Looking for a local Brisbane dance school that has your child’s best interests at heart? Ready to see your child express creativity through the magic of Irish Dance, the beauty of Ballet, or the energy of Jazz? CM Dance school would love to support your child’s dance journey.
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Is your child ready to dance?
Try Brisbane’s best dance classes and start their dance journey today
Try Brisbane’s best dance classes and start their dance journey today
Book my dance class trial
Discover the Best Dance Classes Brisbane
Three week class trial
As a southside Brisbane dance school operating over 20 years, we truly understand how confusing it can be to choose the right dance school for your child. It’s why we offer a dance class trial at any of our class locations in Coorparoo, Camp Hill and Norman Park. It allows you and your child to experience the benefits of dance in any form and take the best next step.
Dedicated teachers
Whether they’re inspired by Irish Dance, Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Acro Dance, Lyrical, Contemporary, or simply have a fascination with movement and music, the entire CM Dance team of dedicated teachers will help bring out their very best creative self.
Dance classes near me
CM Dance parents tell us they want ‘dance classes near me’ and that’s what we provide. With a range of dance classes available in multiple locations across Brisbane’s south, we accommodate the creative needs of families whose children have busy schedules. With Irish Dance, Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Contemporary, Lyrical, Acro Dance, and Preschooler classes available, there’s sure to be class times that suit you.
Preschooler dance classes
Often our parents have been dancers themselves and are keen for their children to enjoy the same benefits they did. If that’s you, our Preschooler dance classes are the perfect place to start. Tailored especially for little people from two to five years, you’ll delight in the way your child starts to express their creativity and personality through movement and dance by learning their first steps in Irish dance, Jazz, Ballet, and Tap.
Irish Dance classes
Irish dance classes in Brisbane have a loyal following – and it’s through the leadership of Irish dance teachers like Clare Michelsen who make it happen. Whether you’re an Irish expat who wants their child to enjoy the traditions you did, or your child is an aspiring River Dancer, let us ignite a love for this wonderful dance form. Offering beginner, competition and performance level Irish dance classes, we’d love to share our passion with you.
Ballet dance classes
Engage your child with classical Ballet classes that captivate the imagination of aspiring dancers. While it’s not possible for everyone to reach prima ballerina status, there is great value in Ballet classes where children learn the discipline of correct technique and a joy of dance. Offering classes from Little Dancer to RAD Grade 7, we’ll support your child wherever they’re at.
Jazz dance classes
Is your son or daughter a performer at heart? Why not give them the opportunity to step out further with Jazz dance classes delivered by qualified teachers who love their craft? With the opportunity to master dance theatre skills in class and through performances twice a year, your child will grow in confidence and self-esteem as they connect with like-minded others in an environment where they’re encouraged to be their best.
Contemporary dance classes
Watch your child learn to express feeling and emotion through Contemporary dance classes delivered by teachers with experience in nurturing young people to grow. Contemporary dance classes can be taken in conjunction with any other dance form offered at CM Dance and are ideal for boys and girls who love movement and rhythm.
Acro Dance classes
We’re excited to be offering Acro Dance classes. Under the experienced hand of our teachers (who have taught dance and cheer for more than 15 years), your child will develop teamwork and confidence in a class that is highly energetic and loads of fun. Join in the momentum of this sport which is quickly growing in popularity.
CM Dance
For dancers who want a dance school offering the best dance classes Brisbane
Welcome to CM Dance.
If you’re here, you’re a parent or carer with a genuine desire to cultivate the creative in your child. At CM Dance, we’ve built our school around that ideal. Yes, we love dance, however, it is really only the medium by which we nurture and grow confident, young people.
Under the leadership of dancer, founder, and teacher Clare Michelsen, we’ve been part of the dance community in Brisbane for over four decades. With an Irish dance background and multiple National titles, more than 30 years teaching in secondary schools, and now working together with exceptional dance teachers in Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Contemporary, Lyrical, and Acro Dance, Clare has grown CM Dance school to be a place any dancer can express their best creative self. While all levels of talent are encouraged at CM Dance, including those aspiring to follow a professional pathway, at its heart, CM Dance is invested in developing all aspects of the person and personality in your child through movement and dance.
