Academy of Russian Ballet, the first school of Russian dance in Minnesota, was founded by Kirill Bak and Svetlana Gavrilova, graduates of the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, one of the most prestigious ballet schools in the World.

The school offers instruction for ages three and up, using the Vaganova method, focusing on technique, dancer safety, artistry, and athleticism. Performance opportunities for students include fall and spring shows, a spring recital, and an annual Nutcracker production.

Camps: Summer offerings include one- and two-week programs in June and July for ages four and up. Ballet intensives include character, conditioning, aerial, and partner elements; for younger children, there is an arts and crafts component.

Cinema Ballroom offers instruction in partner dance for youth and adults, through private lessons, group lessons, and weekly dance parties where moves can be practiced. Classes are ongoing; students can sign up at any time, and with or without a partner.

Baby Ballroom (www.babyballroom.com; 651.468.9763) offers a unique way for parents to learn ballroom, Latin, and swing dance: partnered with their infants, toddlers, or older kids! Classes also include parachute circle time, puppets, and sing-alongs. More than one child (or more than one adult) may attend together. A kids-only class is offered for ages three to six.

DD's offers school-year dance classes for kids ages three and up who are interested in recreational lessons or classes geared toward all levels of competition.

Dance styles taught include tap, ballet, jazz, lyrical, and hip hop - though most classes feature a combination - and performances opportunities are offered throughout the year. Some summer day camps are also available.

Deuxmensions offers classical ballet, tap, jazz, creative movement, and modern dance classes for ages three and up during school-year and summer sessions, with performance opportunities in December (informal) and June (costumed). The Junior Dance Theatre company offers additional performance opportunities for committed students ages 12 to 18.

Attire to meet the dress code, which varies by age and class, must be purchased from the school, though used shoes may be purchased from other students, if available.

Birthday parties: Disco, anyone? Themed dance parties can be booked in the studio. Call 952.926.7542 for more information or to book.

Dreamland Arts, a welcoming performing arts studio, offers classes, workshops, and performances in theater, music, puppetry, dance, and more. Its intimate 40-seat theater often hosts family-oriented performances.

Parties: Families can schedule a private performance of one of Dreamland's kid-friendly shows in the theater - a portion of the show can even be customized for the birthday child! However, no outside food or beverages are allowed, and no place or time is provided for gift opening and running around - that needs to take place elsewhere.

Hauser Dance is the longest-running modern dance company in the Twin Cities, with a school that offers classes for ages three and up in creative movement, modern dance technique and improvisation, and yoga for teens and adults. Classes emphasize the principles of motion, the joy of moving, and individual creativity.

Camps: Kids ages six to 10 can improvise and create dances in a non-competitive atmosphere - and perform for friends and family on the last day of camp!

Heartbeat Studios caters to both recreational dancers and those with professional aspirations. Lessons incorporate age-appropriate music, choreography, and costumes, and teach dance techniques, impart life skills, and celebrate youth - stressing discipline, dedication, commitment, confidence, self-esteem, and respect.

The Academy Program develops dancers for college and professional careers. The studio is also the official performing arts center for the Minnesota Timberwolves and home to the Beat Squad, the NBA team's hip hop and youth break dance company.

Summer camps: Kids as young as three can explore acting in week-long or evening programs; week-long camps and single-day workshop offerings for older kids focus on poetry, dance, and stage skills.

Parties: The options include dance and exercise activities led by a Heartbeat instructor for a two-hour party, with parents providing food and tableware for the basic party ($150/10 guests), and Heartbeat providing cake and beverages, gift bags, and a keepsake video for the deluxe version ($245/10 guests). Additional guests cost $10-$15 each. Book at least two weeks in advance.

In The Company of Kids offers classes and ShowBiz Kids summer camps exploring dance, acting, improv, voice, and more, and programs for children with special needs such as high-functioning forms of autism. Classes take place in a non-competitive environment, led by professional teachers. Group and private lessons are available by arrangement.

