11 Best Dance Classes in San Francisco [2024]

It’s no wonder that dance, step, and other choreographed workouts to music are seeing an uptick in popularity in the United States. Busting a move is equal parts fun and fitness, even if you’ve got two left feet. A variety of studios and gyms in San Francisco offer dance classes for this very reason—but with so many to choose from, finding the right fit can be a tricky business.

Ballroom or Bollywood? Hip hop or K-Pop? To help you save time (and hopefully steer clear of decision fatigue), below is a highlight reel of the best dance classes in San Francisco to check out.

 

The Best Dance Classes in San Francisco

Learn more about San Francisco’s top dance classes and prepare to shake your tail feathers.

1. The Castro by Live Fit Gym

Location: 2145 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94114

Hours:

• Mon-Fri: 5am-10pm
• Sat & Sun: 6am-6pm

The Castro features a spacious 2,000 sq. ft class studio where some of the best personal trainers in San Francisco guide you through highly personal group fitness classes, aimed at helping you master a whole new level of movement. This location’s Heat The Beat by Kate class is ideal for anyone looking for a combination of HIIT and dance. 

If you want to ease into dance, the gym’s High Fitness group class is where it’s at. The 60-minute full-body sweat session involves learning barre, a workout technique inspired by elements of ballet.

Nervous about showcasing your newbie dance moves in front of others? Have no fear: The Castro is the only gym in San Francisco that offers a dedicated stretch room—a perfect place to do some pre-class deep breathing and center yourself. 

Classes & Services:

• Acupuncture
• Calisthenics
• Cardio and strength training
• Chiropractor
• Circuit training
• Free consultations
• Hatha, slow flow, and vinyasa yoga
• High fitness
• HIIT training
• Luxury locker room with showers and towel service
• Mat pilates
• Medicine balls
• On-site parking
• Personal training
• Squat racks
• Total body bootcamp
• TRX
• Walk-ins welcome
• Weights
• Wheelchair accessible
• Wifi

Memberships & Pricing:

• Premier: $127/month for access to all 8 Live Fit Gym locations
• Tune-Up: $207/month, includes two chiropractic adjustments per month
• Wellness: $367/month, includes four chiropractic adjustments per month

Join The Castro by Live Fit Gym today!

 

2. Steps On Toes

Location: 714 Prospect Ave, Oakland, CA 94610

Hours: By appointment only

Run by professional dance instructor LaurieAnn Lepoff, Steps On Toes offers private dance lessons specifically for those who can’t dance. The studio’s mission is to train even the most awkward of introverts to feel at ease on the dance floor.

You’ll have the opportunity to learn a variety of ballroom dances, including the waltz, foxtrot, and rumba, and the lessons will be fully customized to match your needs.

Classes & Services:

• Ballroom dance lessons
• Bike parking
• Cajun zydeco dance lessons
• Free parking
• LGBTQ friendly
• Salsa dance lessons
• Social club dance lessons
• Swing dance lessons
• Wedding dance lessons

Memberships & Pricing:

• One free introductory private session
• Fees vary based on your goals and the time frame to achieve them

 

3. Angie Major Dance Instruction

Location: 1890 Bryant St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Hours:

• Mon & Tue: 5pm-9pm
• Wed: 12pm-9pm
• Thu: 5pm-9pm
• Fri: 12pm-8pm
• Sat & Sun: 9:30am-2pm

AngieDance specializes in private dance lessons for engaged couples looking to rock the first dance at their wedding. They also offer partner dancing (think: salsa, swing, and two-step) to anyone wanting to feel more comfortable on the dance floor.

Your lessons will be tailored to your specific needs so that every minute you spend learning how to dance is not only maximized, but enjoyed.