I created CM Dance because I saw a need for a Brisbane dance school that looked at students as creative individuals, not just a number. Still supporting Brisbane’s dancers over 25 years later, the whole CM Dance team is carrying that philosophy forward. We’d love you to join us.
Clare Michelsen
CM Dance founder
Why CM Dance?
Whole dancer focus
We focus on the child as a whole and bring out their best
Family friendly
Families are the heart of our business
Affordable tuition
We price dancing classes to be affordable for families
Beginner to professional level
All levels of ability and aspiration encouraged and supported
Great location
Cafes, restaurants, schools, and shopping precincts all in easy walking distance
Professional dancing team
Teachers with a history of professional dancing in the industry, including television, who want to encourage dancers to see a bigger vision for their future because of dance
What people say about CM Dance
Our parents and kids tell us they love CM Dance because it feels like a family – and we think you’ll see that too when you join us. Here are just testimonials from our dance community.
enough said!
Monique
05:35 17 Sep 25
We’ve been with CM Dance since my youngest was 3, and over the years all of my kids have had the chance to try out so many of the different styles. It’s been such a positive part of their lives, and I couldn’t imagine a better dance school.That’s why it’s so disappointing to see the negative reviews that have been posted. The owners truly give their heart and souls to every student. What I have seen over the last few months is a small group of parents who took little things from classes and emails, blew them way out of proportion, and turned them into gossip. It sounds like the owners had had enough and ended up making the call to stop classes for those families. Even then, those dancers were still supported up till the Irish Dancing Nationals. The reaction after this was, honestly, very childish, and luckily most of those families haven’t come back.For us, CM Dance is still the place it was 7 years ago and I am very thankful to be apart of such a wonderful school. Don't let a few bad eggs bring you down girls!
Natalie Hughes
05:30 17 Sep 25
Our daughter has been dancing at CM Dance for 6 years and she absolutely loves it. We have always found the teachers to be very kind and they always make the classes lots of fun. We highly recommend CM Dance.
Regan Farrell
03:28 13 Sep 25
Beautiful Teachers with wonderful values. Kindness always shown. Have known Clare for over 50 years and she is a blessing to dance and her dancers.
Michelle O'Neill
08:35 06 Sep 25
We have been part of the CM Dance Family for nearly 16 years and have come back as we have found the owner loving and supportive of our daughter's passion. Over the last year we have seen her enjoy the love of Irish dancing and watching her perform again on stage. I can only thank Clare and the teachers for their support and encouragement towards our daughter.Sad to hear all the negative comments.Clare and her Dance school have always showed support to the dancers families and always been welcoming.Keep up the great work Clare and CM Dance.😁
Etienne Van Heerden
08:24 06 Sep 25
Excellent ballet class for my daughter! She loves it and the teachers are all so kind and gentle!
Katie James
00:55 02 Aug 25
Great variety of dance styles to learn, different locations and excellent teachers. Our kids love it!
Jenny Edwards
00:27 02 Aug 25
I couldn’t ask for a better dance studio for my child. CM Dance is such a warm, welcoming place where my kids are encouraged to grow not only as dancers but as people. Our teacher is truly one of a kind — personable, loving, and someone our child deeply admires. She leads with heart, sets a beautiful example, and creates a space where every dancer feels valued. We feel so lucky to be part of the CM Dance family.
Jess Donaghey
12:43 24 Jun 25
I grew up dancing at CM doing jazz, ballet, tap and after a pause post high school, I have returned for the past few years. While there is no adult dance class for returning dancers, joining in with the senior dancers has been great as they are such a welcoming group and are all incredible dancers. It’s been great to improve my technical skills in a consistent weekly format compared to adult casual classes at other places which are usually solely choreography based learning.
