3Sixty Dance is a pre-professional ballet and contemporary dance school in Oklahoma City that trains students ages 8 and up through advanced levels, with an emphasis on technique and performance opportunity rather than recreational classes.
3Sixty occupies a specific niche in Oklahoma City's dance education landscape. It operates as a training-focused studio, not a community recreation program. Classes are organized by level and age rather than by dance type alone, meaning a 12-year-old beginner sits with other beginners regardless of age, while a serious 10-year-old advanced student trains at a higher technical standard. The school centers on ballet and contemporary, the two disciplines most students need for college dance auditions or semi-professional performance.
The studio does not compete directly with large recreational chains that offer hip-hop, jazz, and tap to hundreds of students monthly. Instead, it serves families who have already decided their child pursues dance seriously, or who want their child to decide after rigorous foundational training.
3Sixty organizes classes into five levels: Pre-Ballet (ages 8-9), Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Pre-Professional. Ballet forms the core curriculum; contemporary is woven into upper-level classes and offered as a separate track for Advanced and Pre-Professional students.
Pricing for monthly tuition runs approximately $120 to $180 per class per month for single-class enrollment, with discounts applied when students commit to multiple classes weekly. A student attending two ballet classes per week typically pays between $200 and $280 monthly. Pre-Professional students, who train four or more hours per week, pay closer to $400 to $500 per month. The school periodically adjusts rates; families should confirm current pricing directly.
The school charges a separate annual registration fee, typically $50, and requires purchase of ballet pointe shoes and dancewear meeting specific standards. Pointe shoes alone range from $80 to $120 per pair and require replacement every 2 to 6 months depending on intensity and student weight. This cost structure is standard across pre-professional ballet training in Oklahoma City and nationwide.
Oklahoma City's larger recreational chains, such as Meydan Dance Academy and Movement Fitness Studios, offer broader style variety (hip-hop, jazz, tap, acro) at lower per-class rates, typically $80 to $120 monthly for unlimited classes. These serve families seeking exposure to multiple genres or casual training. Neither emphasizes pointe ballet or contemporary as a primary pathway.
Elite Dance Academy, also operating in Oklahoma City, similarly offers recreational and pre-competitive levels but carries a broader mission and larger student population. 3Sixty's strength lies in its smaller enrollment, which allows consistent partnering for contemporary work, more individualized feedback in ballet technique, and a cohort advanced enough to rehearse choreography suitable for college auditions or amateur company work.
Choose 3Sixty if your child is seriously training in ballet, plans to audition for college dance programs, or wants peer dancers at the same technical level. Choose a recreational studio if you want low cost, multiple styles, or your child is exploring rather than committed.
3Sixty works best for students ages 8 and up who have already studied ballet for at least one year, or who test into Beginner level through placement. The school expects regular attendance (typically 2+ classes per week for meaningful progress), punctuality, and commitment to the discipline of ballet technique. Parents should budget not only tuition but also pointe shoes, dancewear, and performance fees for recitals or showcases.
3Sixty is not suited for recreational students, families seeking low-cost unlimited classes, or young children (under 8) starting dance for the first time. It also does not serve students primarily interested in styles like hip-hop, jazz, or tap.
New families begin with an observation or placement class. The student attends a class at their suspected level while a teacher assesses technique, flexibility, and musicality. After the trial, the teacher and director discuss which level is appropriate and outline the commitment required (number of classes per week, costuming, performance participation). Registration and pointe-shoe fitting typically follow within the next two weeks. Most families complete the first visit and registration within 10 to 14 days.
3Sixty operates Monday through Saturday, with most classes scheduled weekday afternoons and evenings (3 p.m. to 7 p.m.) and Saturday mornings and early afternoons. Class lengths vary: Pre-Ballet and Beginner run 45 to 60 minutes; Intermediate and Advanced classes run 60 to 90 minutes. The studio has on-site parking. Contact the school directly to confirm current hours, as seasonal schedule adjustments happen annually.
3Sixty fills a clear gap in Oklahoma City dance education: students who need rigorous ballet training and peer-level contemporary work, without the broad recreation model. Its small size and technical focus make it the logical choice for families committed to dance as a serious pursuit.
