Your Guide to Dance, Theatre & Music for Kids and Teens in the Gorge
One of our goals at Gorge Youth is to help families see all the options for different activities available to kids and teens in the Columbia Gorge — all in one place, in plain language, and from a youth perspective. For this post, we invited a local high school student who is involved in theatre and dance to share what she knows about the performing arts landscape here. Below is her take on some of the dance, theatre, and music opportunities available in our community, along with a snapshot of additional programs offered. Whether your child is just beginning to explore the arts or already loves to perform, we hope this guide helps you discover something new — and reminds you how much creativity is growing right here in the Gorge.
February 5, 2026
As a high school senior who grew up in the Gorge, I’ve experienced our arts community firsthand. Dance, theater, and music have helped me build confidence and a sense of belonging. This guide is meant to help families discover the many creative opportunities available for kids, based on my own experience and what I’ve seen inspire others!
Dance
Columbia Gorge Dance Academy (CGDA)
My sisters, many of my friends, and I have all taken classes at CGDA. I’ve taken super fun tap classes with Charlotte Arnold, and my sisters have taken almost every other style of dance they have! Beginning ballet and tap are offered as early as 3-4 years old, and jazz, hip hop, and contemporary become available throughout elementary school. The dance year mostly follows the school year schedule with classes starting in September and ending in June, with a break in December/January. There are two major performances each year: a holiday recital in December for dancers in 7th–12th grade, and a spring recital in June for all dancers. This year’s spring shows are:
- May 30: juniors (ages 3–2nd grade) at 2:00 PM and 3rd–6th grade at 7:00 PM
- June 12–14: seniors (7th–12th grade) - more details to come
During winter and summer breaks, CGDA also offers dance camps and special workshops for dancers who want to keep training or try something new.
CGDA has a non-competitive dance team called “Company” that dancers join by invitation, usually junior/senior year of high school once they’re in the elite level ballet class.
NK Studios
NK Studios is located in Bingen, Washington and was founded by Nika Kermani, who also teaches at CGDA. They offer hip hop, jazz, contemporary, Irish dancing, dance fitness, and a variety of pop-up classes. Creative dance begins at 4-5 years old, Irish dance at 6, and hip hop starts in 5th grade. Many of my friends have taken classes there and love it! They also often have fun events going on that are drop-in and feature guest teachers. Their schedule is similar to CGDA with two semesters and a break in January. They have one end-of-year community showcase. They offer special summer dance classes and camps as well.
Skamania Dance
Skamania Dance offers weekly ballet, jazz, and creative movement classes for young dancers starting in preschool through pre-teen, with classes beginning in late September. The studio provides age-based levels in Ballet I–III, Jazz I–II, and a gentle Predance class for ages 2.5–4.
The program is led by instructor Rachael Bates in Stevenson, WA, and welcomes new students each fall.
Empowered Movement Aerial
Empowered Movement Aerial is a non-profit organization that offers aerial silks, trapeze and lyra classes for students of many ages. I have several friends who train there and have loved the experience. Classes run month to month throughout the year with scheduled breaks, so new students can join at any time. Students have multiple performance opportunities each year. They have students of all ages and small class sizes, creating a tight-knit community. They offer a few drop-in classes but most enrollment is for one class a week on a set day and time, billed monthly. They have scholarship opportunities, outreach to schools and camps in the summer. They also offer private parties which is a fun birthday party idea!
Jackie’s Creative Movement Academy
Jackie’s Creative Movement is a development-focused dance and movement program jointly managed by Hood River Valley Parks + Recreation District and Jackie’s Creative Movement. Designed for ages 4–7 (all genders welcome), the class encourages creativity, body awareness, confidence, and social connection through imaginative movement, play, and dance.
This program is being offered again this spring, and registration is currently open beginning in April.
Theatre
HRVHS Production Mamma Mia
Hood River Valley High School, Hood River Middle School, & Wy’east Middle School
HRVHS has a large theater program that produces one musical and one play per school year. Tryouts for the musical happen in May, and tryouts for the play are in December. This spring’s play is called Mousetrap and the shows are February 20, 21, 22, 27 and 28th. They also have many acting classes, including Phoenix Theater, an acting troupe that performs at local schools and events. I have been a part of the fall musical all four years of high school and it’s a blast! It’s definitely a big commitment, but I’ve made lots of new friends and it absolutely helped me grow as a person.
HRMS and Wy’east both have great theatre programs as well that can help kids get started. Two of my younger siblings are in theater at HRMS and love the teachers!
Theatre CamilleLynne
Founded by Tay Camille Lynne, Theatre CamilleLynne provides theatre opportunities for teens across the Gorge. Productions typically cast youth ages 12–20, and there are also chances to get involved behind the scenes with tech, music, stage management, and even directing. Several of my friends have worked with Tay and absolutely loved the experience.
Their next production, Ordinary Days, opens in April. Visit their website for upcoming audition details for their summer production.
Fruit Loops
Fruit Loops Art Center has theatre programs for preschoolers to 9th graders! Their beginner programs , Art/Theatre Clubs, encourage creative expression with games and exercises. Each week is different as the kids learn skills to use their body, voice and imagination. For 3-5 graders, there is a dedicated Theatre Club which focuses on playing games, moment work, and creative expression. Clubs are available for drop-in and monthly attendance. Clubs run through the school year with a special summer session available as well!
For more advanced theatre students, Theatre Company is an audition-only program that requires dedicated attendance throughout the year. Students decide on units of study and perform in class for friends and family a couple of times a year. Units can include improv, monologues, costumes, lighting and more. For Theatre Company, auditions are in August and classes are held throughout the school year. Theatre Company is open to 3rd-9th graders.
