Art, Dance & Theatrical Schools in NJ

Art, Dance & Theatre Classes & Schools for Children

Many of the theatre schools also offer children's performances, but for a full list click here.
Check out Music & Writing, Painting Pottery, other Creative Arts or Enrichment Programs
For Gymnastics and Yoga

Multiple Locations

Abrakadoodle - art classes for ages 20 months to 12 years old; New Jersey locations including Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Essex, Gloucester and Hudson counties
Art Kids Rule - offering workshops, art camps, after-school and library programs and Creative Art Events for kids 7 to 14 at locations within Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris and Union counties
KidzArt - KidzArt classes for age 2 through grade 9 are available at various facilities in New Jersey; summer camp programs in various NJ locations; call 609-918-1300 or email the KidzArt Office
Champion Youth Outreach (various locations) - offer art & illustration, dance, cheerleading as well as soccer, tennis and basketball for kids at various locations in New Jersey; visit their website for information
The Peter Smith School of Irish Dance - has locations in Cedar Knolls, Clinton, Holmdel, Martinsville, South Amboy, Summit and Wharton
Young Rembrandts - has a North Jersey (Hudson & Bergen Counties) headquarters with classes offered at various locations in Bayonne, Clifton, Hoboken and Jersey City

Bergen County

The Actors Garage - classes for children ages 2-4, 4-6 & 7 & older; locations in Englewood & Ridgewood
Bergen Performing Arts Center (Englewood) - Beyond Education program is a series of classes, seminars, live performances, and student productions in acting, dance, voice and recording for children ages 3-18
Porch Light Theatre (Glen Rock) - educational programs for various ages including camps & programs
School of Rock (Waldwick) - programs for many instruments including guitar, bass, keyboard, drums and vocals as well as a summer camp

Burlington County

Perkins Center for the Arts (Moorestown) - classes and workshops for ages 3 & up; offerings include art, pottery and drama; also a summer camp program & classes offered in Moorestown

Camden County

Perkins Center for the Arts (Collingswood) - classes and workshops for ages 3 & up; offerings include art, pottery and drama; also a summer camp program; classes also offered in Collingswood

Essex County

NJPAC (Newark) - young artist talent search for children ages 11 to 22 to participate in their arts training programs; for those interested in acting, dance, vocal and instrumental music
Montclair Art Museum (Montclair) - children's classes & workshops for ages 3 to 12 (broken down by age group) as well as a summer camp program for children ages 5 – 12 and Studio Classes and Workshops for Teens and Adults; family learning lab as well
Studio Kids Art (Montclair) - fine art classes for toddlers to adult; summer camps for kids and tweens/teens
JCC Metrowest Jewish Community Center (West Orange) - has a Children's Production Company that allows kids in Kindergarten through 6th grade to perform in special productions and there is a Teen Production company offering instruction for grades 5-8 and 7-12
Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre (South Orange) - nonprofit theater that offers a summer theatre conservatory for kids 10 to 17 years old
The Messy Artist (South Orange) -introductory art classes for 18 months to 5 years and fine art classes for pre-K through 6th grade
South Orange Performing Arts Center (South Orange) - education programs include ArtWorks, performing arts training and leadership program for kids in grades 5 to 7 and 8 to 12; Story Dances for ages 3 to 5
Luna Stage Theatre Company (West Orange) - classes for children include Little Luna, whose curriculum is geared for ages 3-5, 5-7 and 7-10; there's also a Musical Theatre Playground for grades 1-4 and a Young Artists @ Luna program for grades 4-6, 6-8 and 8-12; also offers some family programs, see What's Playing

Hunterdon County

Red Oak Ballet (Lebanon) - dance classes start with Toddler Classes for walkers up to 3 years; also classes in ballet, pointe, tap, pilates and adult ballet

Mercer County

The American Repertory Ballet and Princeton Ballet School (Princeton) - children's division classes offered for various age groups starting at 4 years old; one of the largest not-for-profit dance schools in the country;
The McCarter Theatre Center (Princeton) - education programs include after-school theater classes for kids in grades K-12 and a summer theater program for grades K-12
The Kelsey Theatre (West Windsor) - part of the Mercer County Community College; Tomato Patch workshops for kids and teens
West Windsor Arts Center (West Windsor) - classes for kids starting at age 4 years through teen in visual arts, sciences, creative movement, yoga, theater, dance and more; also do camp programs in the spring and summer

