The Dance Refinery

The Dance Refinery offers recreational dance classes for ages 3-18, with ballet and jazz fundamentals, tap, hip-hop, and acro-dance integration. It also offers recreational gymnastics and tumbling for children ages 4 and up, including handstands, cartwheels, rolls, round-offs, and beginner back handsprings. The program also includes competitive dance programs, recreational competitive dance performing groups, and competitive tumbling performing groups.

Programs

• Recreational dance classes — 3-18 · Welcomes all skill levels; students explore ballet & jazz fundamentals, tap & hip-hop, and acro-dance integration.
• Recreational gymnastics & tumbling — 4 and up · Develops strength, flexibility, and body awareness; includes handstands, cartwheels, rolls, round-offs, and beginner back handsprings.
• Competitive dance programs — Includes performing groups that compete at regional and national competitions and perform in the Annual Recital.
• Recreational competitive dance performing groups — Once a week · Jazz, hip hop, and tap groups that compete at two local competitions and perform in the Annual Recital.
• Competitive artistic gymnastics program — Students past beginning or intermediate gymnastics levels; Mini Team ages 4-6 · Offers USAG Levels up to 10, USAG Xcel, Mini Team, and Pre-Team.
• Competitive tumbling performing groups — Intermediate tumbling level or higher · Competitive groups for students interested in both dance and tumbling; auditions are held during the summer.

At a glance

• Ages: 1–18 years old
• General schedule: Recreational dance classes for ages 3-18; recreational gymnastics classes for children ages 4 and up; free skill-level evaluation for ages 5+ Monday-Thursday, 7:30-9 PM; competitive programs offered for dance, gymnastics, and tumbling.
• Facility hours: Monday-Thursday: 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM; Friday: 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM; Saturday: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM; Sunday: Closed

About the provider

The Dance Refinery was established in 1976 and says it has been Indianapolis’s premier dance school since 1976. Lynn Herrick is the Executive Director. The site describes it as Indiana’s largest and most experienced dance and gymnastics facility.

• Free skill-level evaluation — 5+ · Monday-Thursday, 7:30-9:00 PM · Complimentary evaluation with no appointment needed for class placement.

All new students receive a free, no-appointment evaluation Monday-Thursday, 7:30-9:00 PM. The site says no appointment is needed for the skill-level evaluation. Dance students wear leotards or athletic wear; gymnastics students need shorts and a fitted tee, and barefoot is best. Families can switch between dance and gymnastics and add an extra class any time. Auditions for competitive tumbling performing groups are held during the summer.

What families say

“The TDR experience is truly so impactful! As an alumni and seeing my children develop as dancers along with their social/emotional growth has been amazing!! The amount of hard work and attention to detail Ms. Lynn and her staff put in is so incredible ❤️” — Jessica Schmollinger

“I’ve been dancing here for the past 11 years and have had great experiences with the staff and have grown a lot from the teaching here. I’ve also made many friendships along the way.” — norah spicer

Last updated September 3, 2026.