Fall is here! And in Vancouver that means wet weather, with no waiting or changing room access due to social distancing, we have put additional coat racks outside studio #1 & 2 on the 3rd floor. Please use them and the orange umbrella buckets to keep studio floors dry and not slippery. We also ask you to bring clean shoes for your Advanced Choreography & Keep It Sexy classes to keep the dance floors as clean as possible!.
Please have your B.C. vaccine card and ID ready to show when arriving at the studio for class. Please remember to wear your masks and review our updated studio policies before arriving at the studio. Once the class has reached capacity you will be put on the waitlist. The waitlist has a capacity of 5 people per class.
Please have your B.C. vaccine card and ID ready to show when arriving at the studio for class. Please remember to wear your masks and review our updated studio policies before arriving at the studio. Once the class has reached capacity you will be put on the waitlist. The waitlist has a capacity of 5 people per class.
Services
Introduce dance into your life. Harbour Dance Centre offers Ballet, Jazz, Cabaret Jazz, Contemporary, Contemporary Jazz, Hip Hop, Advanced Choreography, Tap, House, Poppin', Grooving, Theatre Jazz, Heels/Keep it Sexy, Jazz Funk, Pointe, Progressing Ballet Technique, Waacking and Bollywood. With over 100 Drop-in Classes a week, and variety of Workshops, you'll find a class you love.
Get one or both of these deals! 1-hour classes include Hip Hop, Groovin', Keep it Sexy, Heels, Tap, Beginner Contemporary Jazz & House. 1.5-hour classes include Ballet, Contemporary, Contemporary Jazz, Jazz & Theatre Jazz. For dancers with anywhere from one to four years experience who enjoy a class with less complex dance steps.
To know Megan Lawson is to experience her love of dance through education, live works and film collaborations. Using creative movement, Megan's love of storytelling ignites connection with self and with community. Her projects lay at the intersections of dance, commercial work, movement therapy and performance play within which she explores the individual and collective active body.
We are located on Granville Street between Nelson Street and Smithe Street in the heart of downtown Vancouver, across the street from the Vogue Theatre. It is a heritage building with no lifts or elevators, so we are not wheelchair accessible. There are public parking lots on either side of Granville between Nelson and Helmecken, and metered parking nearby on Howe, Seymour and Nelson.
Booking dancers to entertain at your event. We have a wide variety of groups available to perform at your function. Flash Mobs, choreographed numbers created for you, or pick from our pre-choreographed pieces. Please give as much time as possible for this kind of booking. Book a private group class for your school or a full day or two of classes specially designed for you.
Reviews (21)
Tim Hu
Aug 17, 2021
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Harbour Dance Centre is my favourite Vancouver dance studio! Every teacher is so friendly and I just loved the open and welcoming atmosphere of the studio. Definitely a great place to dance and meet people in the dance community. Incredible variety of classes. Lots of great year-round and summer programs for dancers seeking more of a commitment. The location is great and very transit-friendly.
David Lunn
Jul 30, 2021
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I do not know about this place, l have never been there.., just want to apologize for my earlier 3 star review. Even though l have never been to the Harbour Dance Centre , l could tell from my vantage point it is a popular place ( judging by the enthusiastic customers waiting to enter ) . I have a gimpy leg and the world is a better place when l don't dance 😜
Sarah Wong
May 03, 2021
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Positive: Professionalism, Quality
Amazing dance studio for adults that allow drop in classes - teachers are the best that you can find in Vancouver for the genres of hip hop, jazz, tap, ballet, etc. Parking is a pain though, thus transit is easier. Dance environment can seem a bit cliquey and not the most friendly unless you are "in" with the crowd.
Amazing dance studio for adults that allow drop in classes - teachers are the best that you can find in Vancouver for the genres of hip hop, jazz, tap, ballet, etc. Parking is a pain though, thus transit is easier. Dance environment can seem a bit cliquey and not the most friendly unless you are "in" with the crowd.
Becky Drohan
Oct 25, 2020
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Took a class with Ai and Eric on Sunday and it was so fun. During the pandemic, I have missed going to raves and festivals and was excited to get my fix for dancing to loud music and to learn actual grooves and steps instead of dancing however I feel like.
I took the Intro to Grooving class and loved it. Ai is an especially warm and fun instructor. I had a hard time keeping time and going left or right in sync with everyone else. Ai let me know when I finally was getting something without singling me out in front of the class. I definitely feel welcomed back. Although, I will note, I don't think
I took the Intro to Grooving class and loved it. Ai is an especially warm and fun instructor. I had a hard time keeping time and going left or right in sync with everyone else. Ai let me know when I finally was getting something without singling me out in front of the class. I definitely feel welcomed back. Although, I will note, I don't think
Lena Deschner
Apr 18, 2020
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Professional, energetic and welcoming. This studio can take you to the advanced levels you want or give you an amazing hobby just for fun with exceptional instructors and inspiring classes. I would strongly recommend this studio. 😍 (started with absolute beginner hip hop and now progressing from level 1-2!)
Jessie Vic
Jun 01, 2019
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I love this place with all my heart!! My only wish is that they had more classes! Some of the hip hop and sexy street classes are so crowded that you can't execute the choreography without smacking into your neighbour. If they offered even more classes, particularly during the middle of the day, I would be very happy! Note that as others have mentioned, the "intro" classes aren't what most of us would call intro, but they do offer some "absolute beginner" classes for the true newbies.
GJimenez Vasallo
Mar 22, 2019
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Harbour Dance Centre for me is the best, most creative fitness gig! The dance instructors are real pros, the staff super friendly. Coming back from a long hiatus, I'm at home right away with hiphop classes esp under JP Tarlit. He is awesome! Work got busy and injury got in the way. I promise to be back in the spring/summer!