Middlesex County

Center Stage Dance and Theatre School (East Brunswick) - dance programs 3 yrs & older as well as theatre programs and vocal lessons for children
The Actors Garage (Edison)- classes for children ages 2-4, 4-6 & 7 & older
Metuchen Creative Studio (Metuchen) - children's classes starting at age 5; also summer sessions
Central Jersey Dance & Gymnastics Center (Middlesex) - dance, tumbling and gymnastics classes as well as combo classes
Mason Gross School of the Arts (New Brunswick) - Mason Gross Prep Schools offers several enrichment and art programs for children including Music Together classes, Young Maestros (introduction to music and piano study for ages 4-5), a Young Artist program, Art classes for ages 6 up to 18 and creative dance for ages 4-11
George Street Playhouse (New Brunswick) - theatre classes for various age groups including "Saturday Morning Classes" and "Musical Movement"
State Theatre (New Brunswick) - educational events including Family Day workshops for kids of various ages, educational events for older children and the free Milk & Cookies program for kids 3-8
Zimmerli Art Museum (New Brunswick) - Drawing Club in the spring and fall for ages 6 to 8 and 9 to 14; Teen Drawing Society in the spring and fall for ages 14 to 19; week-long summer program for ages 7 to 14; Passport to Art, a family art session held on select Saturdays
A Step in Time Dance Center (Parlin) - 18 1/2 Mommy & Me classes as well as other dance classes for ages 2 & up; hip-hop, ballet, tap, jazz and more
City Dance Academy (Perth Amboy) - dance classes include Creative Tots for ages 3-4; Jazz for ages 5-9 and 7-10; ballet/tap for ages 5-7; hip-hop for ages 7-12 and more
A.T.D. Dance Center (Port Reading) - dance classes including ballet, tap, jazz, pointe and more for kids starting at 2 1/2 years old & up; also a location in Union

Monmouth County

Academy of Music and Drama (Fair Haven and Holmdel) - music programs starting for infants plus lessons and children's choir for older ones; drama classes for children 9 and older and musical theater for 12 & up
LA Dance (Lincroft) - Mommy & Me classes 18 mo to 3 years; dance classes 3 years and up
Algonquin Arts Theatre (Manasquan) - education programs include the Performing Arts Academy, with classes for ages 6 years & older and a Performing Arts Summer Camp for kids 6 years & older; (732) 528-9224
Center Stage Dance and Theatre School (Marlboro) - dance programs 3 yrs & older as well as theatre programs and vocal lessons for children
Arts & Education Center (Matawan) - In collaboration with 23 school districts in Middlesex County, children, accepted into the program by audition, are released from their schools and bused to a central location for weekly classes in creative writing, music, dance, theatre, photography or visual arts taught by outstanding teaching artists. The Arts Middle School program was added in 1994 and now includes children in the 6th, 7th and 8th grades.
Young at Art Studio (Matawan) - art classes, including summer courses, for kids 5 to 19 years
Two River Theatre Company (Red Bank) - offers theater classes for grades 1-12 and various internships
Algonquin Arts (Manasquan) - offers a Performing Arts Academy with a variety of classes for kids 6 & older; high school students can audition for Rising Stars
Paper Moon Puppet Theatre (Atlantic Highlands) - offers family and holiday shows and puppet classes for ages 6 to 12

Morris County

Pax Amicus (Budd Lake) - features Pax Amicus Generation Next, which offers young-adult performers, ages 13 to 18, the opportunity to perform on the Pax Amicus stage
The Original Music School (Cedar Knolls) - mix of students grades 6 to 12; kids under age 10 accepted on a case-by-case basis; (973) 290-9355
The Chatham Community Players (Chatham) - provides an intern program for Chatham High School juniors and seniors; also offers shows for young audiences through the Fantasy Theatre
The Piano Workshop at Chester (Chester) - piano classes as well as private guitar & vocal lessons; offers summer camp music programs for ages 3 & up
The Art of Dance (Chester) - classes for ages 2 1/2 & up include yoga, jazz, hip hop, Irish, ballet, boys-only; also offer summer programs
Calderone School of Music (East Hanover) - music and movement program for children up to 7 years old
The Actors Garage - classes for children ages 2-4, 4-6 & 7 & older; locations in Madison, Parsippany, Whippany, Cedar Knolls & Boonton
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (Madison) - education programs include: the Junior & Senior Corps, a summer program for kids 11 to 17, the Summer Professional Training Program for ages 18 & older and Shakesperience, where students in grades 5 - 12 can spend an entire day together engaging in live Shakespeare as actors and as audience member
Community Theatre at Mayo Center for the Performing Arts (Morristown) - offers a performing arts school for various age groups in acting, singing & musical theater
Morris Museum (Morristown) - art classes for kids ages 6 to 12; the Bickford Theatre offers the Brightest Star Performing Arts school with classes for varying ages as well as a summer performing arts school for those entering grades 6-12
Morris School District Community School (Morristown) - various programs for kids including music, arts & crafts, drama, computers & more
The Growing Stage (Netcong) - include some family and children's peformances; also offers winter educational programs for pre-K through 12th grade & a summer day camp for children who are eligible for kindergarten in the fall of 2011 through students who have completed 8th grade in June of 2011; (973) 347-4946
Visual Arts Center of NJ (Summit) - art classes for kids starting at age 4 and kid workshops; and teen classes; also host special events as well as a Kid's Art Summer Camp for ages 5 to 12 and a Summer Saturday Art Camp for ages 6 to 9
Sharon's Studio of Dance (Whippany) - dance classes including Mommy & Me and those for ages 3 & older; singing and piano lessons starting for age 4 & older; summer camps include Princess & Prince Camp for ages 3 to 6; Stage Door Kids (singing, acting & dancing) for 7 & up; also offer summer lessons in dance, piano and singing; (973) 386-0259