Classes & Services:

• Gender-neutral restrooms
• Open to all
• Private dance lessons
• Street parking

Memberships & Pricing:

• One free wedding dance lesson
• Fees vary based on your goals and the time frame to achieve them

 

4. Starlight Dance Studios and Theater

Location: 6648 Alhambra Ave, Suite B, Martinez, CA 94553

Hours:

• Mon-Fri: 2pm-8pm
• Sat: 9am-12pm
• Sun: Closed

Starlight Studios is a family-owned, all-inclusive space, where children and adults of all ages, races, beliefs, genders, and needs, can feel safe and welcome. Lessons available for adults include lyrical jazz and tap.

If you want to take the best dance classes in San Francisco for a spin but aren’t in shape (like, at all), the studio also offers a trim and strengthen class for beginners where you can work at your own pace in a safe and non-judgmental environment.

Classes & Services:

• Bike parking
• Free wifi
• Lyrical jazz classes
• Open to all
• Stretch and strengthen classes
• Tap classes
• Trim and strengthen
• Wheelchair accessible

Memberships & Pricing:

• Sign up for specific dance classes: $349
• Buy 10 classes and drop into any adult class at any time: $180
• Buy 20 classes and drop into any adult class at any time: $350

 

5. AMP Dance

Location: 85 43rd Ave, San Mateo, CA 94403

Hours:

• Mon: Closed
• Tue & Wed: 9am-5pm
• Thu: 8pm-10:30pm
• Fri: 9am-5pm
• Sat: Closed
• Sun: 7:30pm-10:30pm

From total newbies wanting to switch things up to seasoned dancers looking to elevate their technique, AMP Dance duo Dvij Patel and Alana Puerto teach bachata and salsa dance lessons in the Bay Area.

They teach every week at Dance Vita Ballroom in San Mateo—a studio that offers a wide variety of group classes, including traditional ballroom and the latest nightclub and social dance styles.

Classes & Services:

• Ballroom dance lessons
• Bike parking
• Fitness classes
• Latin dancing
• One-on-one sessions available
• Walk-ins welcome
• Wedding dance lessons
• Wheelchair accessible

Memberships & Pricing:

• Beginner special: $300 for 4 private lessons and 2 social and fitness group classes (1 per person, if package covers a couple)
• Social and fitness classes drop-in pass: $25
• Social and fitness classes 10-class pass: $200 (expires in 3 months)
• Standard/Latin advanced classes drop-in pass: $25
• Standard/Latin advanced classes 10-class pass: $200 (expires in 3 months)
• Bronze package: $840 for 8 private lessons and 20% off group class pass
• Silver package: $1600 for 16 private lessons and 20% off group class pass
• Gold package: $3040 for 32 private lessons and 20% off group class pass

 

6. CY Danceworks

Location: 25 37th Ave, San Mateo, CA, 94403

Hours:

• Mon & Tue: 3pm-9:30pm
• Wed: 1:30pm-9:30pm
• Thu: 3pm-9:30pm
• Fri: 10am-8:30pm
• Sat: Closed
• Sun: 10am-2pm

CY Danceworks specializes in several dance styles, including ballet, jazz, lyrical, and tap, among others. The studio offers classes to people of all ages and takes pride in getting to know each student so they make progress at a pace that works for them.

If you’re looking for the best dance classes in San Francisco to learn K-Pop and hip hop as an adult beginner, CY Danceworks has you covered. No previous dance experience or special equipment is required—just come dressed in comfortable clothing and be ready to move.

Classes & Services:

• Boxing classes
• Hip Hop classes
• K-Pop classes
• Street parking

Memberships & Pricing:

• $25/class, pre-registration is required

 

7. ODC School and Rhythm & Motion Dance Program

Location: 351 Shotwell St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Hours:

• Mon-Fri: 8am-10pm
• Sat & Sun: 8am-4:30pm

ODC School and Rhythm & Motion Dance Program is located in San Francisco’s Mission District and offers a whopping 150+ classes a week for all ages and skill levels. 

Particularly impressive is the studio’s sliding scale of specialized classes, from Rhythm & Motion (a fitness-focused spin on dance) to Hula Lite (a low-impact way to bust a move).

