to folklore to all kinds of exciting fusion styles (bolero, steampunk and more!). There are also classes that focus on specific techniques/props each session as well as a selection of fitness classes. If you're looking for MORE variety, they also have a diverse selection of workshops over the year from both the studio faculty and other highly skilled instructors. There is always something going on and I am always excited to see what they will offer next! The heart and soul of the studio - and what ultimately sets it apart - are the instructors. The class sizes are fairly small and ALL of the instructors are patient, kind, funny, knowledgeable and teach you to dance in a way that works for YOUR body! It's a very accessible dance form to a wide range of ages, body types and fitness levels and they are excellent at coaching you to a level where you are challenged but not going beyond your physical ability. And it's not just about learning technique and choreography - they teach you about the music, the history and the cultural background of the dances you are learning, which gives you a very well-rounded understanding of the dance form. Finally, the teachers are all such incredibly talented dancers! You will never be lacking in the inspiration department when you watch them dance and they are all gracious and warm and genuinely want to share their passion for their chosen art form with their students. (No "diva" attitudes here!) If you want to learn a beautiful, graceful, strong dance form from a wonderful group of dancers in a supportive, welcoming, body positive environment then I highly recommend trying out one of the classes at Dragonfly Bellydance (your first one is free!)

I used to come here quite often as a kid the owner is a Angel. She has well over 30 years of dancing experience and competed and taught at the highest of levels. If you ever got a lesson from her I can guarantee you learned from one of the best and her certificates prove it. When I used to go she offered sandwiches and coffee which cost more than the beginners class itself at the time. Instead of people going out and killing or kids doing drugs, no matter what your race or religion or age you learned to dance and it was fun. eat your heart out!

While they do have a pretty good dance program here, there is a huge mean girl/ bully problem at for the love of it There are a group of girls who bully and exclude others. Management and staff are aware of what’s happening, yet they cater to the girls who are the top dancers and the families who pay the most money. They allowed the girls to bully my daughter.