Ocean County

The Strand Theater (Lakewood) - provides various educational programs, including summer camps & theater classes

Somerset County

The Center for Contemporary Art (Bedminster) - studio art classes for ages 4 & older
Raritan Valley Community College (Branchburg) - youth programs include spring and summer offerings such as a young author's workshop, art and fine and performing arts camp; offerings for children 6 to 16 years old
Circus Place (Hillsborough) - New Jersey’s first circus arts school offers programs including Circus Immersion (juggling, stilt walking & more) for ages 7 to 18; Circus Skills courses for ages 7 & up; also a summer Circus Arts & Performance Camp for ages 7 to 14
The Dance Connection (Hillsborough) - kids' dance classes (including boys' dance classes) for ages 3 & older
Kreative Kids Art and Music Academy (Hillsborough) - music classes starting at 12 months, art lessons starting for age 3 & up and drama classes for kindergarten and older; also host special events; summer camp
Triangle Dance Center (Hillsborough) - offer children's dance classes and gymnastics for ages 2 & older
Main Street Dance & Music (Manville) - dance classes for ages 6 months & up including ballet, tap, jazz and hip hop; music classes for 6 months & up as well as private lessons for guitar, violin, viola and cello
Broadway Dance Theatre (North Plainfield) - dance, musical theatre and acting classes as well as voice lessons
Jointure - offers art & other enrichment programs, typically for kids 6 & older, at various locations in Somerset County
The Dance Factory (Skillman) - dance classes include ballet, tap, jazz & hip hop; for 2 1/2 years old through 12th grade
Art-4-All (Somerville) - classes for parents & children and children ages 3 and up; also teen classes; serves Somerset, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Union, Morris, Mercer & Warren counties
Artfully Young (Warren) - art classes for children grades 1 through 7 (broken down into age groups) as well as adults
Farmstead Arts Center (Warren) - art lessons offered for kids 3 to 5 years old and for K-5 as well as teens; there also are piano, viola, and violin lessons for all ages; also weaving classes for all ages from beginners to advanced will be offered on an on-going basis by Farmstead Artist in Residence, Michelle L. Marigliano, who also will be offering the Embracing Creativity Project for children 18 and under with special needs
Wagner Farm Arboretum (Warren) - art classes for kids for kids in 3rd through 6th grade; also do summer art classes for various age groups
Warren Recreation (Warren) - children's programs include Rock N Roll Music camps for kids 4 to 6 and 7 to 11, offering an introduction to various musical instruments
Kelsey Performing Arts Center (Warren) - acting and dance classes as well as musical theater; classes for ages 3 years & older; summer camp for ages 6 to 18 years
Art as Therapy (Watchung) - Lisa Brown offers various workshops for kids including Art for Children and Mosaics for Kids for ages 9 & up
Watchung Arts Center (Watchung) -painting classes for ages 6-12 as well as performance arts classes

Union County

Calderone School of Music (Springfield) - music and movement program for children up to 7 years old
A.T.D. Dance Center (Union) - dance classes including ballet, tap, jazz, pointe and more for kids starting at 2 1/2 years old & up; also a location in Port Reading
New Jersey Workshop for the Arts (Westfield) - offerings include a 5-week summer program for pre-K to 8th grade; Music Connections, a reduced fee instrumental music program for special needs families with children 6 years & older and private lessons

Warren County

Centenary Stage Company (Hackettstown) -offers a Young Performers Workshop for ages 8 to 18 with a spring and fall semester and a 5-week summer course; the Tyro Theatre Program for ages 6 to 8 and 9 to 11; Acting classes for kids include Acting for Young Thespians (ages 13 - 18) each spring and fall; also Dance Classes