Stage 7 School of Dance

Kathryn Irey teaches out of this studio and she’s F$%@ brilliant. The floors are sprung Marley and clean and well maintained.
If the student doesn’t pay attention, the **brilliant** analysis about which muscle group should be engaged going across the floor leading into XYZ and how that leads into ABC will fly right by. She’s already moved on…
At this point in my life I’ve watched many teachers including some well known Russians and their holy Russian techniques, and Ms. Irey is better than most. Parents, if you have a self-​motivated dance teenage kid that is discouraged/​injured, go see Kathryn. If there are concerns about going en pointe go learn how to do it right from Kathryn. She gets it. (Get the book Perfect Pointe too.)
Hip hop dancers: your game will go to the next level learning ballet from Ms. Irey. I’m not kidding.

I started Ballet I and I felt welcomed, challenged, and accepted by the teacher and the ballet dancers. Everyone was so nice and the environment felt positive. Although it was a group of six dancers including myself, she gave me the attention that I needed. I am rusty and she made that clear in such a positive and supportive way! I am definitely going back and adding this dance studio into my routine.

Kathryn is the most innovative, ballet teacher (or dance teacher in general) that I have ever come across. She teaches integrated movement and has really helped me in so many areas of not just my dancing but movement in general. Her classes are affordable, which is a great plus! I love the attention she can pay to you and your specific body to give you just the corrections you need. Great place to really learn how to move, in order to dance!

I had not done ballet in 50yrs (yes, I am a senior) and Kathryn was able to get me back in the groove with her very first class. There are students of all ages. The time goes by so quickly that I am amazed. 5 stars is not enough for this great place!

Stage 7 is the place to be if you want to be challenged AND supported. It has a welcoming and eclectically vibrant atmostphere.
I go to Stage 7 for the ballet. Kathryn Irey urges us students to ‘listen inside, and not copy the teacher’. We are required to ‘be true to ourselves, in order to further our own cause.’ We are there to ‘notice and create connections’ within ourselves. Kathryn uses humor, clear, thematic instruction, and relatively pared down exercises in order to give each student an entry point into the best possible use of him or herself. She structures exercises in such a way that each and every student can benefit from each and every exercise. This approach seems to facilitate progess quickly.
Kathryn teaches the class from a vantage point that only someone with world-​class training, an international dance career, and extensive and indepth study of the Alexander Technique could! One would be remiss in not tapping into the vastness of her knowledge, the warmth of her spirit, and the endless curiosity of her intellect – no matter what your particular dance/​movement/​life goals may be!
Oh yes, and there are fun, non-​traditional performance opportinities – like the North Park Festival of the Arts or Soirees at the studio – for those who want to challenge themselves with individual or group learning projects outside of class. Really, what more could you ask for?

I’m a former professional ballet dancer and was looking for a place to take ballet classes. Kathryn is an excellent ballet teacher and I love taking her Saturday advanced class.
Her studio has a very welcoming and relaxed atmosphere while still maintaining a high level of professionalism. One ballet class is only $ 9 which is very reasonable and the class is never over-​crowded.
Her sweet dog, Remy, watches the class from his cage and loves a good belly rub after class. :-)

I am taking ballet here, and Kathryn Irey is one of the best teachers I’ve ever worked with. You can read about her professional background at
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She focuses mainly on core awareness and alignment, with spectacular results. My center work has improved under her guidance. This is a great place to go if you want to improve your technique — right in the middle of North Park, at 30^th and University. The dance space is large and well-​lit, with plenty of space for storing your non-​dance stuff.

I first have to say– Unilocal!!! Why are you asking me if this place serves alcohol? It’s not that kind of dance studio! Splash is down the street!
So I went for my first ballet class today with Kathryn. She’s a hoot. She’s very knowledgeable in ballet and there were 7 of us in the beginner’s class. She took the time to learn my name (and knew everyone else) and I got a lot of personal attention. (so did everyone else– she takes the time to correct each student) She works very hard to make sure you get a good stretch and align your body properly. At the end of class one of the older students and I were talking and she called the class «personal physical therapy» because she felt that Kathryn takes the time to know and help each person and his/​her physical capabilities.
The studio has a nice, open floor. The seats are like old theatre seats or movie seats. They definitely show their age, but I really liked it because it made the studio seem less stuffy. Everyone was super friendly — most of the women in the class were at least mid-​20s up through 50s. I really enjoyed the welcoming atmosphere. My classmates were totally helpful with the combos and warm ups, since each dance studio has its own style and it was my first time.
There is no accompanist, but that is OK with me. This studio may not be for the totally self-​conscious, since there is a large window to 30^th ST and everyone can see you. (But really, if you’re an adult trying to learn ballet you’ve probably gotten over that!)
Classes start at $ 9 each for ballet, but you can buy a pack and get it down to $ 7 a class. Classes are 1.5 hours each.
I will be back! Thanks, Kathryn!!!

Great instructors and they’re all really nice. SO many different types of dance and so I didn’t feel like it was a dance studio for teenie-​boppers who wanted to make it in the music video one day. The cost per session wasn’t bad either.

Wonderful quality classes! Offering a variety of dance, music, and movement. Kathryn Irey is an encycolpedia of movement and an inspiring teacher.
Great location, easy to find, great overall experience!

I will always have a nostalgic love for this dance studio because this is where I first learned to bellydance.
They have a variety of classes available here, from ballet, to tango, to African, to bellydance.
The first of the two classes that I have attended is Dilek’s beginning bellydance class on Sundays at 4pm in the small back studio. She teaches them in 6 week sessions, which are only $ 60 per session. Check her website for the beginning of the next session cycle:

FYI: If the front of the studio is locked, there is an entrance from the back alley.
Dilek is an amazing teacher who has studied traditional Turkish bellydance, as well as with the famous dancer Suhaila Salimpour, and she incorporates Suhalia’s technique into the class. The emphasis is on conditioning and the meticulous breaking down of each dance move. Everything is explained perfectly, then the class practices it in various patterns so that it is committed to muscle memory.
I can’t tell you how valuable this instruction has been in my bellydance education. It is the strongest platform you can start from, and from there, you can go anywhere with it.
The second teacher I’ve studied with there is Heather Stants. Heather is the founder of Urban Tribal Dance Company,
Her style is a fusion of many forms such as American Tribal Style and modern dance. She is an amazing teacher, extremely thorough and knowledgeable, and she is a very creative choreographer.
Tuesdays at 7 is her beginning bellydance class, and at 8 is the intermediate.
If you are interested in bellydance, or already studying bellydance but you want to study with someone new, I highly suggest taking a class at Stage 7 with either of these fabulous women.

The facility is always clean and instructors are always respectful to classes after theirs.