20 Best Dance Schools in the World

Develop and polish your dancing potential by enrolling at one of the best dance schools in the world which have been listed and discussed in this blog post. 

Dancing, just like every other art, is something one should get better at if you are passionate about it. This is one of the oldest forms of art used by humans and even animals for entertainment and other purposes. 

So, if you have always had a thing for this art then you should consider kick-starting a career in it and yes, it is 100% possible. Speaking of art, you can also choose to enroll in some of the best online art courses, or even some 2 months courses after the 12th even as you prepare for your dance.

There are many accomplished dancers in the world and becoming a professional these days isn’t so hard. There are dance schools with qualified and esteemed choreographers to train you and help you achieve your dream. 

The widespread use of the internet has also helped the dance industry incredibly well helping amateurs to connect with famous/celebrity dancers. It has also helped in promoting several online courses, which you can enroll in from the comfort of your home, and a huge thanks to useful online learning platforms.

You can make a fine career out of dancing. You can work in movies, perform with music stars, run your own dance studio or dance school to train others, and even become a music movie star.

Also, seeing the popularity of social media, you can decide to build a career through different social media channels, your options are limitless.

The benefits of being a dancer in this modern world that values entertainment is a major push and it always usually ends well especially when you train at a good school.

Who Can Apply to a Dance School

Anyone who has completed high school or an undergraduate degree in dance, film, arts, media, fine arts, or performance can apply to a dance school.

How Much Does it Cost to be a Dancer?

The amount of money that it costs to be a dancer varies. If you want to learn dance as a hobby that means you will have to attend a random dance studio to hone your skills, then expect to pay somewhere between $60 to $150 per month. In this case, you will just take dance lessons without any curriculum or course of study to follow.

However, if you want to earn a bachelor’s degree in dance that means you have to attend a university or college, graduate in 3 or 4 years, and pay the same amount of tuition as other students.

Becoming a ballerina has to be the most expensive, costing around $30,000 to $55,000 in tuition over a 15-year period at a mid-tier school.

How Long Does it Take to Learn Dance?

The time to learn to dance depends on the type of dance, the student’s prior experience, and the amount of time and effort they are willing to put into practice.

Here are some estimates for popular dance types;

  • Ballet: 10-15 years to master the basics
  • Ballroom dancing: 3-5 years to learn the basic steps and patterns
  • Hip hop, Modern dance, Jazz dance, and Tap dance: 6-12 months to learn the basic steps and choreography

5 Best Contemporary Dance Schools in the World

Contemporary dance is a genre of dance performance that combines elements of different dance styles including modern, jazz, lyrical, and classical ballet. It is an expressive dance style whereby the dancer strives to connect the mind and body through fluid dance moves.

Contemporary dance is the most popular dance genre, especially in the US and Europe.

There are so many contemporary dance schools in various parts of the world but here, we have discussed only the best ones.

  • The Place
  • Folkwang University of the Arts
  • The Juilliard School
  • Conservatori Superior de Dansa
  • Brent Street School

1.  The Place (UK)

UK Home FeeUndergraduate: £9,250
Master’s: £12,500
International StudentsUndergraduate: £21,250
Master’s degree: £24,000

The Place is one of the best contemporary dance schools in the world. It is located in the heart of London and is a creative powerhouse for training students in dance performance. It is also home to the London Contemporary Dance School which has a theatre and offers a wide range of classes, courses, and professional development programs for artists.

Different types of dance classes are organized for adults, youths, and kids not just in contemporary dance alone but also in ballet dancing.

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2.  Folkwang University of the Arts (Germany)

German CitizensNo tuition fee
International StudentsNo tuition fee

This is one of the best dance schools in the world. It is a German-based dance school established in 1927 and offers music, theatre, dance, design, and other academic studies. The university has the Institute of Contemporary Dance that teaches contemporary dance styles and other dance genres. You will earn a Bachelor of Arts or a Master of Arts degree when you complete the dance program.

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3.  The Juilliard School (USA)

US Citizens$53,300 per year
International Students$53,300 per year

Juilliard School, a prestigious dance school in NY has created several graduates that have gone on to successful careers in dance and other performing arts. Juilliard teaches and trains students in dance, drama, and music equipping them with knowledge and skills that you can use to transition your professional skills into a career after school.

However, at $53,300, Juilliard is one of the most expensive dance schools for both international and domestic students.

