New York Theatre Ballet School

New York Theatre Ballet School is the official training academy of NYTB, offering classes 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. Well-trained Cecchetti dancers have purity of line and simplicity of style that adapts to professional performance companies everywhere.

Small class size guarantees highly individualized instruction, with teaching assistants in every class.

For qualified students, the NYTB Company provides ongoing, professional performing experience in ballets featuring roles for children.

For the advanced and professional level student classes in modern, theater dance, pointe, variations and repertory round out the training curriculum.

Ages: 5-18 years.

Costs:  Costs vary depending on program. Financial Aid, Multiple Locations

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Junior Development Tennis Program

The Junior Development Programs is designed to help players develop their fundamentals and skill level. Red Ball, Orange Ball, Green Ball or Yellow Ball. The pathway of progress works on skill building, focus and a lot of fun. Moving through this progression builds skills and confidence; a segue to our Tournament Training Program (TTP) and competition.

Ages: 3 years and up.

Costs:  Costs vary depending on program. Please visit our website for more information..

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Imagine Works Youth Theatre

Imagine Works Youth Theatre believes in every student's innate abilities and talents! Through our affordable, individualized training, students learn at their own level, being challenged and inspired to become creative, confident and empathetic performers.

What makes Imagine Works Youth Theatre unique? We partner with the professional Off-Broadway Players Theatre so that our students have the opportunity to perform on a professional stage! IWYT productions get the full pro experience- costumes, hair, makeup, sets, lighting and sound. Students perform for agents, managers and casting directors.

Our instructors are experienced and highly trained with professional performing credits across the country. Students also gain valuable life skills, such as public speaking, confidence, empathy, and collaboration. We strongly believe in cultivating young performers that others in the industry want to work with.

IWYT teaches our students how to be professional, courteous and kind performers who realize the value in positivity and empathy for others.

Programs:  Classes offered all year round, including summer camp!

FALL 2022 CLASSES:

MUSICAL THEATRE CLASS
In this 10 week class, students will work on:
-basic acting techniques, including a monologue
-basic vocal techniques and a solo
-dance techniques and a group song/dance

Everything will culminate in a lively showcase for family & friends at the final class. We have both a Tuesday and Thursday class.

​ Class begins Tuesday September 20th OR Thursday September 22nd and goes for 10 weeks, ending on November 29th & Dec 1st. No class on 11/8 or 11/24. *Please note- this class is for kids ages 5-10.

​ ​FALL ACTING INTENSIVE & PRODUCTION In class, students will delve into the basics of Stanislavsky, Adler, Meisner and Strasberg acting techniques, as well as improvisation, voice & speech, and movement. Students will learn how to be responsive & engaged listeners on stage in scene work, as well as create fully developed characters. ​ This class is also combined with a production of a mainstage play "The Neverending Story." Students will rehearse for this play in the final two hours of class. Last year our students performed an amazing production of "Little Women!"

​​ Begins Saturday September 10th at 1:00pm-4:00pm. Final performances on November 19th at 2pm and November 20th at 11am. Auditions for "Neverending Story" will take place on the first day of class. *Please note- this class is for kids 10-17.

PRIVATE VOICE, ACTING & DANCE LESSONS Imagine Works offers private lessons in all areas, including audition preparation and helping with the middle & high school, and college audition process.

Ages: 5-17 years old.

Costs:  Lessons are $50/hour or $35/half hour. Full Semesters $400-$500.

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WeBop

WeBop is Jazz at Lincoln Center’s award-winning early-childhood jazz education program for little ones and their parents/caregivers. We strongly believe in children’s natural ability to improvise, and we are committed to exploring their creativity through fun interactive classes!

Programs: Varying age groups and class times from 9:30am to 12:15pm. Classes are approx. 45mins long.

This Fall, discover the many elements of jazz with WeBop’s “Jazz Basics” term. Over the course of this eight-week term, you and your child will explore core concepts of jazz such as swing, blues, improvisation, and other jazz basics. Together you will develop your imagination, creativity, and musicality while swinging nursery rhymes, singing the blues away, scatting like Ella or improvising like Coltrane, and of course jamming with a live jazz band!

Ages: Walking babies up to 5 years old.

Costs: In-Person: $400 (Early Bird Special: $340), Virtual: $260 (Early Bird Special: $220)

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Harlem School of the Arts

Uniquely positioned at the intersection of arts, education, and social justice, Harlem School of the Arts (HSA) offers after-school instruction in music, dance, theater, musical theater, and media & design to children ages 2-18. Through interdisciplinary arts training that celebrates the rich complexity of their community, we empower youth to reach their full potential while continuing to ensure that children of all socio-economic levels have access to the transformational power of the arts. HSA trains the creative thinkers and global citizens of tomorrow, while enriching and strengthening their connection to the community.

