The best dance classes NYC has to offer

First popularized in New York City in the mid-60s, Salsa dancing is a Cuban-inspired club dance style that has remained popular for more than sixty years since it emerged in the States. If you want to learn this style's infectious rhythms that combine elements of mambo, rumba and swing, Nieves Latin Dance Studio has the introductory course you may be looking for. In only a few short classes, you’ll be Salsing the night away. Plus, you don’t need to bring a partner, making this class a great way to meet new people.

Swing dancing is a popular and upbeat social activity that is perfect for anyone looking to make friends, learn new dance moves and have fun grooving along to classics of the 50s and 60s (and the music inspired by them). This course is designed with total beginners in mind and you’ll be able to start dancing right away as you learn the basic six-count patterns that make up the backbone of swing. Students will only need a few months of classes before they are ready to move onto more advanced swing courses (offered here or at another location) and after the first few sessions, students will have greater flexibility to drop in at their convenience and practice swing steps.

There’s probably no dance studio more famous than the venerated Steps on Broadway, and no dance discipline channels the Great White Way better than tap dancing. Sign up for its 75-minute Absolute Beginner Tap class, which requires little to no experience. If you’re lucky, you might catch off-duty professional dancers popping into open classes.

Come to The 92nd Street Y and enjoy the infectious Latin-inspired rhythms of salsa, a style created in Miami and popularized in the New York club scene of the mid-60s. Since becoming popular, salsa dancing has been a staple of dance clubs all over the city with its high tempo Cuban and Puetro Rican inspired beats and steps. In this class, you’ll learn the basics of salsa dancing with common steps, aimed at getting you ready to visit a dance club and have a wild night of fun.

Tango dancing, which originated in Buenos Aires, has become a popular club dance that takes advantage of the up-tempo Latin-inspired rhythms to create a stunning partner dance that will leave people in awe. While it can look intimidating (and tango masters certainly make it look hard), tango is an easy dance style to learn if you are interested in getting your feet wet. In this introductory Tango class, you’ll learn all of the basic steps you need to start feeling the rhythm at the dance club nearest to you. You can bring a partner, but you don’t need to have someone to dance with to take the class.

If you want a broad understanding of dance and its evolution, consider enrolling in this 92nd Street Y course that focuses on the styles and structures of modern dance. You’ll learn a combination of traditional and modern dance techniques that aim to help you use dance as a venue for building coordination, stamina and strength. The course is adaptable and gives students the chance to build their own routines and phrase movements, making this a course that is useful regardless of your experience level or long-term dance goals.

Alvin Ailey was one of the most influential choreographers of the modern age, but classes at the Ailey Extension school are doable even for novices. Try the 90-minute Absolute Beginner Horton class, which introduces students to fundamentals of modern dance pioneer Lester Horton’s technique, such as leg swings, deep lunges and lateral stretches. It also features live drum accompaniment.

Haiti is among the most culturally rich and fascinating nations in the Caribbean, and they have a long history of traditional dances, many of which you can learn at this Fit4Dance Haitian dancing class. Led by professional dance instructor Peniel Guerrier, this course will teach students how to dance in the style of traditional Haitian cultural traditions, which draw their influence from Caribbean, African and European styles. Characterized by energetic and vibrant movement, this kind of dance class is a great way to stay physical and learn to appreciate the rich cultural history of Haiti.

Take a step back into American dance history with this Solo Jazz for Newbies offering at the 92nd Street Y. Jazz is one of the most prominent art forms to originate in the United States and has produced some of the world's most recognizable music and dancing styles. In this class, students will learn the vocabulary and unique character of early jazz dance, mastering iconic steps like Charleston, Suzie Q, Shorty George, and Fall Off The Log. If you are interested in learning a timeless dance style and learning about the unique history of this American style, this is a great course for you.

Unleash your inner Gene Kelly and start singing in the rain with this foundational tap dancing class. Designed with students of all ages and skill levels in mind, this course will teach you the essentials of tap dance in a fun and safe environment. Basic knowledge of tap dancing is recommended, but so long as you understand how the shoes work and how to not break your ankles, this course will have something to provide. You’ll learn basic steps and techniques to make your tap dance experience an exciting journey into this unique style of performance dancing.

