Canada Water Studios is a dance and activity venue near Surrey Quays in the London borough of Southwark. It hosts a broad programme of classes, from ballet to fitness and various dance styles, in clean, comfortable studios. It suits Londoners after a relaxed, drop-in-friendly place to move without committing to membership.
Regulars value the easygoing, upbeat atmosphere and the absence of membership fees that are common elsewhere in the capital. Reviewers describe tidy studios, friendly staff and a creative feel that draws whole families in for a range of activities.
The programme spans dance classes in London across several styles, taught by instructors who run their own sessions within the studios. Because some classes book through the venue and others directly with the teacher, Londoners hunting for dance lessons, salsa classes, line dancing, ballet classes or adult dance classes can pick and choose what suits. Each class stands on its own, so you can dip into different styles and levels at your own pace.
Newcomers tend to find the setting relaxed and unintimidating, with no membership hurdle to clear before joining a class. Bring comfortable clothing and suitable soft shoes for your chosen style, and check whether to book through the studio or the instructor.
The studios sit close to Canada Water and Surrey Quays in south-east London, an accessible spot for dancers across the area.
Fantastic local ballet studio offering a wide range of classes. I'm not sure why I saw a 1 star review! It is very difficult to build a large dance studio complex full of showers and changing rooms etc. Given the architectural limitations (built on the ground floor of a housing complex) I think this place is brilliant.
The receptionist was polite and friendly and most importantly knowledgeable about classes and teachers etc.
They also charge very competitive hire fees if you need somewhere quickly, as I did!— Henry St clair
I love this place; the atmosphere is very relaxed. I like it because there are no membership fees like most places in London. Some classes are booked via the studio's online booking system and some are booked directly with the instructor. My whole family do activities there and the kids love it.— Hubble Bubble
I have been to these studios many times as I live nearby. They are great as they have wide variety of activities from yoga and fitness to various dance styles, nice comfy clean studios, loos and changing room. Always very creative and upbeat atmosphere and friendly staff. Perfect choice for me.— Lily Young
wonderful studio in canada water offering yoga, pilates, dance, and fitness classes. the two studio spaces are nice and bright compared to many other places in london that have no natural light. I enjoyed teaching yoga there – the students are lovely and the staff great to deal with.— Kristy Robinson
The core salsa step is simple to grasp, while the timing and turn patterns reward a bit of regular practice. Beginner classes and social dancing help it click quickly.
Yes, salsa is very much learnable from scratch and beginner sessions assume no background. Most people in the room started exactly where you are.
Adults can certainly learn ballet, and there are classes designed specifically for adult beginners. You can expect gains in flexibility, strength and posture over time.
It is never too late to start ballet for enjoyment and fitness, whatever your age. Only a professional stage career depends on early training.
Common building blocks include the grapevine, the step-touch, the kick-ball-change, the pivot turn and the shuffle. These recur across many routines, so learning them once carries you a long way.
Simple, repetitive dances with a small number of steps are the friendliest starting point for newcomers. An instructor can steer you towards a beginner-level routine to try first.