Parties: Two-hour themed parties include invitations, paper goods, food and beverages, a party host, games and activities, decorations, and set-up and clean-up. Parents supply the birthday cake and party favors. Themes include American Idol, cheerleading, Hannah Montana, Cheetah Girls, Transformers, animals, and princesses. Cost: $275/eight kids; $15/each additional child.

Joy Within, a movement and story arts studio, offers classes (often on a drop-in basis) in family yoga, creative movement for boys, dance for parents and preschoolers, and creative writing for young people. Classes take place primarily in Northeast Minneapolis, but check the website for locations on current offerings.

Artistic Director Maria Genne founded Kairos (Greek for "open moment") in 1999. The 19-member company includes dancers ranging in age from six to 91, making it one of only a handful of such intergenerational troupes in the US. The company performs modern and folk dance, drawing on traditions from around the world. Performances take place in libraries, museums, nursing homes, and other venues.

Dance Discovery classes funnel the energy and imagination of kids ages 3 1/2 to 9 into movement, while Young Choreographers classes take kids ages 10 to 15 to the next level, introducing elements of ballet, musical theater, and modern dance.

Several times each year, Kairos offers all-ages workshops, and the organization is available for school residencies. Contact Maria Genne for more information.

Director Connie Murray lends her 30 years of teaching experience to classes in ballet, tap, jazz, and hip hop for ages four and up. The school, which recently moved to its new location from Linden Hills, also offers tai chi classes.

Larkin Dance Studio offers classes for all levels, ages three to adult, in tap, ballet, jazz, lyrical, and hip hop dance. More than 200 of the school's 1,300 students compete at the regional and national level.

Larkin Boutique stocks major brands of shoes, tights, leotards, bags, trim, and other items to meet dancer's needs. Call for hours.

The 7,500-square-foot recreation center at McRae Park hosts dance and craft classes, a computer lab, an indoor playground, rooms that can be rented for parties, and programming for preschoolers through seniors.

The park has ballfields; winter skating, broomball, and hockey; tennis, volleyball, and basketball courts; and a colorful playground with wading pool.

Despite the pain inflicted by ongoing budget cuts, the city's Park Board offerings are a key component of the generally high quality of life in Minneapolis.

The Park Board administers over 150 picnic areas, beaches, and parks, including some four dozen neighborhood Recreation Centers which offer free and low-cost enrichment programming, sports leagues, community events, and Rec Plus year-round childcare for ages five to 12. Phat Summer keeps kids ages 12 to 18 busy with specialized and evening offerings when school's out. Daily live entertainment is offered throughout the summer at several locations, including Minnehaha Park and Lake Harriet.

It also grooms skating rinks in the winter, and maintains the Parade Ice Garden, pastoral Nicollet Island, the Stone Arch Bridge, and other historical sites, and - in partnership with the Walker Art Center - the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, with its signature Spoonbridge and Cherry. Permits to reserve picnic pavillions for private parties at select sites start at $35/half-day.

The Park Board website is easy to navigate and full of useful information. The Park Finder lets users specify which facilities they're looking for, and parking info breaks down the combination of free, meter, pass, and pay-station parking offered in the parks. A page of suggested itineraries offers something for every age and activity level.

This new entity, created by the 2006 merger of Ballet Arts Minnesota and the School of Minnesota Dance Theatre, offers first-rate training in classical ballet and contemporary dance. Instruction is offered year-round for all levels, from beginning to pre-professional to professional.

Classes and summer camps for kid as young as three years old are offered downtown and at the Edina Community Center. Children in the Performing Arts Division can perform at the State Theatre in the classic holiday production, Loyce Houlton's Nutcracker Fantasy.

Minnetonka Dance Theatre and School (MDTS) - founded in 1986 - provides classical ballet (and pre-ballet) instruction for wannabe dancers ages three and up. The school's Youth Ballet Company offers performance opportunities and additional training for advanced students ages 13 to 18.

Pas de Deux offers dance classes based on the Cecchetti Method of Classical Ballet for kids ages four and up at three locations in St. Paul: Dayton's Bluff Rec Center, Hazel Park Rec Center (954 Hazel Street), and at 1899 Larpenteur Avenue West.

