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The Community
School of the Arts

Classes, camps, & performance opportunities for children ages 3-17

Our Spring Session Class Registration begins December 5th!

Check out Homeschool and Alternative Learning Open House in November and
our Kids’ Night Out, Parents’ Night Off in December. Register now!

Register for Upcoming Classes + Events

You can always save 10% on multiple enrollments. Discount automatically applied at checkout.
Scholarships may be available

Girls dance at an on-stage performance at KCYA
A ballet dancer ties her point shoes
A young boy plays a drumset at KCYA
Girls in costume on stage at KCYA
A girl paints a large painting on the floor at KCYA

At KCYA's Community School of the Arts, your child will be inspired, encouraged, and celebrated. Our classes are led by professional teaching artists who know how to connect with kids and help them grow, whether they’re just starting out or building on their existing artistic skills. But it’s about more than technique for us. It’s about joy, creativity, and belonging!

​During the school year, classes are offered on weekdays and Saturdays at our Midtown Kansas City location. Summer Camps are 11 weeks of half-day or full-day camps, with a Spring Break Camp offering as well. Both classes and camps offer dance, music, visual arts, and theatre. Each year we have theatre performances your child can join onstage or behind the scenes! Private lessons are also available outside of classes, taught in our building.

With the support of our donors, we are able to provide scholarships. Learn About Scholarships

At KCYA, your child becomes part of something bigger: a creative community that believes EVERY child deserves the transformational spark the arts ignite! We can't wait for you to join us!

Go To The Class Catalog
Dancers performing at KCYA
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Dance Classes

Dance is a way for students to build confidence and creativity through movement. All styles of dance for all ages. Our class offering includes options like: ​

  • Latest Dance Craze

  • Jazz Lyrical

  • Contemporary/ Modern

  • Dance Tiny Ballet Class, Tiny Tap Class, and Tiny Creative Movement

  • Spring Classes will be available for enrollment on December 5th

Enroll
A girl paints with watercolors

Visual Arts Classes 

Your artist can create and imagine with classes for all ages and skill levels. Our class offering includes options like: ​

  • Simple Sewing

  • Paper, Paper, Everywhere

  • Tiny Art Explorers

  • Nature Art

  • Art is Weird

  • Spring Classes will be available for enrollment on December 5th

Enroll
a boy plays on a drumset at KCYA
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Music Classes 

From playing an instrument to working with digital musical tools, our music classes will build skills and inspire. Our class offering includes options like: ​

  • Garage Band

  • Group Guitar and Ukulele

  • Show Choir

  • Vocal Jazz Spotlight

  • Spring Classes will be available for enrollment on December 5th

Enroll
A young girl with an astronaut helmet  on stage

Theatre Classes 

With classes including acting, dancing, singing and technical skills, your student will learn how to create a fabulous production. Our class offering includes options like: ​

  • Costume Design

  • Foundations of Acting

  • Make-up Application

  • Musical Theatre

  • Set Design

  • Spring Classes will be available for enrollment on December 5th

Enroll
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girls on stage at summer camp

Thoughts From Our Families:

"My daughter attended camp here for the first time. She loved every day of it. It was a half day camp for two weeks and the performance at the end was really great. I wasn't sure they would pull off something good with so little time but it was better than I could imagine. They really are professional here. Will be back for sure.. "

- Mom of KCYA Summer Camp Attendee

"My 10-year-old has been taking dance classes here since she was 2 1/2. We absolutely love the teaching artists, staff, and community. The teachers focus on training, not competition. All of the dancers wear costumes that are age-appropriate and truly look like the young ladies and gentlemen they are in stage. The community is diverse and feels like a family. I can't say enough about how much our family loves KCYA!"

- Parent of KCYA Dance Student

"Thank you for providing such a rich arts experience for our granddaughters. You are such a gift to the KC Community and our family! "

- Community School of the Arts grandparents

Art Supplies in buckets

Community School of the Arts FAQ’s

  • Check our Calendar for current and upcoming Class Session and Camp dates.