Programs: HSA’s Music curriculum includes all orchestral instruments, as well as saxophone, piano, organ, guitar, African and Latin percussion, and voice. Its philosophy is to prepare each student to be a proficient performer and reader of Western music as well as of the various musical styles of the African Diaspora. HSA’s Musical Theater program introduces the fundamentals of musical theater to young actors, and provides the opportunity to participate in a full-scale production at the end of each academic year.

HSA Theater utilizes a traditional arts conservatory approach to prepare its students for the demands of professional application, along with providing a general understanding and appreciation of theater. Students ages 3-18 of all levels of interest are taught by working professionals who bring their real world experience to every class.

HSA Dance offers courses that develop students’ physicality, creativity, technical ability, and performance skills. Classes are available for dancers of all levels from beginner to advanced; students ages 8 and up are assessed prior to placement into a ballet or contemporary class. All ballet classes follow the American Ballet Theatre’s National Curriculum of the classical ballet technique.

The HSA Media & Design curriculum guides students as they hone their abilities and foster a serious understanding of the artistic process. The department believes in an organic creative process that develops and focuses the artistic energy of students. Students are taught by active art professionals, who bring their real world experience to every class. Particular emphasis has been placed recently on 21st century arts careers, new media, and digital arts courses which provide the necessary building blocks to navigate the evolving digital landscape.

Ages: 2-18 years

Costs: $900 - $1200 Financial aid is available for those in need.

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Atlantic Acting School

At Atlantic Acting School, we equip our students with the physical, emotional and analytical tools of acting to discover their truths, and prepare them for success beyond our doors. our immersive, learn-by-doing approach is central to an Atlantic Acting education, and we have trained and mentored outstanding artists for more than 35 years. No matter their age or background, our students learn to break through their creative comfort zones in service to bringing essential human stories to life.

This fall we are thrilled to be back in-person for our kids & teens programs! In addition to creating characters and scripts, young artists will have opportunities to produce their own work. Each class has a focus that varies from musical theater to sketch, improv, scene study, film/TV and more, but are all rooted in the Atlantic Technique.

Programs: < /br>Theater Acting! (Ages 5-6)
T Mini Musical (Ages 6 - 8)
Acting 101 (Ages 6 - 8)
Mini-Play (Ages 6 - 8)
Mini-Musical (Ages 9 - 12)
Acting Workshop (Ages 9 - 12)
Comedy 101: Make Me Laugh! (Ages 9 - 12)
Performance & Playwriting: Farce & Fantasy (Ages 9 - 12)
On-Camera Acting 101 (Ages 9 - 12)
Intro to Musical Theater (Ages 12 - 15)
Film Performance (Ages 12 - 15)
Scene Study (Ages 12 - 15)
Improv & Sketch Workshop (Ages 12 - 15)
Audition & Monologues (Ages 12 - 15)
Intro to Stand Up Comedy (Ages 12 - 15)
Teen Conservatory (Ages 14 - 18)
Intro to Stand Up Comedy (Ages 14 - 18)

Ages: 5-18 years

Costs: $$425 - $875

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Baby and Kid Swimming Lessons in New Jersey

Safe Splash Swim School offers small group classes, semi-private, and private lessons. Photo courtesy of the school.

Year-round swimming lessons are a great way to help New Jersey kids develop a love of swimming and instill confidence around the water. These swimming classes teach water skills in a safe and age-appropriate way, and most allow children as young as 6 months old to participate. Many of the swim programs listed below include programming up to age 12 or beyond and some even offer competitive swim teams.

For the youngest swimmers, check out our post on baby swimming lessons in New Jersey.

You can find more swim and sports programs for kids–and even book a class online–in our directory of classes and listings. Check out our New Jersey Classes for Kids Guide for more kids’ activities and classes for kids of all ages and interests.

Special Needs Programs on Long Island for Kids

Children can take part in music classes at the Adler Center in Plainview. Photo courtesy of the center

Looking for special needs programs on Long Island? Read on for some of the options in Nassau and Suffolk counties. 

Finding proper care, schooling, activities, and services can be frustrating for Long Island parents with children who have special needs. Special needs children often want to–and can do–many things other children do, they just go about it in different ways. Schools and classes that focus on those with special needs, or offer an inclusion setting, are an important part of a special needs child's circle of care. 

For more information on programs, classes, and more for Long Island kids, check out our classes and enrichment guide and our Long Island Special Needs Guide.

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