Classes include individualized instruction in a relaxed atmosphere, and stretching and barre exercises. Daytime classes are available for homeschooled students and preschoolers. All students are invited to perform in a Spring Recital.

Rhythm and Shoes offers reasonably-priced classes and summer camps in tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, lyrical dance, hip hop, and pilates for children ages two and up, and all levels of experience - including boys-only hip hop classes.

The Dancer's Closet, located inside the studio, offers dancewear, shoes (new and used), and bottled water. Hours: Mon 4:30pm-8pm; Tue-Wed 4pm-8pm; Thu 5pm-8pm. Email dancersclosetigh@aol.com for more information.

South Metro Dance Academy offers recreational and competitive dance classes for students ages three and up. Younger students take combination classes; older students can explore jazz, tap, ballet, and hip hop in more specialized classes.

Sunshine Generation is a national non-auditioned children's performing group, offering boys and girls opportunities to dance, sing, and perform in their local communities, with musical theater-type instruction. Parents must purchase costumes in addition to paying a monthly enrollment fee.

Call or email to find a location near you; the program is offered nationwide.

The Children's Theatre Company (CTC) has long been recognized as North America's flagship theater for young people and families, as well as a major cultural and artistic resource in Minnesota. A recently-completed expansion enhances its considerable offerings.

CTC's season now comprises six mainstage productions, and four additional shows on the newer Cargill Stage, a more intimate venue which hosts fare for teens and preschoolers. CTC has its own resident acting company, so kids are likely to recognize some of the performers from one show to the next. It also employs more than 90 other professionals, who work with more than 300 technicians and actors each year. The productions are lavish, polished, and engaging, with colorful sets, catchy music, simple storylines conveying gentle lessons . . . and the hammy performances kids love.

Subscriptions: Mainstage packages are offered for five or three plays. A three-play Cargill Stage subscription is also available. The five-show preview series is a bargain for either stage. Subscribers receive a plethora of benefits, including discounts on classes, guaranteed seating, discounted tickets for the popular holiday show, and invitations to special pre-show events throughout the season. Subscribing grandparents get free breakfast before Saturday matinees. CTC also produces free family guides for each production, with ideas for discussion and activities to enhance the viewing experience.

Low-cost lap passes are available on the day of the performance for children three and under (everyone entering the theater must have a ticket), and a sound-proofed "crying room" is available at the back of the house, so parents don't have to miss the show if baby gets out of sorts. The visibility isn't great there, but speakers pump in all the sound. Restrooms are on the lower level. Although no seat in the house is more than 70 feet from the stage, be warned that antsy kids seated in the nosebleed section (Second balcony C) might be too far from the action to stay focused.

The new McGuire Education Center has allowed the organization to expand its highly-regarded Theatre Arts Training Program (TAT), which provides arts education and performance opportunities for ages four through 18. Beginning and advanced classes are offered, with auditions required only for the latter. Programming is scheduled year-round, supplemented with summer camps. Call 612.879.5699 for more information.

The Dance Academy offers tap, ballet, jazz, lyrical, and hip-hop dance classes for children ages 3 and up. A boys-only hip-hop class, special workshops, and competition and performing teams are offered as well.

The academy's new school space features four large studios with floating floors and high ceilings, parent viewing areas, a sibling play area, a large waiting area, and convenient parking.

Aaron and Kristin Love's local franchise of the international The Little Gym chain offers professionally-developed, non-competitive programs to promote coordination, balance, rhythm, and flexibility, as well as emotional, social, and intellectual skills.

Parent/child classes (ages four months to three years) are 45 minutes long. One-hour offerings for preschoolers (ages three to six years) and grade schoolers (ages six to 12) include karate, dance, sports, and gymnastics. Enrollment is ongoing, with classes pro-rated for mid-session registrations; visit the website for a current schedule.

Parties: Turn over your guest list and The Little Gym mails out invitations and provides tableware, drinks, a t-shirt for the birthday child, and an instructor and assistant to lead a 90-minute party. Parties can be scheduled on weekends at 12:30pm, 2:30pm & 4:30pm.

