The Y is proud to offer dance classes to children ages 2 - 18 through our award-winning YMCA Dance Academy (YDA).

Over the past decades, numerous studies have affirmed the benefits of the arts on the cognitive, academic, social and personal development of children and youth.

All of our dancers participate in our an annual performance, BRAVO, at the end of the season to display their talents for friends and family.

Related Programs: Dance Classes for Adults

Classes

Y Dance Academy offers classes for various ages and skill levels in the genres of ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and hip-hop. There are also technique-only classes for ballet; stretch and tumble (acro); leaps and turns; and core strength. Classes are offered at multiple locations.

For a complete listing of classes, descriptions, age and skill level needed for each, please download and review our handbook.

2026-27 Dance Handbook

2026-27 Schedules (by day or level)

Movin' & Groovin' Adult/Child Dance Class

Looking for a joyful way to bond with your little one? Join us for a music-filled dance class designed especially for toddlers ages 1 – 2 and their grownup!

Register Now

YDA Competition Team

The YDA Competition Team is a multi-award-winning competitive team for students who desire to take their dance training to the highest level. Team members attend regional competitions, one dance convention, as well as have the opportunity to attend national and world dance competitions.

Team members are placed in their own classes to ensure rigorous training and technique. To become a member of the team, dancers must audition and be between the ages of 5 - 18. Compete and achieve goals that will pave the way for your future!

Dance Styles

Click each style to see an expanded description.

Ballet

Classical ballet, which originated in Renaissance Italy and established its present form during the 19th century, is characterized by light, graceful, fluid movements and the use of pointe shoes. Classical ballet will be taught at all levels.

Tap

Tap dance is a type of dance characterized by using the sounds of tap shoes striking the floor as a form of percussion. The sound is made by shoes that have a metal "tap" on the heel and toe. There are several styles of tap dance, including rhythm (jazz), classical, Broadway, and post-modern. Tap teaches rhythm, coordination and terminology through tap combinations and choreography.

Jazz

Jazz dance combines techniques of classical ballet and modern dance with the current forms of popular dance. Jazz also has its own movement vocabulary ranging from the isolation of certain body parts to the movement of the entire body with the accents of musical rhythms. Various styles of jazz will be taught such as Broadway, street style, and contemporary jazz.

Contemporary/Lyrical

Contemporary dance has a modern foundation with grounded movements and abstract shapes. Lyrical dance emphasizes interpretation of music lyrics while telling a story with movement that is fluid or abstract. Must take ballet to register for contemporary.

Hip-Hop

Hip-hop dance refers to street dance styles primarily performed to hip-hop music or that have evolved from hip-hop culture. Hip-hop is a high energy class that includes a wide range of styles primarily breaking, locking, popping, and the latest styles on music videos.

Tumbling

YDA is a certified Acrobatic Arts studio. The program is based on safe and effective progressions with proven results in five divisions of AccorDance: Flexibility, Strength, Balancing, Limbering, and Tumbling. Tumbling classes will work the basics to the advanced levels of acrobatics. Our teachers will guide the students towards increased flexibility, balance, strength, muscle control and tumbling skills such as cartwheels, walkovers, aerials and handsprings.

Pointe

Dancers must have three consecutive years of ballet and take two classes per week. Teacher approval is needed for these classes.

Costs below indicate monthly fees. Tuition is based on 40 weeks per year, and is broken down into 10 monthly installments due the first of each month.

Youth Classes

Private Lessons

Launched in 2007, the YMCA Dance Academy is a nationally award-winning school that comprises diverse dance styles from ballet, hip-hop, and jazz, encouraging students to pursue various genres. This program is dedicated to developing talent at both the recreational and competitive level. The Y implements a specially-designed curriculum that enables students to develop advanced dance techniques as they progress through each class level. We focus on terminology and technique, along with a strong foundation in classical ballet.

In fall of 2016, the Y further expanded the YDA through the Young Dancer program offered at the Speer YMCA and Bardmoor YMCA Preschool Academies, enabling the Y to engage 60 children ages 2 - 5 from south St. Petersburg and Bardmoor communities.

Annually, YDA serves more than 200 students - 25% of which receive scholarship assistance from the Y to participate in the academy.

The Y is committed to providing enriching programs that promote the overall wellness of community members regardless of socioeconomic barriers. Over the past decades, numerous studies have affirmed the benefits of the arts on the cognitive, academic, social and personal development of children and youth.