Classes & Services:

• African diasporic classes
• Ballet classes
• Belly dance classes
• Bike parking
• Contemporary classes
• Free wifi
• Gender-neutral restrooms
• Hip hop classes
• Jazz dance classes
• Latin dance classes
• Rhythm & motion classes
• Senior & low impact classes
• Social dance classes
• Street parking
• Tap dance classes
• Wheelchair accessible

Memberships & Pricing:

• New student special: $12 for your first class, then $60 for a 4-class card (expires in 30 days and must be purchased within 7 days of first class to receive discounted rate)
• 1 in-person single class: $21
• 5 in-person class card: $95
• 10 in-person class card: $180
• 20 in-person class card: $340

 

8. City Dance Studios

Location: 60 Brady St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Hours:

• Mon & Tue: 5pm-10pm
• Wed & Thu: 4:30pm-10pm
• Fri: 4:15pm-10pm
• Sat: 9:30am-5pm
• Sun: 3pm-8:30pm

City Dance Studios specializes in urban dance styles, such as popping, locking, breaking, house, and 90s hip hop. The studio serves dancers of all ages and backgrounds, the goal being that everyone feels like they’re part of a welcoming, supportive, and super-fun community.

Classes & Services:

• Bike parking
• Contemporary dance classes
• Free wifi
• Gender-neutral restrooms
• Jazz dance classes
• Hip hop classes
• K-Pop classes
• Open to all
• Salsa classes
• Street parking
• Tango classes
• Tap dance classes
• Urban dance classes
• Wheelchair accessible

Memberships & Pricing:

• Regular in-person classes: $24 per class
• Special pop-ups and guests: $26+ per class

 

9. Dance Mission Theater

Location: 3316 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Hours:

• Mon-Wed: 10am-9:30pm
• Thu: 10am-7pm
• Fri: 10am-6pm
• Sat: 8:30am-3pm
• Sun: Closed

Dance Mission Theater is a dance school and performance venue located in the Mission District of San Francisco. It’s a space dedicated to inclusiveness, fairness, justice, and building community through all aspects of dance and dance theater. 

The school offers an exciting lineup of dance classes and workshops, ranging from Bhangra to Brazilian to Haitian folklore.

Classes & Services:

• Bachata classes
• Belly dance classes
• Bhangra classes
• Bike parking
• Brazilian dance classes
• Cuban folkloric classes
• Haitian folklore classes
• Hip hop classes
• House dance classes
• Open-level taiko technique classes
• Salsa classes
• Street parking
• Tropicali danceball classes
• Vogue and tone classes
• West African dance classes

Memberships & Pricing:

• Single class/drop-in fee: $20
• 4-class pack: $70 (expires 90 days from date of purchase)
• 6-class pack: $102 (expires 90 days from date of purchase)
• 10-class pack: $165 (expires 90 days from date of purchase)

 

10. Sexitude Dance

Location: 2121 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94114

Hours:

• Mon: Closed
• Tue: 8pm-9:30pm
• Wed-Sat: Closed
• Sun: 11am-12:30pm

One of the best dance classes in San Francisco to cut loose in is Sexitude—a sex-, age-, and body-positive class created by D’Arcy Drollinger. It features a high-energy soundtrack and combines jazz, funk, and hip-hop dance styles, among others.

Sexitude is an open-level class that doesn’t overwhelm beginners, yet still offers enough technique for more experienced dancers. Leg warmers are highly encouraged.

Classes & Services:

• Sexitude dance classes

Memberships & Pricing:

• Single class: $20
• Multi-class pass: $140 (pre-purchase 7 classes and get one free!)

 

11. Rae Studios

Location: 414 Mason St, Suite 705, San Francisco, CA 94102

Hours:

• Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm, 5:30pm-9pm
• Sat & Sun: Closed

Located inside the Native Sons building, Rae Studios is an adult dance studio that offers private lessons during the day and group classes on evenings and weekends. Choose from classes like ballet, barre, contemporary, jazz funk, and many more.

