KCKidsFun

The Kansas City metro is FULL of outstanding theatre, dance, vocal music, instrumental music and other performing arts camps. No matter what part of town you live in, there is bound to be something for your child, no matter his or her age. Be sure to check your parks & recreation department as well as our listing here.

Sponsored Listings:

Join Christian Youth Theater as we celebrate 10 years in Kansas City.  This summer’s camps include Dora and Diego (ages 4-5), Disney on Broadway (ages 5-12), and Xtreme Theater (ages 10 – 14) in half day or full day camps.  Overnight camps include Selections From All Shook Up for middle school students and West Side Story for high school students.  Camps offered June – July at locations throughout the metropolitan Kansas City area.  Call 913.681.3318 for more information or visit us on-line at cytkc.org.

And if you’re interested in a Sponsored Listing (with graphic and priority positioning), email us for information.

Regular Listings:

• Academy of Performing Arts – Summerstage (Grandview, MO) has two-week sessions of performing arts training for ages 6 to 13, culminating in a musical play and talent showcase on the Academy’s outdoor stage. This year’s production – Down in the Dumps!
• Act One (Northland) will be offering two summer camps.  Guys & Dolls for teens and Aladdin for kids. Both camps are located North of the River at 600 NE 46th Street, Kansas City, MO.
• American Rhythm with the Ballet Conservatory of Independence and Pure Dance Studio (Independence, MO) offers a summer performance camp in basic dance, ballet, clogging, music dance theater, stage makeup and more. For ages 5 to 19.
• Ballet North (Northland) offers week-long dance camps for ages 4 and up. Morning or evening sessions are available. (2009 camp info still up on the Ballet North website as of March 3, 2010 – might need to give them a call!)
• Blue Valley Recreation (south Johnson County, KS) offers Camp Center Stage and Camp Center Stage Junior as well as music and rock band camps!
• Camellot Academy (Kansas City, MO) offers a camp program at Rockhurst High School for kids age 5 through grade 9. Campers participate in activities related to dance, art, drama, vocal music and performance skills. They rehearse and perform a complete play the final week of camp.
• Chestnut Fine Arts Center (Olathe, KS) is offering two one-week theatre workshops this summer. Topics covered include scripts, songs, dances, costume design, set building and performance. A 30 minute production caps off the week. This year – Snoopy & Friends
• Christian Youth Theater (multiple locations) offers several day and overnight camp options for kids from age 4 through high school. Each session is a week long. The kids work on fun productions all week long and then perform! My kids attended a really fun session of CYT two summers ago and LOVED it!
• Coterie Theatre (multiple locations) has courses for grades k through 12 – try acting, playwriting or theatre exploration classes. Camps will be offered at Miller-Marley School of Dance in Overland Park, Pembroke Hill School, Notre Dame de Sion High School, Liberty Community Center and Longview Community College this summer.
• Creative Arts Academy (Gladstone, MO) offers weeklong, full day camps for kids from ages 4 to 14, each week in July. Camp activities include hip hop dance, gymnastics, trampoline, tumbling, arts/crafts, sports, drama and swimming. (As of March 3, 2010, 2009 info is still posted on their website – check back for updated info.)
• Culture House (Olathe, KS) has a HUGE variety of summer courses available from dance and ballet to music and theater. Take a performance combat class, a musical theater class and more!
• Dave’s Gymnastics Factory (Lee’s Summit, MO) offers a full day camp for ages 5 to 11, all summer long. Activities include not only gym time but also outdoor activities, arts and crafts and swimming.
• Eagles Gymnastics and Dance Centre (south Kansas City, MO) has half day camps with different themes each week. Each camp includes gymnastics and special activities related to the week’s theme. Boys and girls of all ages are welcome to check out Glee Song & Dance Camp, Domestic Diva Camp, Amazing Races Camp, even a science camp…to name a few!
• Emerald City Gymnastics (Overland Park, KS) offers four-day camps with gymnastics, games, playing in Bump City and a week-ending show for parents.
• A Fairytale Ballet (Prairie Village, KS and Overland Park, KS) has one and two day “princess” camps for little girls ages 2 thru 8, throughout the summer. Mornings and afternoons.
• Camp Shakespeare/Heart of America Shakespeare Festival (various locations) has a wide range of offerings for kids from 5 to 18. Camps range from one day to two weeks and many camps end with a camp performance of a Shakespearean play.
• Hoffman Models Fashionista Summer Camp (Overland Park, KS) has limited space available for its summer camp – learn makeup, skin care, etiquette, hairstyling, acting, runway and more!
