Evelyn Ott School of Dance

Evelyn Ott School of Dance has served the Coastal Virginia community for over 80 years, founded in 1945. The studio occupies three teaching spaces at 7921 Harold Street in Norfolk and runs a busy schedule across multiple styles and age groups, from preschool through adult.

The school offers ballet (including Pointe, Ballet I–IV, and Advanced Ballet Technical), tap (Beginner through Advanced), jazz, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, acro-lyrical, and musical theater. You'll also find Creative Movement and Ballet/Tap for the youngest dancers, plus specialized classes like Primary Combo and Tiny Tots. The faculty includes former professional dancers, nationally recognized choreographers, and lifelong educators, many of them alumni of the school itself.

Classes run Monday through Saturday with three active studios. The schedule shows consistent afternoon and evening slots; Monday–Thursday classes typically run from 4:30 pm to 9:00 pm, with Saturday morning options. Small class sizes mean individualized attention whether you're taking your first steps or training for competition.

Evelyn Ott runs competitive teams at multiple levels—Jr. Hip-Hop Team, Intermediate Hip-Hop Team, Senior Hip-Hop Team, and others—with award-winning results at regional and national competitions. The studio also hosts an annual recital and participates in parades and special events. Beyond technique, the school emphasizes building confidence, creativity, character, and discipline in a supportive, family-like atmosphere.

The studio's Adaptive Dance For All program, led by Erin Hartnett and Lauren Cook, welcomes children and adults of all abilities—physical and mental—in a space designed for social skills, motor development, independence, and verbal communication through movement and creative expression.

Registration for the 2026–2027 season opens August 3, 2026. Classes begin Tuesday, September 8th. You can register in person or by phone during registration hours (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, 5:30–7:30 pm).

Classes are organized by age, level, and style across three studios. You'll find welcoming, disciplined instruction from experienced teachers. The schedule runs afternoons and evenings Monday–Thursday, with Saturday morning options; registration opens in early August each year for the September start.

The faculty includes former professional dancers, nationally recognized choreographers, and lifelong educators. Instructors named in the schedule include Laura (ballet), Arizona (hip hop, jazz, acro-lyrical), Kendall (tap), Lindi (adult and advanced ballet), Cat (acro-lyrical), Nyja (teen jazz, contemporary/lyrical, creative movement), Stephanie (advanced jazz), Bailey (tiny dancers, divas), Eva (hip hop), Jayme (tap, charisma, lyrical, contemporary, adult fusion), and Lauren (modern). Many teachers are themselves alumni of the school.

The studio welcomes dancers of all ages and experience levels, from preschool first steps to adult classes, with structured beginner-level offerings in each major style.