best dance programs in Durham, NC

Dear Families, Welcome to the wonderful world of Swift Nature Camp an overnight camp for boys and girls ages 6-15 located in the beautiful Northwoods of Wisconsin. I’m Lonnie, the Camp Director, and I’m thrilled to share what makes SNC such a special place for kids and families alike. For nearly 30 years, our mission has been to create an environment where children can grow, discover, and make lifelong memories. Here at camp, we focus on friendship, personal development, and a deep connection to nature—all in a fun, supportive, and adventurous setting. All this without cell phones One of the things that sets Swift Nature Camp apart is our focus on fostering independence and confidence. Whether it’s trying a new activity like canoeing, taking on a leadership role in a group project, or simply navigating life away from home, camp provides endless opportunities for personal growth. We celebrate each camper’s unique personality and encourage them to step outside their comfort zone in a safe and nurturing way. Seeing kids gain new skills and pride in their accomplishments is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do. For our youngest campers, Discovery Camp is an especially magical experience. Designed only for first-time campers ages 6-12, this shorter program gives kids a chance to experience the joys of camp life in a way that’s just right for them. It’s amazing to watch these kids try new things—from learning about the natural world to singing campfire songs—and leave camp with big smiles and even bigger stories to tell. Discovery Camp is often the beginning of a long and cherished relationship with SNC, and we’re so proud to see those first-time campers grow into confident and capable young people. Another cornerstone of Swift Nature Camp is our connection to the environment. We believe that nature isn’t just a backdrop for camp; it’s a teacher, a playground, and a source of endless wonder. Through hands-on activities like pond studies, wildlife observation, and outdoor adventures, campers develop an appreciation for the natural world that stays with them long after camp ends. The Camp Zoo is always a favorite, campers can even adopt a pet while at camp.Our goal is to inspire kids to become curious, mindful stewards of the environment. At Swift Nature Camp, there’s never a dull day! With hundreds of land and water activities, campers are always engaged and excited. On land, some favorites include the Lego Cabin, Arts & Crafts, Archery, and exploring the Nature Center. On the water, campers learn Canoeing, Fishing, and Swimming, but the absolute favorites are Tubing behind the boat and jumping off the Water Trampoline. Never is there a dull day because every day is packed with fun, adventure, and opportunities to try something new. Of course, none of this would be possible without the amazing friendships that form here. SNC is a place where kids truly feel like they belong. Campers and counselors alike bring warmth, kindness, and enthusiasm to everything we do, creating a strong sense of community. Whether it’s cheering each other on during a game, collaborating on a creative project, or sharing laughs around the campfire, the bonds formed at Swift Nature Camp are something truly special. Thank you for entrusting us with your children. It’s an honor to be part of their journey and to help create memories that will last a lifetime. If you have any questions or just want to chat about camp, don’t hesitate to reach out. I can’t wait to see what the next camp season holds and to welcome your family to another amazing summer at Swift Nature Camp.

At Duke School, we understand what a special opportunity it is to have a summer camp experience. That's why we strive to provide an atmosphere of safety, support, and fun for campers of all ages. Our convenient location in the Triangle makes it easy for families from Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill, and Carrboro to join in the fun. We hire only the most qualified and dedicated staff members to ensure that our campers receive the highest quality instruction and mentorship. We are committed to providing a summer of lasting memories and friendships, and we invite all children to join us for a summer of learning, growth, and fun!

The Durham Arts Council, Inc. is the driving force behind bringing art to the city. By providing leadership, inspiration, and promoting access to the arts, DAC is helping to foster a vibrant cultural development in Durham. Through earned revenues, grants, and contributions from corporations, foundations, individuals, as well as support from the City of Durham, Durham County, North Carolina Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts, DAC is able to bring the arts to the people of this community. The mission of DAC is to create an environment in which creativity and the arts are highly valued and seen as positive and transformative forces. By working towards an excellent and sustainable arts and cultural sector, DAC is helping to ensure that Durham is a great place to live and work. The Durham Arts Council, Inc. is committed to making Durham a vibrant and culturally rich city. DAC strives to provide access to and experience of the arts to all members of the community, while also working to make the arts and culture a vital part of Durham’s educational and economic life. Through their dedication to creating an excellent and sustainable arts and cultural sector, DAC is helping to make Durham a great place to live and work.