• Ibsen Dance Theatre (Northland) doesn’t have their summer schedule posted on the website yet. But they traditionally have a theatre camp in addition to dance classes during the summer. The theatre camps include classes in make-up, acting, mime, improv, dance and more. Check back on their website or just give them a call!
• Johnson County Community College Performing Arts Series (Overland Park, KS) offers visual and theatre arts classes for K-8 as well as several chamber music classes.
• Johnson County Park and Recreation District offers 39 summer camp programs for ages 3-18.  Included are camps focusing on theater, art, dance and music!  Dates, locations and fees vary.
• Kansas City Ballet School (Prairie Village, KS) hosts summer programs for ages 3 and up, for every skill level.
• Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey AileyCamp (Kansas City, MO and Kansas City, KS) is a six week day camp for KCMO and KCK middle-schoolers which uses dance as a vehicle to build self-esteem, self-discipline and critical thinking skills. Camps are held in KCMO and in KCK, transportation may be available.  The camp is FREE but there is an application/selection process.
• KC Young Audiences (Kansas City, MO) gives kids ages 5 to 18 a chance to learn music, musical theater, Shakespeare, comedy, dance and show production. The younger kids can take half-day classes; older kids are eligible for full-day camps. Extended care is available. Classes held at the Community School of the Arts on the campus of St. Teresa’s Academy.
• Kindermusik Camps (Kearney, MO) – Available for children birth to age 7. Sessions in May-June and July-August. Music and Movement camps with and without parent involvement (varies with age). Check website for details.
• Legacy School of the Arts (Olathe, KS) offers regular and intensive summer dance classes as well as drama and musical theatre camps for all ages, from 3 to teen. This summer’s drama camps include Jack’s Big Music Show, Yo Gabba Gabba and Dr. Seuss!
• Lyric Opera (Kansas City, MO) hosts an amazing two week camp for kids ages 10 to 18. Campers will study opera and acting techniques. They will perform a family opera at the end of camp and will have the opportunity to be chosen to sing in an actual Lyric Opera production next season.
• Miller-Marley School of Dance and Voice (Overland Park, KS) will have a full summer of dance classes, Coterie Theatre classes and Theatre in the Park rehearsals!
• Music House School of Music (south Overland Park, KS) has some super non-traditional camp offerings – Rock Band, Rock Class, Guitar Riffology and Guitar Legends – for ages 10 to 17. Check out their new, larger facility!  My son takes piano lessons here and it is fantastic and fun!
• Music Theatre for Young People (Olathe, KS) hosts a summer day camp for ages 7 to 12, culminating in a performance.   Summer programs for high school age kids also available.
• Patricia Stevens Model Summer Camp (Kansas City, MO) offers week long camps teaching posing, runway, etiquette, acting, fashion, makeup and the modeling/fashion industries.
• Paul Green School of Rock (Parkville, MO) offers Rock Camp 101 and Rock Boot Camp this July!
• Paul Mesner Puppets (Kansas City, MO) is  hosting Puppet Camp for ages 6 and up! Learn to make puppets and create puppet shows from the best! (As of March 3, 2010, the 2009 info was still up – but call the studio or check back for updates!)
• The Pulse PAC (south Kansas City, MO) offers some workshops and intensive dance classes this summer.
• St. Teresa’s Academy Summer Camps (Kansas City, MO) offer Dance and Art Workshop camps for girls in grades 4 thru 9.
• Stage Right Performing Arts (Johnson County, KS) offers a musical theatre camp.  Students learn audition techniques, staging, voice, singing and dancing.  Mon through Thurs, 1230-430pm, June 7-July 8, 2010.
• Steppin’ Out (Lee’s Summit, MO) offers Dance, Acting and Cheerleading Camps this summer. No info yet on the website – but keep an eye out for summer info soon! Ages 4 to 12, changing themes each week!
• Theatre for Young America (Shawnee, KS) hosts drama classes and five-day workshops at Wonderscope Children’s Museum and at Avila during the summer. As of March 3, 2010, they didn’t have 2010 summer information on their website – but check back soon for an update!
• Theatre of the Imagination (various locations) offers theatre camps at several locations around the city. Check out their website for updates. All ages, several themes – acting, singing dancing!
• Trilogy Cultural Arts Centre (Olathe, KS) has 10 theater and visual arts summer camps available this year. Something for everyone – ages 3 to 18!
• University of Missouri – Kansas City Community Music and Dance Academy (Kansas City, MO) has several dance and musical instrument summer programs. Some are offered at UMKC and others are offered at Notre Dame de Sion lower school.
• YMCA (20 locations in the metro) offers camps for 5-11 year olds.  Drama camp is available in addition to crafts, sports and nature!  Bonus:  before and after-camp care is available, as is financial assistance.

Also be sure to take a look at the camps listed in our General Day and Overnight Camps list – many of them offer performing arts sessions as well!