Variety is one of the things we like about The Underground Dance Centre, be it for dance styles and genres. The studio offers a wide range of classes in street, contemporary, pop-influenced, and performance-oriented styles, so there’s a lot to choose from.

As for the class itself, you can go for drop-ins or their structured 6-week courses. The courses help you build technique and choreography week by week, which is probably a better way to learn properly than relying on irregular drop-in classes. 

It’s also worth noting that they offer a free trial week for first-time members at no extra cost. So, you can try out different instructors and styles to see which one fits you the best. 

That said, we’re glad that their booking system is user-friendly, where you can easily book classes up to 7 days in advance via their website or app. But we do think that their cancellation policies can be strict—no refunds or makeup sessions.  

Beautiful experience 

“Beautiful experience! I could find amazing teachers, everyone is so welcoming and amazing! I love my contemporary with Alli and my classic ballet with Lauren. I was able to find teachers that resonate with my way of dancing as well, and am excited to try new classes soon. The space is huge and the class is a comfort to my heart. Every time is special. Teachers mentioned are passionate and so talented! Inspire me a lot, I also love to see other dancers from the studio on instagram, everyone is perfectly talented and welcoming.”

y p, Google Review

High energy and encouraging 

“Right from the beginning of class, Oleg was high energy and encouraging. He kept things humorous while also providing technical feedback. The atmosphere was made to feel very relaxed, comfortable, and inviting for a new dancer like myself. I will be back for more beginner classes :)”

Lauren Nothdurft, Google Review

Right off the bat, we could tell how large and modern the studio is at DanceLife X Centre. It’s a welcoming space that supports multiple simultaneous classes, and the environment alone makes the dance lessons more comfortable. 

On that note, they have a good lineup of classes like K-pop, hip hop, heels, jazz funk, contemporary, Bollywood, dancehalle, and ballroom. Kids or younger students can join in, too, since they have sessions dedicated to kids. 

We also appreciate that they run structured showcase courses where you and other students prepare choreography for a staged performance. It’s a good event to boost confidence, stage presence, and teamwork.

The hitch? Many of their popular classes fill up quickly, so you’ll probably have to camp on their website or socials to book a session as soon as you can.

Still, we’re glad that their sessions are on the affordable side, with drop-in classes starting at around $20, and their multi-class passes are also reasonable. 

Favourite post-work activity 

“Quickly become my favourite post-work activity! I’ve been loving trying all the styles here and really enjoy the Bollywood classes by Aryan!”

Naomi Mathew, Google Review

Clean facilities, good energy, and a welcoming community 

“DanceLife X Center is a vibrant and well-run dance space with a great atmosphere for learning and creativity. The instructors are professional, patient, and passionate, making it suitable for both beginners and advanced dancers. Clean facilities, good energy, and a welcoming community overall. Highly recommended. ”

Afeez Dosunmu, Google Review

If you’re particular about facilities and space, then Studio North is a solid pick, given that its complex spans about 10,000 sq ft. The place features sprung floors, wall-to-wall mirrors, professional sound systems, multiple studios, lounges, and change rooms.

So, it’s no surprise that they offer a good variety of dance styles, such as hip hop, contemporary, waacking, house, Afro, popping/tutting, and more. 

With that sort of variety, we like that you can join many drop-in classes, designed for both total beginners and seasoned dancers. Their drop-ins are a great way to train or explore lots of genres without committing to something long-term.

On the flip side, they don’t focus on structured programs, which may feel quite limited if you’re looking for something more skill-building rather than weekly choreo only.

The good news is that they have a handy app where you can easily view and book classes, so you can plan out sessions up to 7 days ahead and track progress.

Wide range of class genres and levels

“my favourite studio in the city. a wide range of class genres and levels (and special workshops), amazing instructors, lovely staff. highly recommend!!

xiao, Google Review

Studios are spacious and clean

“Love studio north!! The staff and teachers are so welcoming and friendly, classes are very reasonably priced and the location is right by dupont station so very accessible! Great selection of classes every day, the studios are spacious and clean, overall 10/10 & my favourite dance studio in Toronto!”

Caitríona Carragher, Google Review

For those who want to get their swag and groove on, Run The Flex is a good place to start. To give you an idea, they center their offerings around hip hop and street styles, with classes that are grounded in cultural context and real dance community vibes. 

Speaking of community, we like that they’re pretty much open for everyone; they have programs designed for ages 3-17 that help you get the hip hop essentials down. Say you’re at a more advanced level, they also offer competitive and company-level options for deeper training. 

Here’s the thing, though: they don’t venture too much outside of hip hop or street-style classes. You’ll have to look elsewhere if you want something beyond that. 

Nonetheless, their frequent drop-in classes are a plus in our books. We learned that they hold over 30 weekly drop-in sessions, pop-ups, and workshops across beginner to advanced street dance, giving you decent flexibility.

Such a good studio

“Such a good studio, w amazingggg choreographers and the warmest environment. would recommend to anyone and everyone in toronto. go to RTF ASAP!!”

Julia Duke, Google Review

Best vibes always 

“Best vibes always! Run The Flex is the first studio I’ve dropped into for dance classes and honestly, I don’t think I need to go anywhere else. Staff are friendly, environment is inclusive, classes are informative and fun. You get immersed into the culture immediately and I love knowing that they offer classes that match my level and style. You can tell the founders and teachers put a great deal into curating the perfect experience for every street dancer in the city! ”

Sara Matsuba, Google Review

You could probably tell by its name, Access Ballroom specializes in and teaches an impressive range of ballroom and Latin dance styles. Think salsa, bachata, merengue, tango, Viennese waltz, foxtrot, rumba, hustle, kizomba, and more. 

Given the nature of these dance styles, we have to give them props for hosting social events like $5 Fridays (Salsa Rueda), seasonal parties, and socials where students can practise in a relaxed setting without needing a partner or prior experience. 

While you don’t need to bring a partner, you do need to bring dance-safe shoes for class, which can be inconvenient for drop-in visitors. But hey, using dance-safe shoes is more comfortable and easier to move around.

Lastly, we’re glad that they offer personalized private lessons, especially if you want to learn at your own pace. You can even enjoy perks like discounts, complimentary group classes, exclusive updates, and rewards. 

Easy to follow and understand

“Gil is a fantastic teacher! Prior to this, I have never danced before and did not think I could. Gil is very approachable and makes concepts easy to follow and understand. After just a few lessons, I was able to learn an entire routine for our first dance!

I highly recommend Access Ballroom Studio for anyone with an interest in dancing no matter your skill level!”

Mingxuan He, Google Review

Very fun and engaging

“My wife and I have been taking private lessons and enjoying the large variety of Group Classes. Access Ballroom makes learning the number different dance types very fun and engaging.”

Morgan Vaughan, Google Review