Mia Wong
07:08 18 Mar 25
As the mother of two incredibly different girls, I am deeply grateful to Clare and her team at CM Dance. They have created an environment where both of my daughters feels safe and secure. Under Clare's guidance, both of my girls have thrived, gaining confidence and becoming the best versions of themselves. We cannot thank Clare enough for helping our girls find their wings.
Shauna O
11:20 08 Feb 25
A very warm and caring dance school, we moved last year after our last school closed down and my girls couldn’t be happier. CM made the transition very easy and inviting. My girls are learning a dance skill that is not all that common and they are loving it!
Nea O'Riely
02:24 08 Feb 25
A warm dance school that’s offers a varied number of dance styles.My child has been Irish dancing here for three years after not enjoying the first school she attended. At CM dance she looks forward to her lessons and loves the Feis’! Thank you CM Dance!
Fiona Geldard
10:24 28 May 24
My daughter has been attending CM Dance for over a year now, and we couldn’t be happier. The instructors are not only highly skilled but also incredibly patient and encouraging. The small class sizes ensure that each child receives individual attention, and I’ve seen tremendous improvement in my daughter’s technique and confidence. Couldn’t ask for a better place for her to learn ballet!
Mali Shar
13:52 19 May 24
I cannot recommend CM dance highly enough 🌟 Ballet and Irish dance has helped build our daughter’s confidence since she joined aged 2. The teachers and school have a great sense of community and each teacher is highly skilled and has a great way with the kids. It’s a real family feel 💙
Danielle McKenna
00:47 18 May 24
Great dance school! I have 2 daughters who dance here, and I honestly found that they learnt more here in their first few months than they did in almost a year at their previous dance school! My girls have been dancing for 5 years across 3 different dance schools. This is our 3rd year with CM dance and we’re so happy we’ve made the switch. The teachers are very inclusive and I love that every child gets a chance of being front and centre during their performances. Clare had excellent communication and always gives plenty of notice for any upcoming concerts or performance which has been so helpful with our busy household. Highly recommend for anyone looking to start their little ones in dance!
Charmaine Butt
11:56 16 May 24
We are so deeply grateful to have had the calm, professional and supportive culture of CM Dance come alongside our girls with various dance forms these past couple of years.After trying multiple dance schools, we had been disappointed by the lack of education of form, of the way some were so forceful or overt in their pushiness. With CM Dance, there's not one Dance Mum in sight...it's a joy to hang out with such real people and the kids confidence has sky rocketed.
Catherine Toomey
00:02 05 May 23
CM Dance are the best!! Not only do they have really professional and skilled teachers with strong dance and theatre backgrounds, but they are also super wonderful, positive and supportive with children. They really do go the extra mile to give personalised attention and inclusivity of all children. My daughter really loves Beginner Irish with CM Dance and loves Miss Dana!
Natalie Deguara
23:39 29 Jul 22
We recently started her dance journey with CM Dance and and we’re lucky enough to experience our first ever end of year concert! We are so impressed with the very high standard presented by the school. Our daughter already feels at home amongst her teachers and other students and she thoroughly enjoys her lessons each week. We look forward to many more experiences to come!
Melissa Blake
08:59 27 Nov 21
CM dance is a family oriented dance school providing a nurturing environment that fosters skill development and growth with each dancer to reach their potential, all while sharing the joy and love for dancing.
Karen Wood
08:41 27 Nov 21
CM Dance has been a wonderful addition to our family. The 3 week try out period is great to give everything a go! Having just started in August, my two girls were concert ready by mid-Nov and part of a super performance! Thank you Claire, Miss Mana & Dana and all at CM Dance. Claire is a great MC too! 💚
Sinead Clark
07:56 27 Nov 21
CM Dance has been a game changer for our 7yo daughter. She entered both Ballet and Irish dancing mid term and was welcomed by kind children and a warm, fun environment. In just a short time, we have seen our daughter grow in confidence and overall wellbeing because she has found something she truly loves and can see herself progressing in each week. Clare has created an unusually welcoming culture in her dance school, and we have appreciated that even though skills and high quality teaching are valued, these are not at the expense of the children's joy and inclusion. Highly recommend.
