FAQs

No. You don't need any dance experience for beginner-level classes. If you'd like more fundamentals first, try an intro class or the Absolute Beginner Series.

Yes. Your first class is $10, and if you want to keep going, there's a discounted intro 5-class pack. See memberships and class packs.

Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early so a work-study team member can show you around and get you settled. Clothing and footwear suggestions are in your confirmation email and in the dress code answer below.

Yes. There's plenty of free street parking on Ravenswood Ave. and an open lot behind the building.

Yes, both. The Ravenswood Metra station is down the street, and the Montrose Brown Line stop is about a five-minute walk.

We offer a range of styles and keep adding more. If a style on the schedule isn't described here, just ask.

Ballet

A structured, technical form with a set vocabulary. Classes are similar week to week and build through repetition, starting at the barre and moving to across-the-floor sequences.

Contemporary

An umbrella style blending modern, jazz, ballet, and lyrical, with a focus on freedom and the mind-body connection. Every teacher's take is different. Warm-up, then a combination.

Modern

Another umbrella style. We offer a general modern class and a floor-work class, both focused on grounded movement, spine and pelvis mobility, and across-the-floor sequences.

Jazz

High-energy and expressive, rooted in African American vernacular dance and music. Mixes ballet, modern, and street dance with isolations, syncopation, leaps, and turns, usually to upbeat music.

Tap

A percussive form where your shoes make the music, developed from Black American and Irish dance traditions. Warm-up, steps and exercises, then a combination.

Musical Theatre

Performance-driven dance built on storytelling, emotion, and character, mainly fusing jazz, ballet, tap, and modern. Upbeat warm-up, then a combination from a popular musical.

Lyrical

Fluid and expressive, combining ballet technique with the freedom of jazz and contemporary to interpret a song's emotion. Flowing warm-up, then a combination.

Jazz/Funk

A high-energy commercial style pairing jazz foundations with hip-hop precision and funk groove. Vigorous warm-up and a fun, upbeat combination.

Hip-Hop

A diverse street style built on individual expression, strong rhythm, grounded movement, isolations, bounces, and rocks. Warm-up, then a fun combination.

Contemporary Hip-Hop

A hybrid of grounded, rhythmic hip-hop with contemporary fluidity, emotional storytelling, and floor work. Warm-up, then a combination.

K-POP

Hip-hop and jazz choreographed to Korean pop, with catchy, repeated moves that match the lyrics. Upbeat warm-up, then a combination to a K-pop song.

Heels

A commercial, high-energy style in heels that draws on jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, and burlesque, with a focus on confidence and precision. Warm-up, then a flirty combination.

Comfort comes first, so wear what feels good to move in. Here's what we recommend by style:

Ballet

Form-fitting clothes, anything from leggings and a t-shirt to a leotard and tights. Ballet shoes or socks.

Contemporary

Comfortable clothes. Socks or bare feet.

Modern

Comfortable clothes. Socks or bare feet.

Jazz

Comfortable clothes. Jazz shoes, socks, or bare feet.

Tap

Comfortable clothes. Tap shoes or clean sneakers.

Musical Theatre

Comfortable clothes. Jazz shoes, socks, or bare feet.

Lyrical

Comfortable clothes. Socks or bare feet.

Jazz/Funk

Comfortable clothes. Clean sneakers, jazz shoes, socks, or bare feet.

Hip-Hop

Comfortable clothes. Clean sneakers.

Contemporary Hip-Hop

Comfortable clothes. Clean sneakers, socks, or bare feet.

K-POP

Comfortable clothes. Clean sneakers, socks, or bare feet.

Heels

Comfortable clothes. Clean sneakers, wedges, heels, or bare feet. Knee pads encouraged.

Single drop-in classes, class packs, or memberships. See memberships and class packs.

• More than 3 hours before class, without a membership: the class goes back to your account.
• More than 3 hours before class, with a membership: no fee.
• Within 3 hours of class, without a membership: the class is forfeited.
• Within 3 hours of class, with a membership: $5 late cancellation fee.

• Booked with a membership: the class is forfeited and a $5 fee applies.
• Booked with a class pack: the class is forfeited.

No. Class packs and memberships are non-refundable.

Yes. Students, teachers, and seniors get 20% off class packs. Email buzz@thehive.dance to claim it.

• Memberships renew automatically each month on your purchase date.
• Unused classes roll over while your membership is active, and expire if you cancel.
• Cancel at least 7 days before your renewal date to avoid fees.
• Late cancellations (within 3 hours) and no-shows carry a $5 fee.

Classes open for booking two weeks ahead. Events and special offerings can be booked as soon as they go live.

Once a class is full, a waitlist opens. If a spot frees up, a HIVE team member moves the next person in and lets them know.

Yes, for personal practice, events, and more. See rentals or email buzz@thehive.dance.

Yes. Privates are $75 for 45 minutes. Email buzz@thehive.dance with the style you want and your availability.

Yes, with your teacher's permission. Tag @chicagohive if you share it.

Beginner classes cover fundamentals at a gentler pace. Intermediate classes step up the movement, pace, and musicality.