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Best Dance Classes in NYC for Kids

Kids get a great foundation in classical ballet at Dance Theatre of Harlem. Photo courtesy of Dance Theatre of Harlem
Kids get a great foundation in classical ballet at Dance Theatre of Harlem. Photo courtesy of Dance Theatre of Harlem
9/2/24 - By Katherine Dhurandhar
Broadway Dance Center
BDC's Children & Teens Program offers dance classes in a range of styles and levels with multiple opportunities to perform and a high caliber of artistic mentorship. The program fosters the development of a positive self-image and a joyful work ethic, enabling students to form lifelong friendships and leadership skills. LEARN MORE

If you have a budding ballerina who's pleading for dance classes in New York City, you'll find yourself spoiled for choice, and that fact holds true across genres and genders. We've rounded up 22 studios offering kids' dance classes in NYC. Most of these New York City dance classes offer programs for boys and girls, and, in most cases, kids can study multiple styles at one studio; only a few specialize in one discipline.

For more great classes for kids, including everything from baby swim lessons to gymnastics classes, check out our New York City Classes for Kids Guide and Classes Directory.

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The Ballet Club offers dance classes for kids beginning at 18 months. Photo by Rachel Neville/courtesy of the school
The Ballet Club offers dance classes for kids beginning at 18 months. Photo by Rachel Neville/courtesy of the school

Best Ballet Dance Classes in NYC for Kids

Chrystie Street Ballet Academy

Lower Manhttan
Chrystie Street Ballet Academy (CSBA) has been a staple for NYC families since 2006. CSBA now holds after-school and weekend ballet classes for kids and teens ages 3 years and up at two locations in Lower Manhattan. Enrollment is by the semester, and a performance is held showcasing student progress at the end of the school year. Trial classes are available for all new students. READ MORE

Peridance Center

Union Square
With renowned programs for students ages 18 months to 18 years, Peridance is a pioneer in dance education in NYC. The school features a progressive interdisciplinary training approach, emphasizing a thorough understanding of various dance techniques, while promoting self-expression. In addition to ballet, Peridance offers enrollment-based classes and audition-based performance in contemporary, jazz, hip hop, tap, and more. READ MORE

Center for Performing Arts and Dance

Flatiron
The Center for Performing Arts and Dance' invites kids ages 2 through 12 to explore, create, and grow through dance and other enriching programs. Choose from a range of ballet classes suited for all levels, or opt for jazz/tap or Broadway musical dance. After school classes and camps are also available in chess, music, art, and crafts. READ MORE

New York Theatre Ballet School

East Village
New York Theatre Ballet School is the official training academy of NYTB, offering classes and camps for ages 4 and up. Since 1978, the NYTB School has developed its young dancers by following the Cecchetti syllabus, a method that emphasizes musicality, theatricality, gesture, and style. The summer session features pre-ballet for ages 5-7 (no audition required) as well as a higher level summer intensive for ages 7-11. READ MORE

The Ballet Club

Upper East Side
With a singular focus on ballet, The Ballet Club offers dance classes for kids ages 3-7. Classes introduce the student to age-appropriate ballet technique, musicality, and vocabulary. “Story Time” is incorporated into each class, where students are introduced to the history of ballet and to the stories and music of the great classical ballets.  READ MORE

Dance Theatre of Harlem

Harlem
Classical ballet training is the trademark of this storied Harlem dance school. Auditions are required for children ages 3+. Younger students join pre-dance and pre-ballet classes, while those ages 8 and older can join the Lower School, where a focus is on discipline and mastering ballet basics before moving on to the Upper School. Other genres are offered to complement ballet training, too. READ MORE

Ballet Hispanico

Upper West Side
This Spanish dance studio features classes in ballet, jazz, hip-hop, salsa, and tap for ages 2 and older. The Los Pasitos: Early Childhood Program introduces students ages 2-5 to coordination and movement techniques. The Encuentros: Open Class Program focuses on many dance traditions and is designed for ages 6-18. READ MORE

Sol Dance Center

Astoria, Queens
Opened in 2009, this dance studio offers a variety of dance classes for ages 18 months and older. The children's programs are split into three age groups: Baby Ballet caters to kids 18 months-3 years, with a gentle introduction to the genre, plus plenty of fun, socialization, and movement. In the pre-divisions, for ages 3+, more formal introductory classes lay the foundation for study in ballet, hip-hop, tap, acro, and salsa. The youth teen dance classes for ages 7+ include styles such as tap, Latin, jazz, and more. READ MORE

Great Modern Dance Classes in NYC for Kids

Alvin Ailey

Midtown West
Founded by dancer/choreographer Alvin Ailey (1931-89), this renowned school is dedicated to enriching the heritage of American modern dance and preserving the uniqueness of the African-American cultural experience. Kids 7 and older must audition for more advanced classes, but there are no auditions for the introductory classes, including the popular First Steps class (for kids ages 3-6) and Bounding Boys (for boys ages 4-6). READ MORE

Brooklyn Arts Exchange

Park Slope, Brooklyn
Offering more affordable prices than many of its counterparts, this arts center provides tumbling, dance, and theater classes to kids ages 3 and up. Choose from modern dance, ballet, and hip-hop for tweens and great movement classes for the toddler set. More advanced dancers (ages 9-18) may be invited to participate in Dance Performance Workshops, in which they'll deepen their study of dance technique and work on original choreography. READ MORE

Bridge For Dance

Upper West Side
This dance studio offers traditional and non-traditional dance classes for dancers ages 3 and older. Styles include ballet, jazz, and hip-hop, plus creative movement and aerial circus classes. The Young Dancers Program is a year-long commitment with weekly classes scheduled from September to May, ending with a recital showcasing what the children have learned throughout the year. READ MORE

