Local Activities

Established in 1962 by Yoshisada Yonezuka, the Cranford Judo Karate Center has been home to many aspiring students, world-class athletes, and Olympic medalists. After training several Olympic and World team athletes including his son Nick, Yoshisada was asked to be the Head Coach of the US Judo Team for the 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games. The Dojo walls display the club’s history in photographs, newpaper and magazine articles from Olympic Games, World Championships, Junior National, Junior World Championships, Karate World Championships, and Sumo Championships. These artifacts are a tribute to the many years of dedication and training of these stellar athletes of all ages.

For over 65 years, The Yvette Dance Studio of Performing Arts has been an anchor in the Cranford community, offering dance classes to both children and adults. Over the years, our students have gone on to dance in some of the most prestigious venues, like Las Vegas, Broadway, and the New York Ballet. At The Yvette Dance Studio, we believe in teaching proper technique and fundamentals that will allow our students to learn to dance, rather than learn a dance. Every year we invite parents, relatives, and friends to join us for our annual demonstration, where they can watch their children perform in a public school auditorium, free of charge. We are proud to have been a part of the community for so long and to have been able to help our students achieve their dreams of becoming professional dancers. We look forward to many more years of bringing the joy of dance to the Cranford area.

Cranford Pool & Fitness Center is an independent authorized provider of Starfish Swimming. Starfish Swimming is a nationally recognized swim instruction curriculum developed by the Starfish Aquatics Institute (SAI). The Starfish Swimming curriculum is designed for student’s age’s 6-months to adult. Benchmarks are established at each stage in the program that combine both swimming and safety skills. Students participate in experiential learning activities that allow them to explore the water in a creative and comfortable environment. Correct swimming techniques are taught from the very beginning, providing an easy transition to swim team. Our Instructors are over 18 years of age and are certified swim trainers through Starfish Aquatics Institute. Many are also Certified Water Safety instructors. All have training in First Aid, CPR and AED.

Diamond Gymnastics Academy is a state of the art facility providing gymnastics programs that are fun, challenging, and progressive… pre-school, recreational through advanced level gymnastics, cheer tumble and private lessons are offered Monday through Saturday. Classes are offered to children as young as 18 months and as old as 18 years.

Our Martial Arts School in the quaint neighborhood of Centennial Village in Cranford provides an exciting, educational and fun environment for Adults and Children of all ages. We serve the communities of Cranford, Garwood, Clark, Linden, Westfield, and Scotch Plains and are conveniently located off Exit 136 on the Garden State Parkway.

Fire Me Up is an all-inclusive creative art studio located in beautiful downtown Cranford, NJ. We opened our doors in 2013, and we’ve been firing up creative fun ever since. Join us to paint pottery or canvas, fuse glass, decorate board art, or learn to throw clay on a pottery wheel. We offer many projects on a walk in basis, and also plan lots of great classes and workshops every month. Check out our events calendar to learn more, and sign up for a class! Come as a group or on your own, whether you’re a novice or an expert, because our studio is the perfect place for creative play and fun! We can accommodate groups of 80+, and our open studio throughout the day requires no reservations. The price of items includes all the materials, studio time and firing. Items are priced individually and range from $8 & up. The average item is $25-35 and takes 1-2 hours to complete. Our glazes are non-toxic and food safe. We are the ideal place for birthday parties, ladies’ night out, scouts gatherings, school field trips, art classes and more! We also have pottery-to-go, or we can even come to you for a special event!

Beyond Dance has been providing a "home-away-from-home" for young dancers from all walks of life for nearly 20 years. We believe it is essential to make dance classes both fun and challenging, to ensure students remain interested in the art form and continue learning. Our studios come equipped with viewing windows, so that parents can observe their children's progress. At the end of each class, the students put on a short performance or demonstrate an exercise they have been working on, and it's great to see them growing and developing their dancing skills each week. We strive to provide an enjoyable and well-rounded dance experience for all our students. With our commitment to teaching dance in a fun yet challenging way, we are proud to have supported two decades of young dancers and their families.

I wanted to create a safe and inclusive space where students can strengthen their bodies, calm their souls, revitalize and be creative. Join me and the team as we provide guidance on being the best you can be.

At Moving Youth Dance Company, we are passionate about providing quality dance instruction to children between the ages of 8 and 18. Our expert faculty, from the fields of classical ballet, Broadway, and contemporary companies, ensure that our students are exposed to a wide variety of dance genres. This level of exposure provides our dancers with the versatility they need to excel in the dance world. In our positive and nurturing environment, our students receive quality training tailored to their individual needs. We believe this type of environment is essential for building a confident, successful, and accomplished dancer. Our goal is to help our students realize their full potential and reach their highest level of performance. At Moving Youth Dance Company, we strive to provide the best possible dance instruction and experience for our students. We invest in quality faculty, a positive and nurturing environment, and exposure to a variety of dance genres in order to ensure our students are well-prepared for wherever their passion for dance takes them. Our goal is to help our students develop the skills and confidence they need to become successful and accomplished dancers.

Cheer Legacy Allstars located in Cranford New Jersey was founded in 2017. CLA combines elite stunting, tumbling and dance routines safely with our knowledgeable and trained staff. Through practice and competition, we strive to develop our athletes physically, mentally and emotionally.

For more than a century, Cranford townspeople have been sharing their love of theatre with friends and neighbors. It all began back in 1918-1919, when a small group of local theatre enthusiasts gathered together to put on performances. Over the years, their passion for the arts has been passed down through generations, creating a thriving community theatre company known for its diverse array of musicals and plays. The Cranford Theatre Company has also become a beloved destination for families, providing an opportunity to experience the area’s most talented performers in an intimate setting. From traditional stories to modern classics, the theatre company has something to offer everyone, making it the perfect place to bring the entire family. And with a history spanning over a century, the Cranford Theatre Company is truly a unique and treasured part of the local community.

We know that finding a martial arts school can be overwhelming. At Cesar-Kai Karate Academy, our priority is to help you and/or your children become better versions of yourselves. Our expert instructors are here to learn your goals, and help you achieve them in a fun, exciting, and welcoming environment. Take a minute to learn more about our facility, programs, and community through our website, and we look forward to seeing you soon!