Also available are fitness classes aimed at strengthening a dancer’s fundamentals—cardio for endurance, fitness for strength, and yoga for stretching.

Classes & Services:

• Afro dance classes
• Bachata classes
• Ballet classes
• Belly dance classes
• Bollywood dance classes
• Bike parking
• Contemporary dance classes
• Heels dance classes
• Hip hop classes
• Jazz dance classes
• Open to all
• Power barre classes
• Salsa classes
• Street parking
• Stretch & flexibility classes
• Turf dancing classes
• Twerking classes
• Vogue classes
• Wheelchair accessible
• Zumba classes

Memberships & Pricing:

• Single class: $23
• 5-class package: $110
• Unlimited monthly membership: $165

 

Why Take Dance Classes in San Francisco?

The real question is, why not take Bay Area dance classes? With dancing comes a one-two punch of physical and emotional health benefits that are tough to beat. For starters:

 

Cardio health

All styles of dance get your heart pumping, which can help to improve cardiovascular function: A 2016 study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that people who engaged in moderate-intensity dancing (where you become out of breath or sweaty) were 46 percent less likely to develop heart disease.

 

Coordination

Research suggests that long-term dance training can change how the nervous system coordinates muscles for actions like walking and balancing, enabling dancers to use their muscles more precisely and efficiently. Cue improved balance, strength, and agility.

 

Flexibility

Many dance styles stretch the limbs of the body, which can improve flexibility. This helps your joints move through their full range of motion, decreases your risk of injury, and boosts your ability to accomplish day-to-day activities sans strain, according to the Mayo Clinic.

 

Social health

Group dance classes provide shared experiences through music and kinetic interaction, offering a level of community connection that can support mental health and stave off loneliness.

 

Enjoyment

Put simply, dancing is fun! When we do something for the sake of doing it (rather than for a specific reward or outcome), this allows us to let loose and fully enjoy the moment. The result? A reduction in feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression.

 

More About Dance Classes In San Francisco

You’ve got questions about the best dance classes in San Francisco. We’ve got answers.

 

Are there top dance classes in San Francisco for beginners?

Though some styles of dance are more advanced, many fitness and dance studios in the Bay Area offer classes for beginners, including:

• The Castro: Live Fit Gym’s High Fitness group class is a great way to ease into learning dance moves within the familiarity of a workout.
• Steps On Toes: Pro instructor LaurieAnn Lepoff offers private, self-paced lessons that can help rid you of newbie jitters.
• CY Danceworks: This studio offers intro dance courses for adult beginners to learn K-Pop and hip hop—no previous dance experience required.
• Starlight Studios: If what’s holding you back from taking dance classes is how out of shape you feel, the best place to start might be with Starlight Studios’ Beginner Trim and Strengthen class.

 

What is the most popular dance class?

Dance class trends come and go, but research suggests that ballet reigns supreme as the most popular type of dance, with cultural dance styles gaining momentum. If you want to use this data as the jumping-off point for your journey, some of the best dance classes in San Francisco that include these elements are:

• High Fitness at Live Fit Gym’s The Castro
• Beginner Ballet at ODC Dance
• BollyX at Rae Studios
• West African Dance at Dance Mission Theater

 

What is the best age for dance classes?

The best thing about dancing is that it’s never too late to start taking classes. Research suggests that dance, no matter the style or dosage, can significantly improve functional fitness (muscle strength and endurance, balance) in older adults.

What’s more important is choosing dance classes that suit your current fitness level so you can enjoy the learning curve and avoid injury or overwhelm.

 

Get the Best Dance Workout in San Francisco

Ready to put on your dancing shoes? Live Fit Gym’s High Fitness class is a great way to kickstart your journey through San Francisco’s best dance classes. The full-body dance workout is currently available at The Castro and is sure to leave you dancing on air.

Then you can celebrate your new moves by treating yourself to one of the best massages in San Francisco or a day of pampering at one of the best San Francisco spas. 

Book your free day pass today!