Downtown | Greater Baltimore
(At Brown Memorial Woodbrook Church)
6200 N. Charles Street, 21212; 410-388-2789
Abrakadoodle, Inc. is a national mobile art education program for children 20 months to 12 years old. Art classes, camps, special events, and parties are offered at a variety of locations, such as in churches and community centers. Brown Memorial Woodbrook Church in Mount Washington attracts families from both Baltimore City and Baltimore County for their Abrakadoodle programs; however, Abrokadoodle will accommodate families at a location of their choice with a minimum number of children to be enrolled.
1340 Smith Avenue, 21209; 410-532-3144
Amazing Glaze is a paint-your-own pottery studio in Mt. Washington Mill. Families can drop in to create pottery art or take part in a scheduled workshop emphasizing mosaics, brushstrokes, sponging, and other techniques. Customers select and purchase their own pottery from more than 400 pieces; supplies and more than 100 paint colors are provided. Finished masterpieces are then dipped in clear glaze and fired. Amazing Glaze also offers after-school classes and summer camps. Amazing Glaze can be an ideal activity and location for birthday parties.
10534 York Road, Suite 201, Cockeysville, 21030; 410-667-7974
In addition to ballet, the Baltimore Ballet School also offers jazz, tap, hip-hop, and modern dance classes for youth. Children as young as 3 years old can participate in the Baby Ballerinas class and move through the Basic Dance and Pre-Ballet classes as they get older. After a child is 7 years old, he or she may enter the pre-professional classes, which are based on the Russian Vaganova style. In these more advanced classes, emphasis will be placed on proper technique, strength building, balance, and flexibility. The Baltimore Ballet Company’s repertoire includes nine professional ballets, such as The Nutcracker and Swan Lake, performed at distinguished theaters throughout Baltimore County. Students of the school often participate in these performances in addition to class recitals.
5707 Smith Avenue, 21209; 410-578-1919
Baltimore Clayworks is a nonprofit ceramic art center providing artistic, educational, and collaborative programs in ceramic arts. Weekday evening and weekend classes are offered to youth 6–15 years old. Family workshops are also available on weekends and are designed for parents and children 3–5 or 6–11 years old. All classes and workshops in ceramic sculpture and pottery are taught by working artists seriously engaged in their own artwork. Summer camps involving clay sculptures and painting classes are also available throughout the summer.
1546 Eastern Boulevard, 21221; 410-574-2444
The Baltimore Dance Center offers a variety of dance styles that include hip hop, tap, jazz, and ballet. Serving the Baltimore metro and surrounding areas, the Center’s mission is to produce versatile dancers with solid technique and strong dance style by offering youth training and pre-professional adult programs leading to their professional in-residence dance company, the Baltimore Dance Attack.
6900 Park Heights Avenue, 21205; 410-215-2262
A family and community centric based on the internationally renowned music education method of Suzuki has given decades of students the experience and expertise to excel in music and academics. Started by
the Baltimore City school system in 1983, BTEC is open to all students without an audition, and provides scholarships to erase any obstacles to music education. Children as young as 4 1/2 years may enter the
program and continue lessons through high school. Parental and/or mentor involvement is a vital part of the BTEC program. Parents attend lessons and are trained to be home teachers. All students have weekly
lessons and a self-learning theory package. On Saturdays, the students come together at the Homewood Friends Meeting House for repertoire classes and large ensembles. All levels of string instrument lessons (guitar, piano violin, viola, cello, bass) are available.
100 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 202, Towson, 21286; 410-494-1480
The Children’s Chorus of Maryland & School of Music is dedicated to excellence, aesthetic sensitivity, play-based learning, respect, and diversity. This program provides children and youth with professional performance opportunities. The chorus is open to children 5 ½ to 16 years old by audition. There is also an early childhood music program, Crickets, for students 4–6 years old. In 1998 and 2003, the Children’s Chorus of Maryland & School of Music was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City, where they received standing ovations.
3400 Norman Avenue, Towson, 21213; 410-554-8644
The Maryland State Boy Choir, located in Towson, draws a diverse group of students from all over Maryland, offering boys 7–20 years old the opportunity to join one of five choirs that sing a broad repertoire from traditional renaissance to contemporary gospel. Boys will receive training in vocal technique, music theory, and choral singing, in addition to receiving educational and social opportunities. The Maryland State Boy Choir has produced five recordings and has performed and toured nationally and internationally, most notably at venues located in Washington D.C., New York City, Ireland, and England. Although audition for acceptance is required, prior musical training is not expected, and applicants are accepted regardless of families’ financial means.
3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 108, 21211; 410-235-9003
Morton Street Dance Center is a comprehensive dance school that teaches children and adults a variety of dance disciplines through age-appropriate, developmental instruction. The youngest students, 3–5 years old, enroll in creative movement and pre-dance classes that focus on rhythm, balance, and pattering. Older children may enroll in classical ballet, tap, African dance, and modern dance classes. All students perform at the annual spring concert, and youth 8–18 years old may audition to become part of The Repertory ensemble. This ensemble frequently performs at various local venues and festivals, including Artscape, the African American Heritage Arts Festival, and at the Hippodrome.
(at First English Lutheran Church)
3807 N. Charles Street, 21218; 410-753-2958
The New Handel Children's Choir of Baltimore shares choral music from a variety of traditions with a broad and diverse audience. The choir makes choral music accessible to children 6–17 years old throughout Baltimore in a positive, child-centered environment. Children rehearse after school weekly at the First English Lutheran Church in North Baltimore and perform a wide variety of choral music, from classical to folk to world music. They have performed at venues that have included The Kennedy Center, Baltimore’s CityLit Festival, and Coppin State University, among others. Discounts for siblings and partial scholarships are available for deserving students.
623 West 34th Street, Suite 105, 21211; 443-768-7575
Located in the Hampden neighborhood of Baltimore, Studio Thirty4 is a dance and movement center offering children and adults a variety of dance genres that include modern contemporary styles, hip hop, African dance, break dance, belly dance, jazz, and ballet. Youth classes are designed by age and ability levels, striving to provide a nurturing and challenging environment to promote confidence and self-esteem. Children as young as 3 years old can participate in creative movement and hip hop classes as a forerunner to more advanced instruction later. Morning and evening cardio classes that include Zumba, Pilates, and yoga are offered for adults. Studio Thirty4 is also home to the modern dance company, Shange Dance Productions; the hip hop competition team, Urban Troops; and a local b-boy crew. Free ample parking is available.
2901 Druid Park Drive, 21215; 410-669-DRUM
Sankofa Dance Theatre is a community-based arts organization in Druid Hill, promoting authentic African art forms through dance, music, folklore, and crafts. Sankofa is a professional traveling dance company and also holds dance and drumming classes offered to children as young as 3 years old through teenage students. Sankofa’s Summer Arts Camp offers cultural enrichment for grade school students through art activities, such as fabric printing and mask making, music and movement games, listening to and telling African folklores, dancing, and playing the drums.
Zebra Kids, Inc. was founded to provide exposure to cultural traditions and expose all children to ethnic customs through dance, drumming, storytelling, poetry, tribal history, and arts and crafts. Unlike classical training, African movement classes for 3- to 10-year-olds and teens and adults use the mélange of African dance and students’ interpretation of the rhythm, allowing for the freedom of expression while using techniques learned in class. Children will learn how to move and listen to the drum with sensitivity and readiness. Drumming classes, focusing on rhythm, base, and tone to convey a series of emotions or celebration, are offered to children ages 4–10 years old and 10 and up.