    Private lessons are arranged with private Teaching Artists and lessons fall within the Session dates.

  • Monday - Friday: 9:00AM - 7:30PM
    Saturday: 10:00AM - 1:00PM

    Our Business Office is open Monday – Friday: 9:00am – 5:00pm

  • KCYA offers 11 weeks of full & half-day summer camp options for ages 5-14.

    Registration opens in February.

    All summer camps meet Monday-Friday and are held at KCYA: 3732 Main Street, KC, MO 64111. Camps conclude with an end of the week camp performance on Friday.

    Camp begins at 8:30, and campers need to be picked up no later than 10 minutes after the end of camp (12:00 for half day camps, 4:00 for full day camps).

    Extended Daycare is available until 5:30pm for an additional fee.

    All campers should bring a water bottle, full day campers must bring a lunch. AM and PM snacks are provided.

    Specific information will be distributed on the first day of the camp.

  • All enrollments are processed online through Active. There is a small (4%) fee added to the class costs to cover part of the administration fees.

    You'll create your own secure account online at Active.com. Click here to login to your Active account.

    If still you have questions about Enrollment, please call 816.531.4022.

    Private lessons are offered through a number of fabulous teaching artists who you should contact directly.

  • We encourage you to enroll prior to the first day of class. The first week of class is “Try-it Week” and your student is welcome to try a class before enrolling in it.

    We will do our best to accommodate late enrollments and to pro-rate the fees accordingly.

    Any enrollment after the third week of the session requires the teaching artist’s approval.

    Enrollments for Private Lessons must be arranged through the Teaching Artist.

  • All classes are held at 3732 Main St., Kansas City, Missouri 64111. (see a map)

    All KCYA families are encouraged to park in our lot (3732 Main St.). After 5pm or on weekends you may also park at The Whole Person (3710 Main St.).

  • On inclement weather days, a decision may need to be made to cancel classes. We will make every effort to communicate with you as soon as possible and make up the class at a later date.

    You may call the office at 816.531.4022; check our website homepage, or visit our Facebook page for the latest information.

  • Please call (816) 531-4022 to report an absence. Sorry, the only make up classes are for those classes we cancel due to bad weather. Some dance and acting class students may be able to make up a missed class by attending a similar class or a class one level lower than their current class with Teaching Artist approval.

  • Typically, each class will participate in an end of session sharing or recital at the end of each session or camp.

    More information will be sent specifically to each class.

  • Music and Theatre classes: Students should wear what is comfortable for them.

    Improv Classes: No Crocs or open toed shoes or sandals.

    Visual Art classes: It is suggested that students not wear anything that that might get ruined if paint or art supplies were spilt on them (we do provide paint smocks as an option when creating messy art to help avoid this.)

    Dance Classes: KCYA has a lending library of shoes and leotards. Ask the Teaching Artist at your first class to help your dancer find appropriate attire.

    Ballet Classes: Wear single color leotards, tights and ballet slippers. Hair should be pulled away from the face in a bun or ponytail. Please bring rubber hair bands and barrettes to each class. Gentlemen: T-shirt, black leggings or bike shorts, and leather ballet slippers.

    Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Dance for Musical Theatre: Comfortable clothes or leotard and jazz pants with jazz shoes or ballet slippers. Hair in ponytail.

    Parent and Me Pre-Ballet, Tiny Creative Movement: Adults in Parent & Me class should wear comfortable clothes and socks or bare feet. No leotards required. Children can wear comfortable clothes and bare feet or the same attire as Pre-Ballet.

    Tap/Jazz: Loose fitting clothes or leotard and jazz pants. All dancers will need tap shoes and/or jazz shoes or ballet slippers. Hair must be pulled away from face in a bun or ponytail. Dance Shoes should never be worn outside, only in the Dance Studio. Street shoes are not allowed on the dance floor.

a rack of dance costumes at KCYA