How to find sports or dance clubs for adults?

Calgary offers an incredibly rich variety of sports and dance programs for adults, covering virtually every interest and skill level. The city has created a comprehensive physical activity ecosystem where every adult can find a program to develop their skills, stay fit, and socialize.

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The Calgary Sport and Social Club (CSSC) is the leading provider of adult sports in the province of Alberta. Since 1996, the organization has grown to 100,000 registered participants, offering more than 15 different sports each season. The club operates under a “fun first, winning second” philosophy and welcomes players of all skill levels.

CSSC offers flexible registration options — you can join as a full team, with a few friends, or individually. The organization provides seasonal parties, speed dating, ski trips, and exclusive access to discounts at sponsor bars around Calgary.

Sports sections and leagues

Team sports

CSSC offers a wide range of team sports throughout the four seasons of the year. Popular options include:

  • Volleyball (beach, indoor, and grass)
  • Soccer (indoor and outdoor)
  • Basketball
  • Floor hockey
  • Flag football
  • Softball
  • Kickball
  • Dodgeball
  • Ultimate Frisbee

Calgary Superleagues offers specialized ball hockey programs. 403 Ball Hockey is Calgary's newest league for adults of all skill levels. The league plays in a 4-on-4 format (2 men, 2 women plus a goalie) and provides official referees and quality equipment.

Ice Sports

For hockey enthusiasts, Calgary offers several professional leagues. The Adult Safe Hockey League (ASHL) runs seasons with 30 regular season games and guaranteed playoff games. The WinSport Hockey Canada League (WHCL) provides non-contact games in a safe environment.

The Calgary Adult Morning Hockey League (CAMHL) has been operating for over 34 years, offering morning games from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m. at Flames Community Arenas. The South Calgary Recreational Hockey League (SCRHL) serves players ages 18 and up in morning and evening divisions.

CSSC also has its own Sport and Social Club Hockey League (SSCHL) for recreational 3-on-3 hockey, designed for people returning to the sport.

Individual Sports

For tennis, the leading facilities are Osten & Victor Alberta Tennis Centre, Aforza, Calgary Tennis Club, and Calgary Winter Club. These centers offer programs for beginners to advanced players, including private lessons, group lessons, and leagues.

The Alberta Tennis Centre offers programs ranging from level 1.0 to 4.5, including “Learn,” “Practice,” “Play,” and “Social & Events” clinics. A $25 player evaluation is required to register for programs at level 2.5 and above.

Dance Studios and Programs

Ballroom and Latin American Dance

Calgary Stars Dance Studio specializes in all styles of ballroom, Latin American, and country dance. The studio offers private lessons, group classes, and special choreography for wedding couples. Instructor Maria Milat has a professional background in competitive dance and over 13 years of teaching experience.

Ballroom & Country Dance Studio has been in business since 1995 and has two beautiful ballrooms with a total area of over 3,900 square feet. The studio offers Sunday group classes and social dancing every Sunday evening.

Arthur Murray Calgary is part of a worldwide network of dance studios with over 30 dance styles. The studio specializes in teaching beginners to survive on the dance floor through an interconnected system that makes learning quick and easy.

Contemporary and Specialized Dance

DC Dance Club has been operating since 1986 as Calgary's oldest dance school. They offer a variety of adult dance classes, including Latin, ballroom, swing, and country dancing. The studio also has a unique program for children with special needs.

Free Spirit Dance is the perfect dance school for adults, founded by Teresa, who also started dancing in her 20s. The school offers the best hip-hop, contemporary dance, Bollywood fusion, and wedding dance classes.

Aradia Fitness Calgary specializes in pole dancing and aerial dance as a franchise of the world's largest pole fitness business. Their classes combine wellness and fitness in pole dance lessons, helping you feel stronger and more confident.

Social dance groups

The Calgary Social Dancing Meetup Group brings together people with an interest in social partner dancing. The group focuses on teaching leading and following in dances such as salsa, bachata, merengue, country two-step, West Coast swing, and many others.

Calgary Dance Club is a non-profit club that offers a variety of weekly classes, regular workshops, and monthly themed dances. The club offers classes for beginners, intermediate, and advanced levels in ballroom, country, Latin American, and social dances.

Minus One Club Calgary, founded in 1963, is Calgary's longest-running singles club. They offer biweekly social dances with live bands, a large 3,648-square-foot dance floor, and free dance lessons before most events.

Fitness Clubs and Gyms

Major chains

YMCA Calgary has six locations throughout the city, offering comprehensive health and wellness programs. Membership includes access to all centers, early registration and discounted programs, as well as free drop-in classes. Membership costs range from $37.15 for a child (ages 10–11) to $88 for an adult (ages 26–64).

GYMVMT offers flexible memberships for all fitness levels with state-of-the-art cardio and strength equipment, Rogue rigs, turf for functional training, and infrared saunas. Membership includes 5 free training sessions with trainers.

