Summer Dance Camp Class Ideas 2026
- 8 hours ago
- 3 min read
Can you believe families are already asking about the summer schedule?! It’s still five months away, but it seems some families plan earlier and earlier every year. Luckily, I’m wrapping up choreography for our spring production, so I can shift my focus to planning summer dance camps...or at least get the theme and registrations set.
There are so many ways to structure camps. I prefer to stick with a regular evening schedule similar to the school year, while other studios offer full-day or half-day camps. What works best really depends on your clientele and what else is happening in your community. No matter the schedule, the goal is the same: to create experiences dancers remember long after summer ends.
This post is all about creating summer dance camps for 2026 that kids remember, while still being realistic for teachers and studio owners. I’ll share current trends, what continues to last year after year, and one themed resource list to get you started.
How do I do it?
My Approach to Camp Planning (at a glance)
When I plan camps, I start with one flexible, generic theme that can work across multiple ages. Because ballet has a strong presence at my studio, I often begin with a classical ballet, then identify a theme, and adapt it to all other classes.
Example: A Midsummer Night’s Dream easily becomes a forest theme. Forests lead naturally to camping, animals, and imaginative play, which is perfect for younger dancers. Four-year-olds love to "go on a bear hunt". Then, for the slightly older crowd, I'd add in a story like The Ugly Duckling and adapt it to other dance genres like contemporary or jazz. Finally, I add a class on new dance genres or folk dance that I want my students to experience. Make sure all classes end in a mini-performance, and voila, the summer theme is set! Much later, I'll look for decorations or mementos to add something special.
As you see, with one central idea, my summer schedule comes together quickly. However, I know my process won’t fit every studio, so here's a list of other trending and evergreen camps to consider for your studio:
Trending Dance Camp Ideas by Age
Ages 3–5 (Preschool & Early Movers)
Playful, imaginative, and story-based camps with minimal technical focus:
Bluey Bash
Moana & Maui Island Adventure
Gabby’s Dollhouse Dance
Ages 6–8 (Early Elementary)
Creative, energetic camps that introduce multiple styles:
K-Pop Starter Camp
Zootopia (animal-inspired movement)
Dog Man Superheroes
Ages 9–11 (Upper Elementary)
More structure, teamwork, and performance focus:
K-Pop Crew Camp
Emerald Magic: Wicked for Good
Swiftie Dance Experience
Ages 12+ (Tweens & Teens)
Skill-driven, creative, and performance-based experiences:
Social Moves Intensive (a way to highlight social media trends in a controlled age-appropriate fashion)
K-Pop Stage & Style
Dance Film & Production
Evergreen Ideas
Young students
Dance Discoveries (A multi-style sampler to get young students interested in your other classes)
Heros & Villains (A different neutral way to bring Disney into the dance classroom)
Jungle Safari
Beach Party & Under the Sea
Acro + Pom Fusion
Older students
World Dance Styles
Choreography Workshop
Partnering & Composition Lab
Camping Theme Resources
Playlists
Props
Christmas tree forest
Blue tablecloth river/lake
Firewood logs
Child's play tent
Gymnastic mat caves
Activities
Going on a bear hunt obstacle course
Flashlight tag - freeze dance
Boulder push relay (with exercise balls and obstacles)
River jump challenge (increasing the river size every round)
Summer camps don’t need to be complicated to be meaningful. When themes are flexible, planning is intentional, and activities are reusable, camps become something easy to implement, and dancers remember long after summer ends.
If you want more resources, remember to subscribe to our newsletter, where I'll send out more detailed plans, activities, and playlists (in March 2026) to make your planning easier.
Happy dancing!