With an eclectic mix of courses that run the gamut from quirky to classic and everywhere in between, local dance studios offer Mainers of all ages and abilities the chance to get lost in the rhythm.

01 Casco Bay Movers | Portland

Encouraging students to “tap” into their inner curiosity and intuition—and dance with it— the Portland-based studio offers traditional performance classes, like ballet or jazz, as well as contemporary dance, such as hip-hop, for both children and adults.

02 The Ballet School | Topsham

A former dancer in the New York City Ballet, Elizabeth Drucker has been teaching ballet in Maine and New York for the past 23 years. Her performance school, operated out of a barn in her backyard, includes classes of varied skill levels for children and adults.

03 Hustle and Flow | Portland

Under owner Stephanie Harmon’s leadership, Hustle and Flow’s movement classes use yoga and dance to empower people to express themselves and build community, even as they work up a sweat.

04 Maine State Ballet | Falmouth

Open to dancers of all ages and skill levels, Maine State Ballet includes classical ballet, tap, and jazz in its instructional repertoire, as well as a series of children’s classes. Photographer Sarah Beard Buckley has been sending her daughter to the school for the last ten years. “Dance classes are taught by committed professionals,” she says, “and there are considerable opportunities to perform both at the Merrill Auditorium and at MSB’s theaterinFalmouth.”

05 Main Stage Academy | Windham

At this Windham-based center, children and teenagers can experiment with theater, dance, and singing, or a combination of all three. Online editor Shelbi Wassick, who has taught at the academy, notes that “Main Stage Academy isn’t just a dance studio. It’s more like a performing arts school.”

06 Rosa Noreen’s Grace Academy | Portland
Following an injury at age 16, Rosa Noreen left ballet and found refuge and self-expression through belly dancing. She then founded Grace Academy in Portland and teaches adult ballet and body-positive belly dancing classes.