DANCE · MUSIC · ACTING · CIRQUE - WATERLOO
YOUR ONE-STOP CREATIVE HUB IN WATERLOO
Waterloo's one-stop hub for dance, cirque, music, and acting. Star Performance Academy has helped local families build confidence on stage and off for over 21 years. Find your child's class by age and reserve their spot today.
Ages 1+
25+
10
With almost 100 reviews, families love Star. Thank you!
4.7
Rehearsal & Performance Spaces
Prefessional Staff
One hub, programming for every stage in life
What parents are saying…
The staff here go above and beyond to help parents of children taking classes and adult clients. The instructors are consumate professionals and love the work they do!! Highly recommended!! - Gerard K.
The culture at Star is great because they promote inclusivity, positivity, hard work and fun. The teachers are very skilled and knowledgeable and great with the kids. The assistants are excellent role models for the younger dancers. The office staff is always friendly and willing to help. We look forward to many more years of dancing and growing at Star! - Mike M.
FIND THEIR CLASS IN MINUTES
Programs by age, so you don't have to guess
Pick your child’s age and see what’s available. Or perhaps it’s your turn - select Adult Programming! Register directly, or start with and easy free trial if you’re not sure yet.
Preschool · JK-SK
First Steps
Preschool & JK/SK
Movement, Music and Imagination for your littlest star. Builds listening skills, coordination and the confidence to join a group. Not ready to be on their own? We have a class for that too.
School Grades 1-3
Primary
Dance, Cirque, Music and acting fundamentals that turn curiosity into real skill - while making the kind of friends who cheer you on!
School Grades 4-6
Kids
More technique, more choice, more stage time. Kids build discipline and real craft in the style that lights them up, often branching out into what they love the most, with friends!
school grades 7-12
Youth
It’s never too late to try something new, whether your tween or teen is a beginner, a seasoned performer, or in between, we have the right class for them! Bring a friend or come and meet a new one too!
parents and young adults
Adult
The creativity never stops. Come and learn, create and play at Star!
enrichment
Competitive Dance, Exams, Kiwanis, & Open Mic Nights
Events and advanced programming at Star will bring your learning to a whole new level, give it new meaning and take you on a journey you never imagined!
Enrichment
Enrichment programs for the family that wants more. From exam prep to competitive teams to festival performances, our enrichment programs give committed students a next step towards their goals and dreams.
Why Choose the performing arts?
Cirque
Boosts brain development and coordinationBuilds confidence through movement
Cirque might be the best-kept secret of all. One study compared kids in circus-arts classes to kids in standard gym class and found the circus kids came out ahead on 15 of 18 motor skills, plus a real boost in confidence.⁵ Even more exciting: a 6-month study of kids in a circus program found significant improvements in four separate areas of well-being, stress relief, self-esteem, confidence, and making friends.⁶ That's your child building resilience while learning to fly through the air!
Borges-Silva et al., ScienceDirect, 2018
Dance
Boosts brain development and coordinationBuilds confidence through movement
Every dance style gives your child something different. In one study, girls who took ballet twice a week for just 3 months showed real, measurable improvements in balance and body awareness, the kind of skill that carries into everything from sports to gym class. And if your child needs to burn off big energy, hip-hop is the answer: researchers who tracked real dance classes found it's the most physically active style out there, for kids of every age.
Chatzopoulos, D. (2019). Effects of Ballet Training on Proprioception, Balance, and Rhythmic Synchronization of Young Children. Journal of Exercise Physiology Online, 22(2), 26-37. Cain, K.L., et al. (2015). Physical Activity in Youth Dance Classes. Pediatrics.
Music
Builds stronger reading skillsSharpens focus and memory
Picking up an instrument does something remarkable to a developing brain. A massive 2025 analysis pulling together 46 studies and over 3,500 kids found that musical training gives a real, measurable boost to self-control and executive function, the exact skills that help kids manage school, friendships, and big feelings.⁷
Singing has its own kind of magic. Research on choir members found that singing together boosted people's mood and gave a real lift to their immune system, all in the span of a single rehearsal.⁸ Try it out in Harmony Club!
