The Dance Place
Ballet, tap, hip-hop, modern and ballroom classes for children and adults in…
The Dance Place, located on E 29th Street just north of Hubbell Avenue in Des Moines, teaches traditional and creative dance across a wide range of ages and levels.
Photo: Kelly Davis via Google
Before your first class
The studio structures classes from age 3 onwards, with Pre-Fundamentals and Fundamentals designed to introduce dance basics through play and creativity.
About this studio
The Dance Place, located on E 29th Street just north of Hubbell Avenue in Des Moines, teaches traditional and creative dance across a wide range of ages and levels. The studio's faculty brings decades of experience to the work. Janice Baker, the studio's director, has been director of the Performing Arts degree at Iowa State University since 1984. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in ballet from the University of Utah and a Master's degree from Kansas State, and has taught at the Des Moines Ballet School, Kansas State University, the Iowa Arts Council, Metro Arts, Iowans for the Arts and VSA of Iowa.
Classes begin with Pre-Fundamentals for 3–4 year-olds, focusing on dancing stories, tumbling, rhythms and movement with props while emphasizing personal creativity. Fundamentals (5–6 years) introduces beginning technique in a game-like setting with tap elements and student-created movement phrases. Ballet I/II and Tap I/II classes (6 years and up) build solid foundational technique. As students progress through Ballet III, IV, V, VI and VII, the emphasis shifts towards vocabulary building, strength, stamina and the rigours of the ballet barre and center work.
Beyond ballet, The Dance Place teaches Hip-Hop III and VI, Tap VI and VII with traditional rhythms at increasing speeds, and Tumbling I–III, which develops whole-body conditioning through rolling, cartwheeling, bridging, handstanding and acrobatic moves of increasing difficulty. Modern classes explore traditional and contemporary dance theory, with dancers creating and matching inventive movement vocabulary together. Ballroom Dance classes teach a variety of social dances including merengue, salsa, waltz, foxtrot, swing, tango and country two step, with a note that students can learn to dance for their wedding.
The studio also runs New Visions Dance Project, a movement session for dancers with a variety of needs to explore personal expression and interaction through dance. For adults, Yoga/Adult Fitness (Stretch & Move) offers gentle stretching and strengthening for body awareness with relaxation and meditation.
The Dance Place performs regularly throughout the community at venues and events including the White Eagle Pow-Wow, Iowa State Fair, Festival of Trees, Kidsfest and Iowa Energy.
What to expect
Your first visit
Classes are organised by age and level, from Pre-Fundamentals through advanced, with a focus on building technique while encouraging creativity. Whether you're exploring dance for the first time or advancing your skills, you'll find a class matched to where you are.
Instructors
Who teaches here
Janice Baker directs the studio. She has been director of the Performing Arts degree at Iowa State University since 1984, holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in ballet from the University of Utah and a Master's degree from Kansas State, and has taught at the Des Moines Ballet School, Kansas State University, the Iowa Arts Council, Metro Arts, Iowans for the Arts and VSA of Iowa.
New to dancing?
What beginners can expect
The studio structures classes from age 3 onwards, with Pre-Fundamentals and Fundamentals designed to introduce dance basics through play and creativity.
Gallery
The people, the parties and the dancing here
Class schedule
Weekly classes and workshops
The Dance Placehasn't set up a public class schedule yet.
If you own The Dance Place, claiming the studio lets you add a public schedule in about 2 minutes. A free Google Calendar is the easiest path — visitors see your class times inline + can add events to their own calendar.
Frequently asked about The Dance Place
Quick answers to the most common questions
What dance styles does The Dance Place teach?
The Dance Place teaches General, Ballet, Tap, Hip-Hop, Modern, Acro Dance and 1 more. The full list of styles is shown above on this page along with each genre's classes and lesson options.
Where is The Dance Place located?
The Dance Place is located in Des Moines, IA. See the map above for the exact address and one-tap directions.
Does The Dance Place offer private lessons?
Contact The Dance Place directly to ask about private lessons and current class options — their website has the latest details.
Does The Dance Place teach kids and adults?
The Dance Place welcomes students of varied ages and experience levels. Contact the studio to learn which classes fit your age group and level.
How do I sign up for classes at The Dance Place?
The fastest path is to visit The Dance Place via their website or check the class schedule above. Many studios offer a free or discounted intro lesson — contact them directly to ask.