Learn to tap into your body’s musicality in this 90-minute class, which introduces beginners to elements of classical modern dance like spirals, contractions and simple floor work. As a bonus, the movements are wonderful for strengthening your core muscles and improving flexibility. Live musical accompaniment and a warm, positive atmosphere make this studio ideal for those who have never set foot inside a dance class.

The classes at Broadway Dance Center are no joke: enrolling in an advanced level requires 10-plus years of training. If you are still learning the difference between a fan kick and a fouetté, try this beginner-level jazz class. Taught by Sue Samuels, who has worked with stage and film stars including Brooke Shields, the class includes jazz isolation techniques and floor work, to the beat of live percussion.

NYC Bhangra is an Indian dance studio that aims to bring this unique style of high-energy dancing to residents of New York. In this beginner-friendly class, students will spend a Sunday afternoon dancing, sweating and learning about India's rich cultural dance traditions that have brought this dance stateside. Bring a water bottle and be ready to burn some calories since this isn’t a slow dance. Walk-ins are invited to attend since this bootcamp isn’t part of any course series.

In recent years, belly dancing has experienced a popular resurgence as a kind of fitness dancing since it works out specific muscle groups (unsurprisingly, in the belly) more than almost any other dance style. In this beginner belly dancing class, students will learn how belly dancing can be useful for muscle exercises and posture as they learn simple introductory techniques that they can use to exercise, improve their skills or choreograph their own sensual belly dancing routines.

Peridance was the first school to offer professional hip-hop dance classes, starting in the 1980s. Today its program of new American dance classes is one of the most robust in the city, with nearly two dozen instructors teaching everything from urban choreography to dancehall. At the school’s Beginner Hip-Hop class, students learn the same choreography for two weeks in a row, ensuring full mastery before moving on to new moves.

Modern dance is a fascinating combination of carefully crafted, fluid motions and fitness-inspired uptempo energetic steps. In this class, which teaches the common Horton technique (a pillar of modern dance), students will learn techniques that focus on flexibility, coordination and body awareness. This dance class is great for anyone wanting to learn a new style of dance that can be practical in either the gym or the club and it is a good way to get a workout while learning something new and meeting new people.

Founded in 1953, Joffrey has a proven track record in classes from jazz to conditioning, but its ballet program is where it truly shines. Those with a basic understanding of classical ballet technique should try its Beginner class, which involves barre work as well as routines that move across the floor. Dancers also learn to improve their alignment and posture.

Another classic dance style of the Jazz era, swing dancing, particularly the Lindy Hop, is coming back in full force in dance clubs and studios across the country. If you want to join the swing revival, consider enrolling in a course like 92nd Street Y’s Lindy Hop Zero to Hero course. In this beginner level swing dancing class, students will spend four months perfecting the basics of Lindy Hop, including the Jig Walk, Triple-step Basic, Swing Out, and Charleston. Students who regularly attend the course will leave with a deeper appreciation for this dancing style and be ready for social dancing at clubs, intermediate swing classes or both.

As a cultural melting pot, New York City is home to a wide range of dance fusion schools and schools that aim to blend various cultural traditions together into something new. For example, Bollywood Funk Naach Xpress offered by Bollywood Funk blends the immersive elaborate choreography of Bollywood dance with the fitness dance styles that have become increasingly popular as alternatives to traditional workouts. In this course, which is available as a drop-in class, dancers will engage in an incredibly up-tempo exercise routine set to the finest music that Bollywood has to offer.

When you think of dancing, it is very likely that you think of ballroom styles like tangos and waltzes, stunning performance pieces where your body is the instrument. In this performance level course, you’ll learn the fine art of telling a story through dance. This course emphasizes connecting with your partner and learning to move in step, so this is also a great course to enroll in for a date night or romantic evening. You and your partner will work on planning your choreography and building a routine that makes the most out of your skills and story-telling ability.

Another exciting dance fitness option is the Clash Cardio class at Fit4Dance. This upbeat dance fitness style blends Caribbean Soca, West African, and Afro street styles into a frenzied, fast-paced dance style that will have you burning calories and enjoying some excellent fusion music. This course will have you sweating as you learn a modern club dance style while improving your stamina, losing weight and building endurance. The class primarily focuses on Soca styles but regularly incorporates Afro music into the routines.

