The Dance Garage sits in the centre of Norwich and is best known as a lively arts venue with its own auditorium and the Locomotion Cafe on site. Alongside performances and family shows, it runs a programme of classes that draws a steady stream of young people and students. Visitors often mention the friendly staff and the interactive, hands-on approach to sessions for children. It is a spot where dance sits comfortably beside theatre and community activity.
The building brings together a performance space, a cafe and studio areas under one roof, which gives it a busy, informal feel. Much of the timetable is geared towards children and teenagers, with daytime sessions that keep even young toddlers engaged. Reviewers tend to single out the patience and warmth of the people who run the classes.
If you are looking for dance classes in Norwich, the venue leans heavily towards younger age groups, though its wider programme touches on several styles. Families searching for ballet classes in Norwich or an introduction to movement for children will find the daytime sessions a natural fit. Adult dance classes in Norwich are less of a focus here, so anyone specifically after salsa classes in Norwich or line dancing in Norwich may want to check the current schedule before committing. The mix of performance and teaching means the atmosphere is closer to a creative hub than a formal studio.
Arrive a little early so you can find your way around the cafe and studio areas without rushing. If you are coming to watch a show rather than take part, the seating is stepped and fairly firm, so a cushion is a sensible idea. Staff are used to first-timers and happy to point you in the right direction.
Being in the heart of Norwich, the venue is easy to combine with a wider trip into the city.
Love it here, they have an awesome range of classes for kids and the Locomotion Cafe inside does great Cappuccinos…possibly the best in Norwich.
Update to my review: my wife took the kids to the Rapunzel play and said it was amazing, I read some reviews online after and everyone else seems to agree.
Also forgot to mention that my eldest kid has been doing Street Dance and Ballet classes run by Slanted Dance here and they're awesome – teachers are fantastic and the kids love it as well. They do performances at the end of each term and it's quite amazing seeing how much confidence the kids h— Andrew
It's a nicely arranged venue with Cafe and nice toilets, dance classes etc are available, mostly for young people / students? The main performance auditorium has Firm stepped seating, and a gallery… Tip bring a cushion and for leg room get in early and sit in front, unreserved seating every performance I have been to.
Never been upstairs, staff are friendly,focussed and helpful
The put on interesting stuff we were at a fantastic licenced performance of 'Fiddler on the Roof ' by Livewire Opera. I recommend the company
Norfolk and Norwich Festival performances are often on here and worth— Andrew Partridge
What a great place. They really cater to small children. The theatre is not conventional as there's no real defined stage. They're very interactive with the kids…even very young toddlers. The staff are super friendly and they offer a lot of kids daytime classes such as street dancing but they also do some adult classes. There's a nice cafe on site with soups, sandwiches cold and hot drinks of all kinds. Highly recommend!— Jeremy Keller
My daughter had a dance birthday party here. The dance teacher Scott was brilliant. Full of energy and he made it so much fun! He remembered all the girls names in minutes and really got them to let go end enjoy themselves. Will definitely recommend. Thank you. Kirsty— Kirsty
Salsa takes a little patience at the start because it relies on timing and a repeated basic step, but most people pick up the fundamentals within a few sessions. Regular practice makes the rhythm feel natural sooner than you might expect.
Yes, salsa is often taught from the ground up, so no prior experience is needed. Beginner classes assume you are starting fresh and build the steps gradually.
Adults can absolutely take up ballet, and many studios run classes aimed specifically at grown-up beginners. Progress comes with consistent attendance rather than any particular starting age.
There is no upper limit for learning ballet for enjoyment and fitness. Adult classes welcome people well into later life, focusing on posture, flexibility and steady improvement.
Common building blocks include the grapevine, the step-touch, the kick-ball-change, the shuffle and the pivot turn. These few moves reappear across countless line dances once you know them.
Simple routines with repeating four-wall patterns, such as basic step-touch dances, are the gentlest way in. They let you focus on the rhythm before adding turns and more intricate footwork.