Jaime Muller
03:32 14 Jun 21
CM dance has been so wonderful for my Irish dancing daughter. The classes are fun, and my daughter has learned so much! Great teacher's, communication and support all round.
Linda McMahon
09:01 11 Jan 21
We've been part of the CM Dance family for over 9 years. As a little one, our daughter enjoyed ballet and jazz before starting Irish and becoming a Championship Irish dancer. Clare and her amazing team of dance teachers have been instrumental in the emotional and physical development of our daughter. CM Dance has given her the gift and joy of dance as well as teaching her resilience, stamina, determination and courage. We highly recommend this dance school.
Johanna Hann
02:19 04 Jan 21
Lovely staff who provide an exciting and positive dance experience. A great balance of technique and fun.
Anna Belle
01:57 01 Jan 21
Always professional and our son is very happy. He's progressed really well this year and can't wait to start the new term
Anthony Meland
00:32 01 Jan 21
We joined CM Dance in 2011 when our daughter was just 5. From the very first class she was in love with Irish dance, and we were thrilled to finally find a dance school based on solid family values that encouraged the children and their parents to become part of a united dance community. CM Dance have supported and encouraged our daughter, understanding her individual needs not only with physical dance, but also supporting emotional balance through the journey of Irish dance competition from local and State events through to National level competition. Clare's expertise, inspiration, guidance and continued support of our daughter's dreams is invaluable to us as parents. We look forward to the years ahead and the enjoyment and many more friendships that being part of CM Dance will bring.
Paula Ryan
04:28 31 Dec 20
This is our 5th year with CM dance and each year my daughter loves it more and more. Thank you Clare and Tiffany for your kindness, energy, and passion for dance.
Beth R
07:34 01 Dec 20
CM Dance is a family friendly and professional dance school, great teachers, very inclusive and considerate of families for cost for costumes etc. We have been with CM Dance for 6 years and the school is going from strength to strength.
Wei Shun Lee
03:13 01 Dec 20
My daughter has been a student at CM Dance for six months now and she is totally loving the experience. The teachers and staff are very friendly and endlessly helpful for unexperienced dance parents.
Susan Lewis
01:47 01 Dec 20
We moved to the Camp Hill/Coorparoo area middle of last year, and were keen to find a new dance school for our 3 year old. After trying out a few studios, we finally found Clare and the ladies at CM Dance and our experience has been fantastic. Each class is different, a different theme, different dance moves learnt. The kids leave with a little reminder each week of the class theme done. So thoughtful! Our daughter's confidence has grown so much in the past year, and she's made friends and looks forward to attending each week. Thanks ladies, your instruction is so professional and we really enjoy spending some time with you each week
Joanne Heilbronn
01:12 01 Dec 20
CM dance is best in town.my daughter is really enjoying and the staff is great too.I strongly recommend this place for other parents.
Sunalika Ranabahu
21:39 30 Nov 20
I could not recommend CM Dance highly enough. My daughter has been with them for two years and this is my son's first year with Irish dancing in the Redlands. The kids learn so much in such an awesome, happy and encouraging environment. My favourite part is Clare organises a concert mid-year which is very casual to give kids an opportunity to go on stage to get experience. It is so supporting and fun without pressure. The kids have made so many new friends and just love it. It's amazing to see how much they have learned at the end of year concert and see their confidence and ability to dance grow 🙂
Tracey
11:17 23 Sep 18
My two daughters began Irish dancing lessons with CM Dance at the beginning of 2018. It's now September and they have learnt so much and more than just the basics of the first Irish step. I am very impressed with Clare's teaching of the class and how they cater for all ages and abilities. My oldest daughter also attended classes at CM Dance last year and performed in the 2017 annual concert. It was fantastic and I loved the modern choice of music particularly for the Irish dances. The more experienced Irish dancers (who participate in competitions) are very talented at CM Dance and it was a pleasure to watch them perform at the concert. The experienced hard shoe dancers certainly have the wow factor! I am so happy my girls attend a dance school which offers a friendly and supportive environment and I look forward to watching them grow and further develop in the skill of Irish dancing.
