I've heard great things about Rock Creek Dance. They have classes at various places in N. Bethesda (such as at Walter Johnson HS). www.rockcreekdance.com

Also recommend Princess Mhoon Dance Institute in Silver Spring. Teachers are very nice. They teach ballet, hip hop, jazz, and tap. The children have fun. My daughter loves the classes and camp there. And their price is quite reasonable. Ballet Petite is costly. Washington Ballet and DC Ballet Studio are professional, not the 'relaxed' type. Cleveland Park Club also has a ballet studio. My friend's daughter used to learn tap at Joy of Motion and loved it.

Dance Institute of Washington in Columbia Heights

Joy of Motion also has locations in Friendship Heights and at Atlas on H Street. They sometimes have tap or tap/jazz combo classes.

Princess Mhoon Dance Institute--Silver Spring right over DC line.

Candace Rascinski has classes at the Brookmont church. She calls it The Brookmont Dance Center. It's less costly than Ballet Petite.

Ballet petite is great and they have classes for 18months +.

Is there anything in DC?

My DC took tap at JOM in Bethesda, with Liz. It was a great class - she learned a lot and had fun. The teacher seemed very low-pressure, while also actually helping them get something out of it.

Joy of Motion's dance classes are pretty low-key, and they have classes for younger kids as well. They have locations in Friendship Heights & Bethesda.

I would like a relaxed, no pressure ballet or tap-like dance class for my 5 yo daughter in DC or Silver Spring or south Bethesda. She loves to dance, but does not like being the center of attention, so a pretty easy-going structure, at least at this age, would be best. If she enjoys it, dance is something I would like her to participate in for years, so more formalized structure at an older age would be okay.

An added bonus would be some movement class at the same time for my 2 yo daughter.

Thanks!