Dawn Boudreau
Jan 22, 2019
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Katie Foote
Nov 12, 2018
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I walked by this place a million times before I knew it existed, and its way bigger than it looks from the outside. Tons of classes offered throughout the day, with many different styles. 3classes for $30 for newcomers. I loved my sexy street class with Nathan. He's hilarious, talented, a wonderful teacher and good at making you feel beautiful :) good vibes for sure!
B. C.
Oct 27, 2018
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Annette Ward
Mar 27, 2018
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Eliza L.
Feb 11, 2018
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This spotlight is for JP Tarlit
Whether you're a beginner, intermediate, or expert at hip hop, JP creates a learning environment that is so positive, inclusive, and uplifting each time. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the bounce -- groove -- and musicality of movement instead of "just getting the choreography".
Classes are always full, but he always makes you pick a different spot in the room so everyone has a chance to see themselves in the mirror. You will also be split up into smaller groups so you have more room and space to drill the choreography.
Warning
Whether you're a beginner, intermediate, or expert at hip hop, JP creates a learning environment that is so positive, inclusive, and uplifting each time. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the bounce -- groove -- and musicality of movement instead of "just getting the choreography".
Classes are always full, but he always makes you pick a different spot in the room so everyone has a chance to see themselves in the mirror. You will also be split up into smaller groups so you have more room and space to drill the choreography.
Warning
Jim Vanderhorst
Jan 12, 2018
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Lpl
Nov 22, 2017
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Mahal D.
Jun 19, 2015
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If you love to dance and love to sweat, this place has a class for you.
From progressive Belly dancing to advanced Hip Hop and Groove class, you will be doing to jenga in no time.
Take the progressive Hip Hop and Groove class with Eric M. He will walk to you through every step of the routine, but don't blink or you may miss a step!
From progressive Belly dancing to advanced Hip Hop and Groove class, you will be doing to jenga in no time.
Take the progressive Hip Hop and Groove class with Eric M. He will walk to you through every step of the routine, but don't blink or you may miss a step!
Peony L.
Feb 05, 2013
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Dancing here is great especially if you're beginner or just want to try it out to see if you really like it. I've danced ballet for 5 years and I recently went back. So to bring back the memories I went in a class with Danielle, who is great!
There's lots of beginners in the class which is great because everyone is learning and making mistakes. It's also a great way to meet people who share the same interest as you.
The only down side is thats it is quite pricey.. And I believe the price went up
There's lots of beginners in the class which is great because everyone is learning and making mistakes. It's also a great way to meet people who share the same interest as you.
The only down side is thats it is quite pricey.. And I believe the price went up
Luisa D.
Jul 24, 2012
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I could simply reiterate Evilyn T's review as we went to the same classes and felt the same way about them all.
If I were to say anything else it would be this...
It was really hot in the rooms when we did classes on warm days so I do think they could improve their ventilation. The introductory Hip Hop class was the best workout and I wouldn't really say it's a true beginner level. Still, it was fun.
If I were to say anything else it would be this...
It was really hot in the rooms when we did classes on warm days so I do think they could improve their ventilation. The introductory Hip Hop class was the best workout and I wouldn't really say it's a true beginner level. Still, it was fun.
Theresa W.
Jul 12, 2011
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So I started taking hip hop classes at random community centres as something I wanted to try to pass the time. I then upgraded to evening adult education classes. And for some reason, I thought I was the coolest hip hop dancer around. I was like "this is so easy I gotta go try this for real now" and so I went to a drop in beginner hip hop class at Harbour Dance. When people say "beginner hip hop isn't for beginners", they really mean it. I felt SO out of place and awkward that I didn't come back for a month.
But finally I picked up my shattered ego and went to the
But finally I picked up my shattered ego and went to the
Sarah M.
Feb 07, 2011
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Harbour Dance is a real asset to this city, and I encourage anyone who is interested in dance to give a class a try. Harbour Dance offers classes that cover a lot of different styles, and it seems they have special guest teachers coming in weekly. I've taken some hip hop dances and a belly dance class, and the thing that I love about this school is that there are so many drop-in classes that you can try out a lot of styles without having to commit to just one. That being said, they do offer progressive workshops as well if you want to stick with one thing for a couple months and become proficient
Amy E.
Apr 07, 2010
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Harbour dance is amazing. If you take classes on a regular basis you will most definitely improve. It is true when they say the beginner drop in classes really aren't beginner, but there is a slower paced school that runs out of harbour that may be a good choice if you are really really new.
I love all the teachers and the Hip Hop classes are amazing.
I love all the teachers and the Hip Hop classes are amazing.
Tara T.
Nov 21, 2008
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If you're a professional dancer or just starting out, Harbour Dance Studios is the perfect place to come and learn or hone your skills.
I've taken jazz and tap classes at Harbour. I've always enjoyed the tap classes taught by Jim Hibbard and Jennifer Bishop. I'll continue to go back to these again and again. The jazz class however, I didn't like as much. The instructor Laura Bartlett was nice enough, professional, and a good teacher but I just didn't like her style, which was based heavily in classical ballet. I'm currently waiting for another jazz teacher to
I've taken jazz and tap classes at Harbour. I've always enjoyed the tap classes taught by Jim Hibbard and Jennifer Bishop. I'll continue to go back to these again and again. The jazz class however, I didn't like as much. The instructor Laura Bartlett was nice enough, professional, and a good teacher but I just didn't like her style, which was based heavily in classical ballet. I'm currently waiting for another jazz teacher to