Slater and Lise Crosby's local franchises of the international The Little Gym chain offer professionally-developed, non-competitive programs to promote coordination, balance, rhythm, and flexibility, as well as emotional, social, and intellectual skills.

Parent/child classes (ages four months to three years) are 45 minutes long. One-hour offerings for preschoolers (ages three to six years) and grade schoolers (ages six to 12) include karate, dance, sports, and gymnastics. Enrollment is ongoing, with classes pro-rated for mid-session registrations; check the website for a current schedule.

Regularly-scheduled Parents' Survival Nights provide themed childcare on Friday and Saturday evenings for kids ages three to 12, with games and activities.

Parties: Turn over your guest list and The Little Gym mails out invitations, and provides time in a party room with tableware, drinks, a t-shirt for the birthday child, and an instructor and assistant to lead a 90-minute party.

Slater and Lise Crosby's local franchises of the international The Little Gym chain offer professionally-developed, non-competitive programs to promote coordination, balance, rhythm, and flexibility, as well as emotional, social, and intellectual skills.

Parent/child classes (ages four months to three years) are 45 minutes long. One-hour offerings for preschoolers (ages three to six years) and grade schoolers (ages six to 12) include karate, dance, sports, and gymnastics. Enrollment is ongoing, with classes pro-rated for mid-session registrations; check the website for a current schedule.

Regularly-scheduled Parents' Survival Nights provide themed childcare on Friday and Saturday evenings for kids ages three to 12, with games and activities.

Parties: Turn over your guest list and The Little Gym mails out invitations, and provides time in a party room with tableware, drinks, a t-shirt for the birthday child, and an instructor and assistant to lead a 90-minute party.

The Portage for Youth is a non-profit afterschool and summer enrichment program for girls living in the Dayton's Bluff and Payne-Phalen neighborhoods of St. Paul. Its mission is to "provide the tools, opportunities, and support to help at-risk girls dream, achieve, and become healthy, successful adults."

Full- and half-day weeklong summer camps explore visual and performing arts. The program utilizes the facilities of the Mounds Theatre.

Woodbury Dance Center's founding sisters Kathy and Buffy - along with a growing staff - offer creative movement, tap, jazz, ballet, and hip-hop dance instruction in a new studio, with classes acheduled year-round. Specialized offerings include parent/child, tiny tots, and boys-only classes. There's also a small on-site dancer's boutique. The studio offers classes for adults, too.

Birthday parties: Themed 90-minute parties in the studio include a dance class and games, goodie bags, invitations, a t-shirt for the birthday child, time in a private room, and tableware. Parents supply cake and beverages; the school handles set-up and clean-up. Prices range from $145 to $195 for ten guests, depending on age. Available add-ons include more guests or time, costumes to borrow, and hair styling. Book at least two weeks in advance; parties are only offered on Saturday afternoons.

Young Dance seeks to nurture and develop "thinking artists" by providing young people with an outlet for creative expression, high quality performance opportunities, and an appreciation of cultural and artistic diversity.

Classes: Open to ages seven to 18, regardless of experience or skill level. Students practice and learn about creative movement and modern dance in a supportive and collaborative environment. A special class is offered just for boys. No audition is required, and students may sign up at any time during the year.

Company: Currently comprises about two dozen kids. They meet twice weekly, for a total of four hours, to develop technical and choreographic skills. Auditions, held in September, are open to youth ages seven to 18.

In addition to presenting innovative, eclectic, creative, and energizing jazz and modern dance works to Twin Cities (and international) audiences, Zenon offers ballet, creative movement, hip hop, breakdancing, jazz, and modern dance classes for kids ages three and up.

Summer camps are offered in all styles of dance for beginnners through experienced dancers.

Students ages 15 and older can audition for Zenon's Scholarship Program, which offers unlimited classes, and the opportunity to work with local choreographers and perform. All students in the program receive subsidized tuition.

Susana di Palma's Zorongo, a Flamenco dance school and theatre company, offers classes for adults, and kids ages six and up. No dance background is required; kids learn rhythms, techniques, and choreographies through fun and playful exercises.