Cai, Y., Kang, D., & Xu, X. (2025). Boosting executive function in children aged 3-12 through musical training: a three-level meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 16:1659927. 8. Kreutz, G., Bongard, S., Rohrmann, S., Hodapp, V., & Grebe, D. (2004). Effects of Choir Singing or Listening on Secretory Immunoglobulin A, Cortisol, and Emotional State. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 27(6), 623-635
Acting
Grows real empathy and social awarenessBuilds public speaking confidence
Kids in musical theatre programs show better school attendance and more classroom engagement,¹ and a 10-week study found kids in drama classes made real, measurable gains in social-emotional skills compared to kids who weren’t in those classes.² That's not a feeling, that's a documented outcome.
And public speaking? It genuinely works. A controlled study of elementary schoolers found that after 12 weeks of speech training, kids gave measurably more polished, confident-sounding speeches.⁹
Herbein, E., Golle, J., Tibus, M., Schiefer, J., Trautwein, U., & Zettler, I. (2018). Fostering elementary school children's public speaking skills: A randomized controlled trial. Learning and Instruction, 55, 158-168.
Estes, J.S., Brooks, M.R., & Mitchell, D.R. (2019). Effects of an After-School Musical Theater Program on Student Attendance, Behavior, Academic Achievement, and Social and Emotional Skills. Lipscomb University doctoral dissertation. 2. Usakli, H. (2018). Drama Based Social Emotional Learning. Global Research in Higher Education, 1(1), 1-16.
why choose Star performance academy?
Experienced Instructors
Our Instructors are passionate about arts education, are experienced formers and carry the values of heart-centred and structured teaching that Star PA is known for. Experienced adults in charge of each lesson and class.
Honest, convenient payment plans
Tuition is inclusive of all your annual fixed needs like tuition, show t-shirts and/or costumes, video links and more. Easy on the family budget planning. No surprise costume bill at the end of the year.
Values that go home with them
Confidence, routine and respect are built into every class. Growth mindset and kindness to self are encouraged by every teacher to every student. It’s not just about the talent at Star PA.
a community, not a class list
So many families call Star PA a second family, where everyone knows your name. Our spirit events and family-feel are present all year long. We want our waiting room to feel like a second living room for our Star Fam. Enjoy free coffee and chat with fellow parents and students
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime. If you’re feeling ready, go ahead and choose your first class!
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No — you're welcome to register directly for a full session at any time. A free trial class is available if you'd like to try before committing, but it's optional, not required.
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Different programs have different needs.
For Fun Stream Dance Group Classes:Weekly instruction with a qualified instructor, a year-end costume, 2 performance t-shirts, a show video, a class photo, and access to in-studio events — all included. Year End Show.
For Private Music: Weekly 30 or 60 minute instruction with a qualified instructor, 2 performance t-shirts and 2 performance opportunities.
Not included: Class supplies are only purchased as needed (dress code for dance and cirque, shoes, instruments etc.). No mandatory show tickets - buy what you need.
For enrichment programs, summer and more, please visit program pages or contact our Weclome Desk.
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Every age group starts with foundations. Instructors group by skill as well as age, so brand-new students are never lost in a room of veterans. Beginners Academy options are available throughout the season for dance.
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Star PA aims to be inclusive of all gender expressions, with dress code options to suit your child, boys, girls and universal washrooms. We are always learning - please chat with the Welcome Desk if we can address your needs further. Everyone deserves a spot in class and to feel comfortable.
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Pushing is not a word we use, or a skill we teach. Internal motivation, family-friendly material, kindness and care at the heart of every skill. We celebrate new skills with “high-5” and “I did it” motivational practices, encourage journaling and self-reflection in our advanced classes and encourage routine and goal-setting.
Ready to see them shine?
spots are limited this session
Pick your child's age group, register in a couple of minutes, and you're set for the session. Prefer to test the waters first? A free trial class is always an option.