Gold's Gym Calgary positions itself as the best gym in town with 24/7 access, multi-club access, unlimited group classes, and a women's-only section.

Specialized Centers

YW Calgary Fitness offers 3,500 square feet of equipment, including cardio machines, strength training equipment, free weights, and an open space for stretching. The center is located on the corner of 17th Avenue and offers discounts to residents of the Inglewood neighborhood.

Genesis Centre in northeast Calgary offers a variety of drop-in sports, including badminton, basketball, volleyball, and pickleball. The center also has programs for active seniors and toddlers.

Yoga Studios

Calgary has over 15 yoga studios offering a variety of styles and levels of difficulty. PŌZEN yoga, Sunshine Yoga Academy, and The Yoga Shala Calgary are among the highest-rated studios.

Yoga Santosha Mission offers a regular membership for $99 per month, which includes unlimited in-person, live streaming, and on-demand classes. Membership also includes a 10% discount on all merchandise, workshops, events, and massages.

Metta Yoga Calgary has 10 styles of yoga and offers Karma classes where all proceeds are returned to the community. YogaMCC provides a personalized approach with limited and small class sizes.

Martial Arts

Main Schools

Elite Martial Arts Academy offers traditional training in a modern environment with Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for adults. The academy has three convenient locations in south Calgary and over 600 five-star reviews.

Arashi-Do Martial Arts is located in Calgary West – Springbank, offering karate, Muay Thai, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, MMA, and fitness. The school has been operating for over 35 years and creates a judgment-free environment where everyone treats each other with respect.

Satori is a martial arts and wellness studio in the historic Inglewood neighborhood. The studio offers in-person and online classes in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai, self-defense, yoga, and meditation.

Swimming Programs

Adult Swimming Lessons

The University of Calgary has comprehensive programs for adult swimmers of all levels. The Adult Swimmer Program is designed for beginners or swimmers who want to improve their skills. The program includes three levels, from basic water confidence to mastery of all swimming strokes.

K&K Swim School offers private swimming lessons for all ages at various locations in Calgary. The school offers summer sessions (8 weeks for $376) and fall sessions (16 weeks for $752).

The City of Calgary offers Adult Beginner and Adult Stroke Development programs. Adult Beginner is designed for those who want to feel more comfortable in the water while learning basic safety skills.

Rock climbing

Leading centers:

  • Calgary Climbing Centre has five locations in the city with constantly changing and variable routes. The Rocky Mountain location has the highest walls, up to 65 feet high, with bouldering and a special speed wall.
  • Bolder Climbing Community specializes in bouldering with walls for all ages and skill levels. The facility offers clinics, training, personal coaching, and a youth team.
  • The University of Calgary Outdoor Centre and Shawnessy YMCA also have rock climbing programs with auto belays for safety.

Curling

The Calgary Curling Club offers a comprehensive curling school for adults through a series of programs. Adult Learn to Curl is an introductory instruction program for adults with little or no curling experience. The program includes six weekly sessions for $200 plus GST.

The Calgary Sport and Social Club also offers a fun curling league for “not-so-serious” players. The Learn to Curl program runs on Friday evenings for 6 weeks.

Golf

City Programs

The City of Calgary has seven municipal golf courses in five locations throughout the city. McCall Lake Par 3 is ideal for beginners – easy to walk and suitable for all ages. The city offers driving ranges at Confederation Park, McCall Lake, and Shaganappi Point.

Professional Schools

The Calgary Golf Academy, led by Jeff Lubin, offers year-round indoor lessons. Over 90% of the academy's students report significant improvement in their game thanks to their approach.

GOLFTEC Calgary has locations with state-of-the-art technology for personalized lessons and club fitting. Kyle Miller Golf Inc. offers professional golf coaching and annual lesson programs for all skill levels.

CSSC also has a Learn to Golf program, a 5-week course focusing on the long and short game. The program includes 4 weeks of lessons on Wednesday evenings and a final game on a Par 3 course on Monday for $400 per person.

Practical tips for finding clubs

The best place to start for adults in Calgary is to visit the Calgary Sport and Social Club website, which offers the widest selection of sports leagues and social events. For dancing, it is recommended to visit several studios for trial lessons, as each has its own unique atmosphere and specialization.

The City of Calgary Recreation Guide is published seasonally and contains over 12,000 registered programs. Registration usually begins several months before programs start, so it is important to keep an eye on registration opening dates.

YMCA Calgary offers financial assistance for those who need it, making programs more accessible to all city residents. Many community centers also offer drop-in programs that allow you to try an activity before making a long-term commitment.

For beginners in any sport or dance, it is recommended to start with beginner programs or drop-in sessions. Most organizations in Calgary welcome beginners and provide a supportive environment for learning new skills at any age.