Columbia Center for the Arts
The Columbia Center for the Arts often hosts plays or musicals that occasionally have children in the cast. There are usually 1 or 2 shows a year, and audition info is released on their instagram and website. Their most recent show was Junie B. Jones, and they just held auditions for Into the Woods which will run in May (more details to come).
Missoula Children’s Theatre
Missoula Children’s Theatre brings week-long musical productions to communities across the country — including the Gorge. Each year, professional touring directors arrive, cast local kids, and rehearse intensively all week before staging a fully musical at the weekend. In the past they have done musicals at Mt. Hood Town Hall, Columbia Center of the Arts and at Whitson Elementary School in White Salmon. Looking at their online schedule it does not look like there are any scheduled tours yet in Hood River but there is a tour coming up next month in White Salmon showing The Secret Garden - March 2nd - March 7th. I have not seen any information locally but if we do we'll post here and in the events calendar.
Heartsong Theater Camp
Heartsong offers summer theater camps that blend imagination, movement, storytelling, and performance in a creative outdoor setting. Through play, puppetry, craft, and collaboration, campers co-create performances inspired by nature, myth, and story.
Camps run Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM–4:00 PM, with a performance for family and friends on Friday afternoon.
Lower Grades Theater Camp (Ages 7–10)
A whimsical, imaginative week rooted in movement, storytelling, puppetry, and nature-based play. Children create characters, costumes, and short performances inspired by myths, animals, and fairy tales.
Middle Grades Theater Camp (Ages 11–15)
A deeper exploration of performance that includes script development, ensemble work, and stagecraft. Students dive into voice, physical theater, improvisation, and collaborative storytelling as they build an original outdoor production together.
Civic Kids
It looks like there is a program called Civic Kids run through The Dalles Civic Auditorium that offers theatre programming. There is an upcoming production of The Newsies Jr. happening March 7th & 8th and March 14th & 15th. They offer a Children's Theatre Summer Camp as well for ages 8-13.
Music
Mary Ann Hall's Music For Children
Music for Children Hood River is led by beloved local teacher Molly Schwarz and is based on the teaching philosophies of Mary Ann Hall. Molly offers joyful, engaging music classes for children from infancy through age 5. Her classes connect music to literature, art, poetry, dance and nature. Kids will learn lots of new songs and how to read rhythm! The classes come in 7-week sessions, making this a great introduction to music for young kids.
Hood River Parks and Recreation
Beginner Guitar
This winter, Hood River Valley Parks + Recreation District offered Beginner Guitar Lessons taught by local instructor Benjamin Tell, a favorite band teacher at Hood River Middle School. The class introduced students to the basics of guitar — including simple chords, strumming patterns, easy riffs, and rhythm skills. The program served 3rd–8th graders, with separate groups for younger (8–10) and older (11–14) students so instruction could be tailored by age and experience.
While this session has ended, Parks + Rec is likely to offer similar beginner music opportunities again in the future.
Beginner Drum Skills
This winter, Hood River Valley Parks + Recreation District offered Drum Skills with instructor Casey Anderson, giving 3rd–8th graders a fun, hands-on way to experience music while building skills in listening, rhythm, teamwork, discipline, and coordination. Classes were organized by age group (3rd–5th and 6th–8th grades).
While this session has ended, similar beginner percussion opportunities may be offered again in the future.
Music Builders (Youth Music)
Music Builders is a beginner music program managed by Hood River Valley Parks + Recreation District in partnership with Duncan Krummel. Designed for K–5th graders, the class introduces the building blocks of music through movement, rhythm games, creative instrument-making, and collaborative music-making. The program wraps up with a group performance of a uniquely musical fairy tale.
Parks + Rec has offered this program in recent seasons and may bring it back again in the future.
Choir Academy
Another program offered by Duncan through Parks and Rec is Choir Academy, a welcoming, beginner-friendly singing class for 6th–8th graders. The program focuses on healthy vocal technique, choral performance skills, and music games in a supportive group setting, and it concludes with a final group performance.
Beginner Piano
Piano Skills, also offered by Duncan Krummel through Hood River Valley Parks + Rec, is a fun, introductory piano class for 3rd–8th graders. Students meet once a week to explore basic piano technique, music theory, and playful music games in a supportive group setting, and the program concludes with a group performance
I know several students of Duncan who love working with him! He is very friendly and experienced.
Private Music Lessons with Mrs. Madison Helton-Brown
Mrs. Madison Helton-Brown offers welcoming, individualized music instruction in viola, violin, and piano for students of all ages and experience levels. New to the Gorge from Chicago, Madison holds a master’s degree in music from Northwestern University and brings over 10 years of experience as both a conductor and private teacher.
Her teaching emphasizes joyful, collaborative learning, with options ranging from early childhood music (Kindermusik/Music Together–style classes) to instrument skill development and private or small-group lessons. Families can contact her directly to schedule a trial lesson.
Hood River Valley High School, Hood River Middle School, Wy’east Middle School
HRVHS has a strong music program, including choir, chamber choir, and jazz band. They do performances at assemblies, concerts, and state competitions—where they have won some awards! HRMS offers jazz band and mariachi band, while Wy’east has both a band and choir.
The Gorge has a great variety of dance, theater, and music opportunities for kids of all ages! All of these options are wonderful and I’ve experienced many of them myself. The arts are an amazing way to learn to express yourself, grow creativity, and meet new people! Whether a child is brand new to the arts or already passionate about performing, there’s a spot for them in the Gorge. I really encourage families to explore these programs and support the arts that help kids grow in so many ways.
We'll add specific auditions, performances, class registrations and other programming to the events calendar as they become available.
