Montreal dance studios by neighbourhood: pick the one you'll still reach in February
The right studio is the one you can get to on a snowy Tuesday after work. Test the trip from your part of the city first, by metro or by car.
Quick answer
How do I choose a dance studio by location? Pick the studio you can reach at class time in January, not the one that looks closest on the map. Do the trip once, at the hour your class starts. Driving? We're at 1350 Rue Mazurette #404 with free parking on site, so no circling the block. To find the class that fits your week, call 514-966-3736 for a free 15-minute phone consultation.
Plan the trip before you pick the studio. Dance classes build week on week: each lesson adds to the steps from the last one. Miss two weeks because the commute wore you down, and you spend the third one catching up. A trip you can face in the dark, in January, after a long day, keeps you in the room long enough to see progress.
The weeknight trip test
Do this once, before you sign up. It's the difference between a class you keep and one you drop.
- Make the trip at class time. If the class starts at 7 pm, leave from work or home at the hour you really would, on a weekday. A route that takes 20 minutes on Sunday can take far longer at 6 pm.
- Picture it in winter. Snow, slush and street-parking rules during snow removal all change the trip. A short walk from the metro or a parking spot at the door matters more in January than in June.
- Plan the way home. Classes end in the evening. Check how late your bus or metro line runs, and whether you'd rather drive.
- Count the whole door-to-door time. Add the walk, the wait and the parking hunt, not just the ride.
Getting there from each part of the city
Your neighbourhood won't tell you what a studio teaches. It will tell you how long the trip takes on a weeknight. Find your part of the city below.
Downtown
The green, orange and yellow metro lines meet at Berri-UQAM, so the centre of the city is easy to reach by metro from most areas. Street parking is harder at rush hour. A downtown studio suits you if you work nearby and can go straight from the office.
Plateau Mont-Royal
The orange line runs under the Plateau at Sherbrooke, Mont-Royal and Laurier, and much of the area is walkable or bikeable in the warm months. Parking on residential streets is tight. It's an easy place to pair a class with dinner out.
NDG and Côte-des-Neiges
Notre-Dame-de-Grâce is on the orange line (Vendôme, Villa-Maria), and Côte-des-Neiges is on the blue line (Côte-des-Neiges, Université-de-Montréal, Snowdon).
Verdun and the Southwest
Verdun sits on the green line (De l'Église, Verdun), and Lionel-Groulx connects the green and orange lines for Saint-Henri and Little Burgundy. If you live here, a studio one or two metro stops away can be quicker than one that looks closer on the map but needs a bus.
Laval
The orange line crosses into Laval at Cartier, De la Concorde and Montmorency. If you drive from Laval, check parking at the studio, not just the distance.
South Shore
The yellow line reaches Longueuil, and the REM links Brossard with downtown. If you drive, the bridge at class time is the part of the trip to test.
West Island
No metro line reaches the West Island, so most trips into the city mean driving or the train. Free parking at the studio and a route that avoids the worst of the evening traffic count for a lot here.
Location is one filter, not the only one
Once you have two or three studios you can reach, compare the teaching. Our guide to what makes a great dance studio in Montreal covers instructors, class structure, red flags and the questions to ask. If no studio fits your weeknights, read how evening dance classes work, or weigh a studio against learning online.
Driving in? Parking is free and on site
If you're driving in from Laval, the West Island or the South Shore, you won't be circling the block before class. Quartier Latin Dance Studio is at 1350 Rue Mazurette #404, Montreal, H4N 1H2, with free parking on site. Directions and a map are on our contact page.
We've taught since 2007, and classes run in English, French and Russian: adult group classes, private lessons, and kids classes from age 4. Nervous is normal. Starting from zero is the part we're good at.
Questions about choosing a studio by location
Is it worth crossing the city for a studio I like more?
Yes, if you'll make the trip every week. Do the trip test above at class time first. A great teacher you see twice a month will teach you less than a good one you see every week.
Should I pick a studio near home or near work?
Go by when the class runs. For a weeknight class straight after work, near work is often easier. For weekend classes, or classes with your kids, near home usually wins.
I don't drive. What should I check?
The walk from the nearest metro or bus stop, how well lit it is in the evening, and the last convenient trip home after class ends.
We're a couple coming from two directions. How do we choose?
Pick a studio that works from where you'll both be at class time, or plan to meet and travel together.
Tell us where you're coming from. We'll find the class that fits your week.
A free 15-minute phone consultation. Free parking on site when you come in.
Related reading: our guide to Montreal dance culture and unique things to do in Montreal for ideas after class.
Alina Litvak, Founder of Quartier Latin Dance Studio
Two-time Canadian Vice-Champion • 19 Years Teaching Experience