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4.  Conservatorio Superior de Dansa (Spain)

Spanish and EU StudentsUndergraduate: €1,525
Master’s: €1,705
International StudentsUndergraduate: €12,985
Master degree: €15,089

This is one of the best dance schools in the world based in Barcelona. The school has Higher Dance Studies which is completed in 4 years in various art institutions in Europe and professional dance companies. There’s also the Professional Dance Studies which offers integrated dance, secondary, and high school studies so that students can attend general education and professional dance studies at the same center.

Professional dance studies take 6 years to complete.

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5.  Brent Street School (Australia)

On our final list of best contemporary schools in the world is Brent Street School, a prestigious home of performing arts in Sydney, Australia. For over 35 years this dance school has been operating and has trained and graduated most of Australia’s successful dancers.

There are classes for children, teenagers, youths, and adults that are scheduled to fit their lives and meet their demands.

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5 Best Hip Hop Dance Schools in the World

Hip-hop dance is a dance genre characterized by bounces and rocks performed in hip-hop music. It is a style of dance that evolved as part of hip-hop culture influenced by a wide array of styles and made popular by US dance crews.

These schools listed here are the world’s best when it comes to hip-hop dance and they have trained and graduated some of the world’s best hip-hop dancers that you may know of today. Without any further ado, let’s get into these schools.

  • Flow Dance Academy
  • New World Dance Academy
  • DivaDance
  • Ballet Kukan Academy
  • Hip Hop Pop’s Dance School

6.  Flow Dance Academy

Price: ranges from €2,350 to €4,990

Flow Dance Academy is among the best dance schools in the world that teaches all dance styles but is focused mainly on hip-hop dancing which makes it a really good option for those who want to master the art of hip hop dancing. The school has locations in Scandinavia, its first place of establishment, and opened another in Paris. Online dance programs are also held for those who would love to become great dancers learning from their homes.

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7.  New World Dance Academy (USA)

Monthly tuition for youth classRanges from $71 to $271 per month
Adult ClassesRanges from $15 to $132 depending on number of classes

This is a dance academy that has been serving the Los Angeles and Santa Clarita Valley populations for more than 22 years. New World Dance Academy is one of the best hip-hop dance schools in the world but doesn’t focus on just that genre but also adds ballet, theatre, vocal training, acting classes, tap modern, etc. to satisfy the demands of students.

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8.  DivaDance (USA)

DivaDance is one of the best hip-hop dance schools in the world with locations in many parts of the United States including Chicago, El Paso, Houston, New York, Tallahassee, Texas, and Washington. There are different varieties of hip-hop dances offered at the school such as sexy hip-hop dance class, advanced hip-hop dance class for adults, and dance fitness class.

All of the dance programs are for youths and adults. The academy promises to set up in more parts of the US to reach as many people as possible and they also offer online dance classes for you to participate from the comfort of your home.

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9.  Ballet Kukan Academy (USA)

The name of this dance school can be misleading but it remains among the most prestigious hip-hop dance training in the world. Although the school has a heavy emphasis on ballet, its goal is to develop students in all dance genres including hip hop to help strengthen all dance styles.

The hip-hop dance class isn’t offered alone, it is offered alongside tap dance classes. The classes are offered in both private and group settings for children, youths, and adults and online classes are available as well.

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10.  Hip Hop Pop’s Dance School (UK)

Hip Hop Pop’s Dance School is among the top dance schools in the world which focuses completely on hip-hop dance teaching and training to kids, youths, and adults. The academy has two popular dance schools offering hip-hop dance classes: the Harlow Dance School and Bishop’s Stortford Dance School, both located in the UK.

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Other Best Dance Schools in the World

Here we have discussed the most prestigious dance schools in the world which cover various dance genres such as hip-hop, jazz, contemporary, ballet, tap, and many more. Some of these schools are universities that confer a degree type to students to complete the dance program successfully.

The best dance schools in the world are:

  • The Ailey School
  • Central School of Ballet
  • Vaganova Ballet Academy
  • The Juilliard School
  • Canada’s National School of Ballet
  • Point Park University
  • The Hammond School
  • Brenau University
  • Vanderbilt University
  • Boston Ballet School

11.  The Ailey School (USA)

Certificate Program$7,560 per semester
Independent Study Program$6,365 per semester
5-week Summer Intensive$2650 or $2775 depending on when you paid

Officially the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre is located in New York, United States. The Ailey School offers world-class dance training to students between the ages of 2 and 25 years old. The program offerings are professional division for ages 17-25, junior division for ages 7-17, creative movement for ages 2-6, and summer intensive.

To apply for admission into the professional division, applicants must complete an online application, pay a $20 application fee, and present an audition which can be done on video or in person. Auditions are also required to be accepted into the other programs.