SharQui is a high-intensity belly dancing workout routine that blends the practiced and sensual art of belly dancing with an aerobic workout regime designed to maximize calories burnt and muscles worked. In this fitness dance course, students will learn a proper routine of Bellydance moves that is easy to follow and perfect for improving your posture, slimming hips and legs, defining the waist, increasing upper body strength, and burning more than 350 calories per hour, making this one of the most effective exercise routines you can learn if you want to sculpt your lower body.

While it has somewhat waned in popularity in recent years, Zumba is still a popular workout dance style that you can learn to do in your own home. In this virtual LitFit course, you’ll learn how to practice this high-energy dance fitness style and how to get the most out of the energy that you can spend in a workout. It can take time to get used to this kind of high-energy dance fitness routine (it isn’t uncommon to leave your first few sessions feeling the burn), but it is worth it to keep coming back and learning the right dance fitness routine to meet your health and workout needs.

Originating in the Bronx in the early 70s, Hip Hop music and culture have been a defining element of the American cultural landscape over the last fifty years. This energetic (often collaborative) dance style is defined by its unconventional rhythms and deeply personalized styles, with numerous sub-genres and related dance styles emerging from the hip hop tradition. If you want to discover your own personal style and learn the history of one of NYC’s most enduring cultural traditions, consider this Fit4Dance course.

This Tribeca studio is committed to sharing dance with everyone, especially those for whom cost is an issue. Every class here is donation-based (the suggested amount is $10) and no prior dance experience is required for opening-level classes. Its signature technique uses elements of Qi Gong, dynamic stretch and cardio dance for an experience that helps the mind and body work in tandem.

In this introductory course, you can learn the unique jazz dance style of Broadway legend Sal Pernice, who has been teaching at the 92nd Street Y for over 20 years. This energetic dance style is a compelling fusion of broadway jazz and funk styles and is often paired with the music of the 70s and 80s (that’s where the funk comes from). In addition to learning the basic steps and starting to choreograph your own routine, you’ll also get limbered up and ready in a 45-minute pre-dance workout that will have you warmed up and ready to learn this exciting and unique dance style.

Ballet is one of the most recognizable and storied dance traditions. If you want to master the pirouettes and plies that make the style so famous, you’ll want to consider enrolling in this adult ballet course. And while Ballet is traditionally associated with lavish performances, you don’t need to be prepping for a role in Swan Lake to find this class worth your time. Ballet is all about balance, coordination and fluid movement, so learning these techniques can help you work on all of these skills as well as help you build endurance, stretch and get a workout.

Billing itself as a laboratory for the investigation of dance, Movement Research provides low-cost classes as a way to incorporate the community into its programming. To get a taste of what it’s like to rehearse as a professional dancer, try this morning class taught by a rotating roster of former Trisha Brown dancers. Students focus on breath work and mapping body joints before learning phrases from Brown’s choreographic vocabulary.

The 92nd Street Y is one of the oldest Jewish cultural community centers in New York City and they offer a range of dance classes for students looking to learn traditional folk Israeli dance styles, including a range of open session courses for beginners and experienced dancers alike. Led by Ruth Goodman, a classically trained dance instructor, participants will experience an exhilarating session of vibrant movement and lively fun as they learn the storied history of Israeli folk dance techniques.

Gibney's multi-hyphenate space in Tribeca hosts drop-in classes and also serves as a space for performances, talks, and workshops. It’s an ideal spot to immerse yourself in many difference dance disciplines from ballet to contemporary. Gibney is also one of the only studios in New York to offer Gaga, a barefoot, continuously moving technique developed by Batsheva Dance Company choreographer Ohad Naharin.

New York City Center has a fleet of oversize dance studios just a block away from its theater spaces. Among the most appealing offerings there are classes in choreographer Merce Cunningham’s singular style, which stresses rhythmic accuracy and spatial awareness—and is also a killer workout for your core and legs. Devotees should take advantage of the $100 10-class card, which brings each session down to a manageable $10.