The School at the Mark Morris Dance Center

Fort Greene, Brooklyn
Operated by the Mark Morris Dance Group, this reasonably-priced dance school offers classes for kids and teens and parent-and-me sessions for children ages 4 and younger. Children and teens, ages 6-18, can take modern, tap, jazz/hip-hop, ballet, and African dance classes. Advanced students, ages 10-17, can audition for the Student Company.  READ MORE

Cynthia King Dance Studio

Prospect Park South, Brooklyn
Cynthia King hosts a variety of dance classes for kids, including ballet, modern, hip-hop, and tap. The studio offers parent-and-me dance classes for toddlers and preschoolers. School-age kids who are serious about their studies may be chosen for the CKDS Company Program to learn ballet and contemporary styles at an accelerated pace with professional performance opportunities. READ MORE

The Taylor School Summer Dance Programs

Lower East Side
As the educational wing of the prestigious Paul Taylor Dance Company, The Taylor School is committed to providing high-quality dance education for all ages. The comprehensive curriculum ensures students progress through each level, building physical skills, spatial awareness, musicality, and an in-depth understanding of the renowned Taylor style of modern dance. READ MORE
Hip-hop is a high-energy dance style. Photo by Jonathan Hsu
Hip-hop is a high-energy dance style. Photo by Jonathan Hsu

Where to Find Hip-Hop Dance Classes in NYC for Kids

Downtown Dance Factory

Tribeca
This popular Tribeca dance school invites children as young as 18 months to its 9,000-square-foot studio to try out classes including hip-hop, tap, jazz, ballet, and a breaking program. Summer camps, birthday parties, and adult dance classes are also offered. READ MORE

The Brooklyn Dance Centers

Bensonhurst and Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
A borough favorite, this dance center operates from two locations in Brooklyn and offers a variety of dance classes, including ballet, contemporary, and break-dancing. Classes start at age 2. This studio ticks all the boxes with a nationally competitive dance team, dedicated teachers, and a mission to reach kids of all abilities. READ MORE

Nadia's Performing Arts Centre

Bayside, Queens
Specializing in small classes, this Bayside dance school promises lots of individualized attention for dancers. Mommy-and-me ballet classes start at 18 months old. Instruction in ballet, jazz, tap, and hip-hop—plus more dance classes for kids—are offered for ages 2 1/2 and older. Placement is based on age and ability; there are also audition-only performing opportunities. READ MORE

Shooting Stars NYC

Upper East and Upper West Sides
Shooting Stars NYC is a competitive dance company devoted to empowering and inspiring young girls through dance and performance. The hip-hop, street jazz, acro, lyrical, and contemporary teams work toward competitions each spring. Dance teams are offered for ages 6 through 18 for all types of commitment levels. READ MORE

Jazz and Tap Dance Classes in NYC for Kids

American Youth Dance Theater

Upper East Side and Washington Heights
With popular classes like mommy-and-me, hip-hop, contemporary, tap, and Broadway, this dance school prioritizes a positive learning environment where children are encouraged to learn and grow. Classes are open for all ages, from toddlers to high schoolers.  READ MORE

American Tap Foundation

Greenwich Village
The American Tap Dance Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to tap dancing. Beginners age 5 and older start in the Young Rhythm Makers class, where they’ll learn basic steps and how to improvise their own combinations. Kids with more experience are placed in tap dancing classes like Hoofers and Hitters and Shim Sham Crew, where they’ll learn elements of early dances as well as contemporary forms. READ MORE

Broadway Dance Center Children and Teens

Midtown West
Founded in 1984 as one of the first dance schools with drop-in classes, this center offers tap, jazz, modern, ballet, hip-hop, and theatrical dance classes. The studio's annual program runs from September through June and ends with a showcase performed in front of friends and family. Dancers ages 3 and up of all levels and ages can register for weekly classes. Dancers aged 10-18 can be considered for the professional track. READ MORE

Steps on Broadway

Upper West Side
Steps on Broadway offers dance classes for kids 2-18 years at all levels in jazz, modern, contemporary, tap, theater dance, ballet, and hip-hop. The studio's First Steps program for ages 2-6 brings kids, teachers, and musicians together to create a joyful environment capturing the imagination and creativity natural to young children. Classes for ages 7-18 offer dance instruction that strengthens technique and artistic skills. Students are placed in classes according to their age and ability. READ MORE

Studio E of Dance

Flushing, Queens
A Queens staple, Studio E has been around since 1969. Children ages 3 and older can study ballet, jazz, hip-hop, tap, and contemporary. Tiny Dancers, a separate program for preschoolers, introduces beginner ballet techniques and other forms of dance. Little ones are encouraged to strengthen their bodies as well as their imaginations. READ MORE
Ballroom dance is engaging a new generation. Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Dance Lessons
Ballroom dance is engaging a new generation. Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Dance Lessons

Best Ballroom and Latin Dance Classes in NYC for Kids

Jorday Rivera's Dance Studio

Forest Hills, Queens
Jorday Rivera's Dance Studio is the Queens hub for salsa and Latin dance for youth and adults. Classes include salsa/mambo, merengue, bachata, cha cha, belly dance, ballroom, lyrical, tango, Brazilian samba, as well as jazz, tap, hip-hop, modern, break dance, and Zumba—all culminating in an annual dance recital. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Center for Performing Arts and Dance Flatiron
Everett Center for the Performing Arts
Downtown Dance Factory
The Brooklyn Dance Centers
Broadway Dance Center Children and Teens