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12.  Central School of Ballet

UK Home Fee£9,000 
International Students£22,697

The Central School of Ballet is one of the best dance schools in the world located in the UK and offers education and training to develop individuals to become excellent dancers. Undergraduate and postgraduate courses are offered to students aiming for a professional career in the dance industry or who want to further their careers.

In a bid to serve the community better, Central School of Ballet also offers classes and courses that children of all ages can participate in after school and during holidays. 

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13.  Vaganova Ballet Academy (Russia)

Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet is a school of classical ballet that has been operating since 1738 till date but has evolved in its program offerings.

At the Vaganova Ballet Academy, you can apply for secondary vocational education, undergraduate degree, master’s degree, or postgraduate studies all designed to make you an excellent and professional dance performer.

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14.  The Juilliard School (USA)

US Citizens$53,300 per year
International Students$53,300 per year

Though we’ve mentioned the Juilliard School when we were discussing about best contemporary dance schools, due to their excellence, we had to add them again.

The Dance program is a 4-year undergraduate program that leads to a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree. The BFA degree includes a liberal arts curriculum and trains students in ballet, and modern and contemporary techniques.

Juilliard also has a pre-college division, a conservatory program for younger students to develop their skills.

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15. Canada’s National School of Ballet

Canadian studentsDay Students: $21,480
Boarding Students: $40,680
International StudentsDay Students: $38,320
Boarding Students: $57,520

This is a classical ballet school in Toronto, Canada, and one of the best dance schools in the world. The school provides professional ballet training to individuals who want to advance their skills in the performance industry.

Admission into the school is pretty easy, you simply need to click on the “register to audition” and in a few minutes, you will be able to complete your audition online.

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16. Point Park University (USA)

Conservatory of Performing Arts$23,075 per semester
Master’s Degree Programs$788 per credit hour

Students in the dance department at Point Park University receive intense training in ballet, jazz, and modern dance. You can apply to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Dance which takes 4 years to complete.

International students are accepted into dance programs and every accepted student qualifies for scholarships and other forms of financial aid.

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17.  The Hammond School (UK)

Pre-Kindergarten$11,050 per academic year
Kindergarten$15,810 per year
Grades 1-4$15,810 per year
Grades 5-8$19,830 per year
Grades 9-12$21,160 per year

The Hammond School is an England-based specialist school in performing arts, that is, it covers dance, drama, and music. It comprises a secondary school, sixth form, and university. The university offers a three-year professional course leading to the National Diploma in Professional Dance.

Students are trained in jazz, commercial, tap, modern, ballet, and contemporary dance genres. To enroll in any of the programs, you simply need to apply online or in person and audition.

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18.  Brenau University

Undergraduate$15,500 per semester

Brenau University has a Department of Dance which is recognized among the best dance schools in the world. The department educates and trains individuals as dance practitioners, scholars, and artists in a creative, supportive, and challenging environment.

Different dance styles are explored by students such as ballet, modern, jazz, and movement/methods of the African Diaspora.

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19.  Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt University was founded in 1873 as a private research university in Nashville, Tennessee. The university offers a dance program that trains students in classical ballet, tap, hip-hop, contemporary, and world dance techniques. It is an accredited university and one of the best dance schools in the world.

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20. Boston Ballet School

Tuition fee: $420

On our final list of top dance schools in the world is the Boston Ballet School, a dance school that focuses on ballet dance training for individuals who are looking to hone ballet dancing skills to excellence. The school offers a variety of program offerings to pupils from ages 7 to 18 designed with a progressive curriculum, workshops, and lectures.

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Key Takeaway

Choosing a school totally depends on the genre of dance you’re interested in, your interests and goals, the location of the school, and perhaps the cost of the program. If you want a degree in dance then a university is the right choice for you to get either a bachelor’s or master’s degree.

FAQs

What is the best age to learn dance?

It depends on your goals and the type of dance you want to learn. If you intend to pursue a career in dance then between the ages of 5 to 9 is the best age to start dance lessons or training.

What is the best type of dance to learn?

This is a personal decision and depends on the type of dance genre you are interested in but if you’re actually confused about which dance to learn then just go for the popular ones like ballet, hip hop, or contemporary.

What is the Easiest Dance Style?

The easiest dance style is the Waltz. It is the easiest to learn because it is a slow, smooth dance that only needs four steps.

Which Dance Style is Good for Beginners?

The Waltz dance style is recommended for beginners to start with because it is the easiest dance style. Foxtrot is also another option.

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