At Encore Academy of Dance, we know that dance is more than just a hobby – it’s a way to build life skills. Our mission is to provide a positive and safe environment for our dancers to achieve excellence in technique and poise, while also learning important life lessons along the way. We strive to develop respect, confidence and conscientiousness in our students, helping each dancer reach their fullest potential. With our guidance, we believe our dancers can grow into the best version of themselves, both on the dance floor and off.

The Living Arts Collective is dedicated to providing a safe and inclusive environment for creative expression. We believe that through sharing our stories, we can bridge gaps between diverse communities, create understanding, and foster collaboration. We seek to nurture our community by creating a space for all to share their art and experience the joy of creative exploration.

Bring the whole family down to Ninth Street Dance! Our classes and workshops are designed to be accessible to all levels, so everyone from toddlers to grandparents can have fun while learning the joy of dance. Our passionate instructors are dedicated to helping students of all ages understand the beauty and power of movement. Whether you’re a newbie or a professional dancer, you’ll be sure to find something to love at Ninth Street Dance!

At DRT, we encourage collaboration and dialogue over the arts and the experiences of different communities. Our theatre is a platform for diversity, inclusion and equity, with an emphasis on the importance of creating a safe and inclusive environment for everyone. We foster an environment that celebrates multiple perspectives, acknowledges different forms of knowledge, and encourages everyone to express their true selves. DRT is committed to creating a community of theatre makers and theatre goers that actively strives to bridge cultural barriers, increase awareness, and spark meaningful conversations. Our productions feature stories and characters from many cultures, with works that reflect the rich human diversity in Durham, NC. Through our programming, we strive to create a meaningful and lasting impact on our theatrical community.

. Bull City Gymnastics is dedicated to providing an all-inclusive atmosphere to students of all ages and abilities. Our goal is to provide a safe, friendly and fun environment to help each child experience the joy of gymnastics. We believe that gymnastics is a great way to help children learn the importance of goal setting, perseverance, and hard work. Our coaches are highly trained and certified and strive to bring out the best in each student. We are passionate about helping our students reach their goals and be successful. At Bull City Gymnastics, we strive to motivate, inspire and empower our students. We are committed to helping our students develop physical strength, coordination, discipline, and confidence. We believe in providing individual attention and positive reinforcement in order to encourage our students to reach their full potential. We are proud to be a leader in the gymnastics industry, and we are dedicated to providing our students with the best possible experience each and every time.

ADF Scripps Studios provides dance instruction for all ages and levels of experience, from beginner to advanced, and from toddlers to adults. At ADF Scripps Studios, we believe in the power of dance to bring people together, express emotion, and create an atmosphere of joy and camaraderie. Our facility provides a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment for dancers of all ages and levels to learn, grow, and express themselves. Our expert faculty are dedicated to helping each individual find his or her own voice in the art form and develop their skills in a non-competitive atmosphere. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced dancer, ADF Scripps Studios is the place to come to learn something new. Our year-round dance classes are available for all ages and levels, giving students the opportunity to experience the joy of movement and explore their creative side. Our expert faculty will help you develop your skills in a fun and supportive atmosphere, and you’ll be sure to leave each class feeling inspired and invigorated.

At BDTS, we strive to create an atmosphere of encouragement and support. Our teachers are passionate about helping each student reach their fullest potential, giving clear and kind corrections, and fostering a love for the art of dance. We focus on building self-confidence, strength, and grace in each of our classes, and emphasize the joy of movement. Our classes provide children with a safe, non-competitive environment where they can express themselves creatively. BDTS is dedicated to providing students with a high-quality, developmentally appropriate theatre education as well. Our theatre classes are designed to help students develop essential skills such as public speaking, problem solving, critical thinking, and teamwork. We focus on creating an environment that is both fun and challenging, encouraging students to take risks and explore their creativity. Our teachers are experienced in helping students find their voice, build self-confidence, and develop their performance skills. We strive to instill a passion for the theatre arts in each of our students.

