Paul Pellicoro's DanceSport – Midtown West
22 West 34th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues
Billed as "New York's largest ballroom and Latin studios," Dance Sport offers an after-school program for children ages 6 to 13. Students meet twice a week and work in pairs to learn salsa, merengue, swing and ballroom. Each day is divided into two sessions. In the first, they try the steps and in the second, they learn choreographed routines. Everyone performs in the Dance Extravaganza at the end of the semester.

Mende Dance Studio – Rego Park
62-61 Woodhaven Boulevard at 62nd Drive
This decades-old Queens studio has ballroom dancing classes for children ages 7 and up. A no-cost introductory class is offered.

Dance Central New York – Staten Island
126 Fingerboard Road near Wilton Court
This Staten Island program offers ballroom and Latin dancing classes for kids and teens. The website is totally out-of-date but the studio's still going strong. Call 718-981-2121 for a current schedule.

Interested in bringing ballroom dancing to your child's school? Dancing Classrooms—the organization featured in the awesome documentary Mad Hot Ballroom and the inspiration behind the movie Take the Lead—is also the program my son participated in. He loved it, and it was incredible to see so many kids dance the tango, foxtrot and more with energy, smiles and confidence. Several kids in my son's class also participated in the borough-wide competition and all of them wanted to continue ballroom dancing outside of the classroom. Bonus: All kids who participate in the program are invited to take classes at the organization's Herald Square studio (25 West 31st Street) once the school program wraps. Check the website for information about starting a program at your child's school.

Find out about other cool programs for kids in our Classes Guide.