Kelly Georgas
21:07 22 Sep 18
CM DANCE- WOW. My 10yr old daughter has danced since she was 3 years old. Though she loved it, it felt robotic. The last 2 years we have become team members of CM Dance Studio and my daughters confidence and self worth have escalated beyond my belief. She loves the studio, the teachers and her dance companions. The teachers individually help all the children in the class, not just the best in class. This makes happier, more focused and confident children.I recommend CM Dance to any parent who is searching for a loving community to help build confidence, and happiness in their child activity. A studio where everyone is kind to each other and supports one another. I can not speak more highly of them.
Dannielle Green
04:38 22 Sep 18
My daughter started dancing at the age of 3 at CM Dance from Little Movers and Ballerina to Love to Dance. We wanted her to join a dance school that is small and can focus on giving her the confidence and nurturing she needed. She started Irish Dancing when she was 5 1/2 years old and have loved it from the first time she saw the older girls dancing. Many friendships have been formed from both my daughter and the parents. CM Dance have provided our daughter with the guidance and support she needed to achieve her dreams. We look forward to many more years with CM Dance.
Helen Miller
04:26 22 Sep 18
CM Dance has a family friendly and relaxed feel. It has encouraged our 3 very timid girls to explore and have fun with dance.
Lisa Copland
00:38 22 Sep 18
I have experienced other dance schools- and this one suits my family. The emphasis is clearly on the love of dance, and support and encouragement of each child. I really appreciate Clare’s attempts to keep performances exciting and fun, but not exorbitantly priced.
Siobhan Oostenbroek
00:07 22 Sep 18
CM Dance has been great for my daughter’s confidence. The teachers are fabulous, and I enjoy watching the improvements throughout the year. There is no unrealistic expectations put on either kids or parents, the classes and the uniforms are reasonably priced, and you won’t break the bank on an end of year performance. I would highly recommend CM Dance to anyone.
Francesca Smith
23:03 21 Sep 18
Well organised class and lots of fun for the little ones, we love it!
Janet Purcell
19:27 31 Jul 17
When my oldest daughter started with CM Dance, she took part in little Ballerinas and was extremely shy and took time opening up to people. CM Dance built up her confidence levels and she has no issues with stage performance now. After participating in her first and second concert, all she could talk about was to do Irish Dancing. She has now been doing Irish with Clare for 6 years and is one of the Championships dancers. She loves and lives for Irish dance, Clare and all the many close friendships she has formed. My youngest is now 4 and has been involved in ballet, jazz and started Irish dance lessons this year. Both very happy and we couldn't have asked for a better dance school, teachers and experience. CM Dance parents are all very caring and loving and you know you always have friends nearby. As a family we look forward to many more great years of dancing with CM Dance.
Charlene Van Heerden
03:04 02 Dec 16
My whole family, including Dad belong to a dance school that not only provides the nuts and bolts of a wide variety of dance genres but the necessary, yet often missed genuine care and support young people need to establish both confidence and compassion to their passion. Thank you Clare, you are a wonderful coach, mentor and friend.
relab grit
22:40 30 Nov 16
Frequently Asked Questions
What dance styles are taught at CM Dance in Camp Hill?
CM Dance is a leading dance school based in Camp Hill offering Irish Dance, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Lyrical, Acro Dance, and technique classes for all ages and skill levels.
Which age groups can join CM Dance?
CM Dance welcomes children, teenagers, and adults. Classes are organised by age and experience level.
Where is CM Dance located?
CM Dance is based in Camp Hill, Queensland, Australia, with additional locations in both Norman Park and Coorparoo.
Does CM Dance offer trial dance classes?
Yes, CM Dance offers trial classes so new students can experience the studio before enrolling.
Is CM Dance School suitable for beginners?
Absolutely. CM Dance School is beginner-friendly and focuses on confidence, technique, and enjoyment.
How can I enrol at CM Dance?
You can enrol by visiting cmdance.com.au and submitting the enquiry form.