Welcome to Durham School for Ballet & the Performing Arts, Durham's premier academy for quality training in classical ballet, pointe, modern, contemporary, tap, jazz and aerial dance. We have something to offer everyone, from our children's classes to our student-level classes and our recreational classes for teens and adults. Our instructors have been carefully chosen for their unparalleled teaching and artistic abilities. At Durham School for Ballet & the Performing Arts, we use the American Ballet Theatre's National Training Curriculum in our ballet and pointe classes. This revolutionary 8-level program combines excellent artistic training with an understanding of dancer health and child development. It offers age-appropriate, outcome-based guidelines to ensure the highest quality ballet training for all ages and skill levels. So come join us at Durham School for Ballet & the Performing Arts! Our instructors are dedicated to helping you reach your fullest potential in the world of ballet and other performing arts. We guarantee you won't be disappointed.

At Winking Moon Art Camp, children have the opportunity to explore their creative side and bring their ideas to life with the help of a second mind and a pair of hands. It is here that they can create, play and even bake a teatime treat for the whole group to enjoy. Weather permitting, we’ll work outdoors, as kids and the outdoors naturally go hand in hand. Every camp day follows a set rhythm. After arriving, the kids have some time to settle in during free play, before the structured activity begins. During the morning art, sewing or creating workshop, I plan an activity while still listening to the children’s own ideas. This is a fantastic way to encourage their imagination and spark their creativity. At Winking Moon Art Camp, it’s all about having fun. There’s no better way to keep kids engaged and entertained than with a mixture of free play, creative activities, and a delicious teatime treat. It is here that children have the opportunity to explore their creative side and bring their ideas to life with the help of a second mind and a pair of hands.

Cathy Kielar and her husband Blaise created Music Explorium® in 1999, offering a variety of strings, winds and drums from all over the world. After many years of success, Blaise branched off into a separate business, Electric Violin Shop, in 2005. Cathy has since taken Music Explorium® in a new direction, creating a service business called EXPLORE! RHYTHM events. At EXPLORE! RHYTHM, Cathy and her team are dedicated to creating hands-on rhythm events for fun, education and community building. Their 462-square-foot event room features lots of windows, a pergo floor, a small kitchen, full-size refrigerator and bathroom. And with a large, well-lit parking lot, the facility is conveniently located near Research Triangle Park in Durham, just 10 miles from Cary/Apex and Chapel Hill/Carrboro and 15 miles from Raleigh. Cathy has a passion for drum circle experience and that is what EXPLORE! RHYTHM focuses on. She has created the business with the mission to bring people together through music and rhythm in an engaging and meaningful way. The facility is available to rent for events appropriate to the business mission.

At CDA, the passion for dance is evident. It is their mission to provide quality dance education with experienced and certified dance master teachers who have been teaching for over 25 years. The studio’s many years in the community speaks volumes for the quality and dedication of their teachers. Creativity and the love of dance are encouraged and welcomed at any level. Every student is encouraged to be a “star” and given the opportunity to shine. CDA offers a wide range of dance classes that gives each student the tools and knowledge to grow and succeed. The focus is to make each student become more confident, have higher personal self-esteem, and enhance their talent in dance. Making lasting friendships with other dancers is also part of the CDA experience. CDA's teachers strive for excellence in every class and create an environment where each student can be their own unique and special "star".

At Durham Ballet Theatre, we are dedicated to providing pre-professional training to an eclectic range of dancers. We strive to make the performing arts available to everyone, regardless of their cultural, economic, or artistic background. We strive to bring more opportunities to those communities who are underserved in Durham. We provide lectures and demonstrations to the public, and free performances to those who would not be able to attend otherwise. We also provide facilities for others to be involved in the promotion of the arts. By doing so, we are helping to make sure that everyone has a chance to experience the beauty of dance.

Walltown's annual program for children and youth offers a full year of artistic instruction. Each August, auditions are held for placement in our company, competition and PLAYers groups, as well as a “Level-Up” evaluation for those wishing to be placed in classes level 4 and above. We offer two main sessions (Session I beginning in August and Session II in February) and two intercessions (Winter/January and Summer/July) to help our students prepare for the upcoming Fall classes. With our January intercession, students have the opportunity to “Level-Up” in the middle of the year. Our Annual showcase in June provides our students with performance opportunities. In addition to our regular instruction, Walltown provides private lessons, labs, workshops and intensives throughout the year. To help students further their skills, we also offer week-long Summer camps in June, July & August. At Walltown, we believe that with the right instruction and guidance, every child and youth can become an artist. Our dedicated team of teachers and staff are here to help our students reach their full potential and explore their creativity in a safe and supportive environment.