Arabesque Dance Studio, 6935 Oakland Mills Road, Suite J, Columbia. Founded in 1966, they are celebrating their 43rd year. Registration is now being taken for classes for ages 2 ½ through adults, specializing in pre-school through professional.  The Arabesque Dance Company offers gifted and aspiring dancers the chance to perform in The Nutcracker Ballet at the Howard County Community College and the end of the year production number.  Competition Dance Team also available for the more serious student.. Classes available in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, and Hip Hop. Students are encouraged to take more than one type of dance. All class instruction insures proper progression for your child in a continuous planned program from September through June. Each class size is limited to an appropriate number to assure the proper student-teacher ratio. Classes begin early Sept.  Stop by for a visit and see their facility.  For more information call 410-381-0017 or see the website www.livetodance.com

Backstage Dance Studio, 7185 Gateway Drive, Gateway Plaza, Columbia, is celebrating 23 years of dance instruction. They have programs designed to meet the needs of both the recreational dancer and serious students looking to further their studies professionally.  Over the past years, many of their students have received dance scholarships and have gone onto professional careers. Currently they are offering classes in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Modern, Show Troupe, Cecchetti and Pointe, for children, teens, and adults from beginning to advanced levels.  Rock-n-Tots is for 2-3 year olds and Tap & Tumble is for ages 3-4. Competitive teams, end of year recital. Open House is August 22, 10am – 3pm. Classes start September 8. Registration is currently being accepted. For more information call 410-312-0900 or visit them at  www.thebackstagedancestudio.com.

Ballet With Cindee Velle in the Long Reach Community Assoc., 8775 Cloudleap Court, Columbia, MD 21045 Since 1983,  offering: Mommy and Me age 2, Preballet  ages 3, 4; Kinderballet ages 5, 6; Preparatory Ballet ages 6 , 7; Combination Classes in Ballet/Jazz and Ballet/Tap ages 5 through 7;  Classical Ballet  ages 8 through adult; Jazz  ages 6 through adult; Pointe  ages 12 and up; Tap and Hip Hop ages 7 through adult;  Lyrical/Modern;  Lyrical/Ballet;  Competition Classes and an annual production of the Nutcracker. Performance opportunities are available for all students, including adults. Satellite Programs are available at the following locations: Centennial Lane Elementary School, Worthington Elementary School and the  River Hill Community Association in Clarksville. Classes begin Sept. 8. For more information call Cindee Velle 410-465-7674 or email cindeevelleballet@verizon.net.

Carroll County Dance Center, 6933 Warfield Avenue, Sykesville. Beautiful $1,000,000 facility with four state of the art studios. Excellent reputation for 19 years, now offering Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, Modern, Ballroom, Hip-Hop and Parent/Child for ages 2 – adult, Extensive Adult Program and full Pre-Professional Ballet Conservatory curriculum for the dedicated ballet student age 7 – 18. Auditions for The Nutcracker are on Sunday, August 23 and Saturday, August 29 for ages 6 - adults.  No experience required.  Please call 410-795-3255 for more information or see www.carrollcountydancecenter.com

Central Maryland Youth Ballet - Slayton House , Columbia Gym, and Claret Hall in Columbia and Clarksville. Develop strength, artistry and self confidence in your child by enrolling them into a professionally directed ballet program. Instructors Kimmary Williams and Jacob Rice have over 25 years of teaching experience. They have been associated with such notable institutions as Joffrey Ballet, Twyla Tharp, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Miami City Ballet and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. They understand that quality dance instruction encourages physical and mental development as well as an appreciation of the fine arts. Classes for ages 3 years through adult begin September 8 . "Nutcracker" audition on Saturday September 18th. All CMYB students are eligible to participate. For more information please visit: www.centralmarylandyouthballet.com or call 443-472-7772. 

Chesapeake Center for the Creative Arts, 194 Hammonds Lane, Brooklyn Park, offers classes in pre-ballet, ballet, tap, and boys' tap for children. Classes are also offered for teens and adults. For more information call 410-636-6587 or see their website www.cheaspeakearts.org.

The Howard County Ballet, located at the Howard County Arts Council, 8510 High Ridge Road, Ellicott City MD 21043, 410-465-9414, www.howardcountyballet.org. Offering classes in ballet for ages 2 1/2 through adult and jazz for teens and adults.  They have preschool classes in the morning. They also provide quality performance opportunities for all ages and levels, including professional.  Their staff is highly qualified and carefully chosen for each age group.

Joyful Motion Dance Studio, Historic Savage Mill, 8600 Foundry Street, Savage MD, 410-696-2541, www.joyfulmotion.com Ballet, tap, jazz, tumbling, pointe, hip hop, yoga-fit, fitness and creative movement classes for ages 1.5 to adult ... beginner to advanced.  Our focus is on fostering the love and joy of dance in students of all ages.  All of our classes are designed to be age appropriate and cater to the specific needs of each age group.  We pride ourselves on offering an affordable dance program with tuition for most beginner classes being just $40 per month.  Recital fees are also kept to a reasonable amount.  We offer a 4500 SQ family friendly atmosphere with 3 large dance rooms with observation windows,  a large parent waiting area, reception area, playroom, changing rooms and snack area.  Come discover the joy of dance at joyful motion!

