From Blog Director Jill Randall:
A few years back, pre-pandemic, I created a “dance guide” series for several cities around the country. Guest writers shared a window into each community.

In 2026, I am aiming to publish updated guides and new guides. If interested in writing a guide about your community, write to me at randalldanceprojects@gmail.com. There is a stipend for the project.

Today I am thrilled to shared an updated guide for Salt Lake City, created by Lauren Cheree. Thank you to Molly Heller and Ashley Anderson who co-wrote the first guide back in 2015.
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Fast-growing Salt Lake City is becoming a Western hub for the dance realm on this side of America. Historically brought to the modern dance scene by Virginia Tanner, Shirley Ririe, Joan Woodbury, and Linda C. Smith, the valley welcomes dancers from everywhere. Besides its roots in classical modern dance, Salt Lake also boasts large hip hop, commercial, and international dance communities. 

With so many genres afoot, opportunities and places to train vary in resources. From a contemporary perspective, dancers nowadays must flex a wide skill set – many are trained in multiple specialties, on top of marketing, managing, and networking. 

This guide offers a comprehensive, choose-your-own adventure when it comes to class taking, art producing and cross training in the Salt Lake City area. 

Class Series and Studio Spaces 

Freelancers rejoice! There are many chances to take class every day of the week. Independent series host a rotating roster of instructors from the valley as well as guest artists. Additionally, a variety of studios offer a range of styles and levels scattered around Salt Lake. 

Independent Contemporary Series:

• Dance Class for Humans – open level series ranging from professional to beginner friendly improvisation. Local and guest teachers, with work study opportunities available as well. @dance_class_for_humans for further information
• The Woods Dance Project – pre and professional level series with rotating local teachers. Contemporary phrase work, improvisation and floorwork exploration. Work study available! @thewoodsdance or visit this website
• Company Classes by RDT and Ririe-Woodbury – professional level classes taught by directors or company members. Additional classes in the evening through RDT’s Center on Broadway Program.

Studio Spaces 

• Millennium Dance Complex – top of the industry commercial training. Classes start at basic and escalate to advanced. So many styles including heels, hip hop, contemporary, krump, and fitness classes. Work study available. @mdcslc or their website
• Junction Dance Studio –  Diverse studio for all ages. Their adult classes range from house to breaking to contemporary. Pre and professional company offered as well: visit this website
• The HERC – Hip Hop Education Center (or 1520 Arts) offers not only dance but DJ classes as well. Free open style session every Sunday night! Visit their website for more information.
• Ebb and Flow – Open level adult classes ranging from heels to yoga. Women owned business! Diverse selection of instructors and pop up events. They’re all about low pressure vibes! Visit their website here.
• The Salt Mine – For those with spicy tastes, Salt Mine offers pole, aerial and burlesque classes. Every level is catered to, if you want more you can even book private lessons. Check out their vibes here!
• DF Dance Studio – Dancers who love and need partner classes rejoice! Salsa, bachata, west coast swing and country swing live here. Open level schedule can be found here.

Companies, Collectives, and Crews

Alright, so now you know where to train. What about those lovely performance opportunities everyone thirsts for?

Salt Lake booms with not only professional companies, but fierce collectives and fun loving crews too. Whether you’re looking for a family or a full time career, you’ll be sure to find something that suits your niche.

• Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company – Making Salt Lake weird since 1964, women founded RW makes waves on the international stage. Attend company class, performances and auditions whenever contracts are offered. @ririewoodbury or their website for more delicious details.
• Repertory Dance Theatre – Sister company to Ririe-Woodbury dwells more in the classical modern realm. Looking to brush up that technique? Take company class or see a performance @rdtutah
• Ballet West – Historically and currently Salt Lake’s largest ballet company. Offers adult classes everyday, various levels. Find out more about classes and performances here.
• Fleet Co-Op – Fierce Fleet Co Op, founded in 2023, prioritizes collaboration over hierarchy. Character centered work mixed with hip hop and contemporary vernacular. See their annual show or attend one of their open sessions @fleetcoop
• Salt Lake Ballet Co Op – Quirky and queer SLBC offers paid performance opportunities to those who attend class regularly. Take class and meet the crew @saltlakeballetcoopertive!
• Salt Contemporary – Professional contemporary company who brings a taste of New York to Salt Lake. Connect with the main and second company via performances or their annual audition festival, Link, here.
• Fem Dance Co – Prioritizing women in dance, women led and founded Fem produces contemporary concerts. Audition or support their shows @femdanceco
• Sock Opera Dance Co – Project based contemporary theater led by Constance Anderson. Films, live shows, stunning work galore. Take pop up class or follow the trail @sock.opera.dance.company
• Myriad Dance Co – Performances abundant with (you guessed it) contemporary collaboration. Follow the projects and get into that audition @myriaddance
• SB Dance Co – Curbside traveling theater! Exciting and sensual group of stunning artists. Get to a show @sbdanceco
• Heartland Collective – THE OG collective of the Salt Lake scene. Multidisciplinary Heartland challenges the experience of live performance and conventional choreography. Follow them @heartland.collective
• Cybotics Crew – Animation Dance Crew who don’t appear human. Come to an open session or a locally hosted battle! @cyboticscrew
• Sol Tribe – Various hip hop styles crew with astronomical steeze. Support their local battle events or come to session! @sOl.tribe
• Boom Crew – Hosted through Millennium, this crew sets fire to every stage they touch. Advanced hip hop and contemporary dancers. Ready to work late into the night? Audition information here.
• SLC Punks – Waacking, punking and DRAMA. Talent off the charts when it comes to club style dance. Come to open session or watch them battle… you won’t regret it @slc.punks
• Odyssey Dance Theatre – Professional company for dancers who do it all. High octane performances all year and an annual audition @odysseydancetheatre
• Samba Fogo – Semi-professional samba company with an ongoing class series, local and guest artists. Get ready to sweat out of your skin or audition! @sambafogo

There’s more where all these came from, and who’s to say you can’t start your own? 

Sharing Work

Grants, applications, non profits, oh my! Funding for the arts is in a rocky place to say the least. Nonetheless, there are plenty of opportunities to acquire money or present works in progress. 

Platforms:

• Monday Movement Lab – Usually the first Monday of each month, artists receive a stipend, an audience and a feedback circle after presenting. Films and live performances are accepted! Brief application link here.
• 12 Minutes Max – Hosted by the GIANT public library downtown, various disciplines are showcased along with a Q&A after each piece. Low stakes and friendly! More information here.
• 801 Salon – Non-profit designed to support local work, from galleries to evening length shows. Open call audition for Playground in the summer. Inquiries can be sent to info@801salon.com or follow the Instagram @801.salon
• NOORI screendance festival – funded by loveDANCEmore, this annual festival is not to be missed. Local, national and international films are showcased each year. More Q&A’s of course! More information on the loveDANCEmore website.
• Utah Dance Film Festival – Internationally recognized UDFF offers an incredible opportunity for various lengths and styles of dance film. Learn more with this link!

Choreographic festivals pop up throughout the valley each year. Each vary in offerings, application fees and style. 

• Utah Arts Festival – 800+ artists gather every June to present work for three days. Any form of art is welcomed! Apply here.
• Oquirrh West Project – Provides an annual concert full of local choreographers, professionals encouraged to apply.
• Movers + Makers Choreography Intensive – hosted through Wasatch Contemporary, this doubles as their company audition. You can apply for the maker track which invites you to set work in a three day intensive. Find out more at this link.

Last but not least, some grants for those wishing to fund endeavors:

• Utah Division of Arts and Museums – Project support grants for mixed media artists. Guidelines and deadlines listed here.
• Salt Lake Arts Council – Variety of specific grants for individuals or collectives. Some made for the Lake, some for other large projects. Find your flavor here.

Conclusion

A guide like this is forever a work in progress. Many smaller collectives, grants, and outlying companies still exist in the valley. Think of this more as a solid starting point. 

Feeling overwhelmed with options? Try these steps in accordance with the guide:

1. Follow (on social media or otherwise) which spaces or artists MOST excite you. Who or what is inspiring to you?
2. Practice consistency. Found one class taught by that one teacher who sets you free? Keep showing up to that commitment each week.
3. Support other artists and network. Chances are, you’ll find more opportunities face to face than you ever would online. 

Welcome to Salt Lake City, the hidden gem of the West. Make yourself at home!

Lauren Cheree is a freelance dancer and writer in Salt Lake City. Lauren has worked in multiple styles, ranging from ballet to samba to hip hop, prioritizing curiosity in the field. They maintain a blog called travelbarefoot and dream of traveling and dancing full time.