Kinetics Dance Theatre, 3280 Pine Orchard Lane, Ellicott City MD 21042. Classes are offered for all ages and all disciplines of dance including Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Musical Theater, Modern, and Creative Dance, Dance Basics and Dance Fundamentals and classes for children with special needs. Also offered are Social Ballroom, Latin Jam, Pilates and Yoga.  We have a student company for ages 9-17, a junior company for ages 12-18, a senior company for ages 14-18 and a professional dance company. Birthday Parties are available as well as Girl Scout activities to earn badges. Open House Registration for fall is August 22, 10am – 2pm, September 3, 6-9pm. For more information call 410-480-1686 or visit our website at www.kineticsdance.org.

Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, 801 Chase St, Annapolis, is offering a variety of dance classes for children this fall. Ballet is offered through the Academy Ballet School and the Ballet Theatre of Maryland. For more information call 410-263-5544, 410-269-1087 or 301-261-1553 or see their website at www.mdhallarts.org.

Misako Ballet Studio is located in Harper's Choice Village Center, 5485 Harper's Farm Road, Columbia. This professional studio focuses on classical ballet training which builds strength, flexibility, grace, and artistry. All classes are taught in studios with spring-action floors, designed for professional ballet dancers. They teach ages 3 to Adult. Classes include: Ballet, Modern, Pointe, Creative Movement, and Rhythm & Steps All ages have performance opportunities throughout the year. Open Registration Days are August 28, 11:30 -2:00 pm and August 31, 5:30-8:30pm.  For more information, call 410-884-9690 or visit www.misakoballet.com

Peabody Dance with the Peabody Preparatory of the Johns Hopkins University. Downtown Baltimore, 21 East Mount Vernon Place Baltimore, MD 21202  and Towson Campus, 949 Dulaney Valley Road, Towson, MD 21204 at the edge of the Goucher College campus. The Peabody Dance 32-week Fall/Spring season offers three main curricula: the Pre-Professional Program; the Young Children's Program; and the Open Program. In all cases, the heart of Peabody Dance's philosophy is the expectation that all students, whether they are professional aspirants, or pre-schoolers and mature adults exploring the joys of dancing, will have the opportunity to reach their own desired level of achievement. In return, an internationally respected faculty and artistic staff are dedicated to meeting the needs of their students on an individual basis and to offering them exemplary training, inspiration and encouragement. Fall Session begins September 3. For more information call 410-659-8100 x 1125 or see their website www.peabody.jhu.edu/dance.

Phoenix Rising Dance Company, 9570-A Berger Road in south Columbia Maryland, offers exceptional instruction in classical ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, modern and hip hop for ages 3 to adult. Phoenix Rising believes in a great dance education that can be taught  in a warm , loving, and encouraging atmosphere. Phoenix Rising Dance faculty has trained students who have won international ballet competitions and who have entered notable ballet companies and university dance programs.  Classes are available for beginner, intermediate, advanced, professional and open teen and adult. Classes are offered during the Afternoon, evening and weekend.  Special programs and intensives are frequently offered.  Performance opportunities are available. Nutcracker auditions are September 12.. Call 410-290-6611 or visit www.phoenixrisingdance.com for more information.

Studio Dans ("Confidence in Motion") is a state of the art dance studio located in Marriottsville, Howard County. Studio Dans expanded in 2008 to include 3 dances studios (with Harlequin professionally sprung floors), a vocal studio and large dressing room.  Focus is placed on teaching proper dance techniques in order to build self awareness, confidence in movement, correct body alignment and discipline in a safe and nurturing environment. Children, teen and adult classes in: Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Broadway Dance, Hip Hop, Adaptive Dance, Pilates, Sports Dans (includes tumbling), Pre-School Ballet/Tap, 3’s Creative Dance, Toddlers in Motion, Zumba, Private Voice lessons, Latin and Ballroom (youth & adult). Wedding dance specials, summer programs, family dance evenings and private lessons are offered. A spring dance recital, community outreach programs and a newly formed competition team provide performing opportunities. Registrations are now being accepted. Directors: Dana Keane and Samantha Hunt. For more information, contact: 410-442-0226 or www.studiodans.com

TurningPointeDanceAcademy, 6801-B Douglas Legum Dr. in Elkridge, MD offers instruction for students ages 3 to adult in classical ballet, pointe, lyrical, jazz and modern.Turning Pointe Dance Academy strives to foster a love of dance and to provide exceptional dance instruction.   Classes are offered for recreational and beginning level students through professional level dancers.  Training for both students and teachers through all levels of the internationally recognized Cecchetti ballet method is available.  Turning Pointe faculty has trained students who have been awarded college dance scholarships and attended international dance programs.  Students have the opportunity to participate on a competitive dance team and in the end-of-year recital.    Registration is now being accepted.  For more information call 410-718-0529 or visit www.turningpointedanceacademy.org.