Shall we dance?

May 10, 2006 7:26 AM

Can anyone recommend affordable, beginner classical ballet, or tango, classes in NYC?

My wife is looking to get back into dancing. She'd like to go back to ballet by taking some beginner classes. If that's not possible, tango would satisfy her. We need it to be relatively cheap, not more than $100 per month. Anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks in advance. Much love.

posted by milarepa to media & arts (6 comments total)

I know a couple of former ballet dancers who are now into Argentine tango; they enjoy is immensely. I very very strongly recommend Robin Thomas as a tango instructor. He teaches at Empire Dance in NYC. I am not sure how much exactly they cost, but group classes should be under $100/month. There also are other excellent teachers in that area, including Shorey Myers (who teaches with Robin Thomas), Jennifer Bratt and Ney Melo.

Robin is also a very sought-after tango DJ, which makes me suspect that his classes will emphasize musicality, and will introduce his students to wonderful tango music.

A word of caution... Argentine tango is extemely addictive. It will start cheap, but soon after your wife may be traveling for tango festivals, buying beautiful shoes, and so on...
posted by copperbleu at 7:51 AM on May 10, 2006

Dance Tango is a web site listing most of the various classes and instructors in New York City. As it notes, there are several different styles of tango, and they are quite different. Ballroom-style (or "American tango") is what you see on TV, where there are set steps and choreography...it's pretty easy to learn, and fun to both dance and watch.

Argentine tango is an intimate dance with a greater learning curve; for most, the satisfaction is in the dancing rather than the watching. In fact, an instructor once told me, 'the most satisfying tango to the dancers is that which looks most boring to the spectators.' The emphasis is on learning to lead and follow, and not so much on actual steps. I'd recommend starting with ballroom and moving on to Argentine if that appeals.

The two camps are pretty well-divided, and while there is a tendency for the Argentine-followers to look down on the ballroom camp, each has its advantages and ballroom is definitely the easier to learn.

Most of the classes in NYC are Argentine style, and most are about $15-25 a lesson or $100 for a month (either 4 or unlimited classes, depending on the studio). Many studios offer the first lesson for free; it's worth taking a few weeks to try out a few different studios to find the teaching method that fits you best. If you're set on Argentine tango, Triangulo is a good place to start, and they hold an absolute beginner class once a month.

While I'd definitely recommend a group class to start, I do know a fabulous and patient teacher who holds private and small group lessons for $15 per person. Email me if you'd like her info.

And as copperbleu notes above, don't blame us if your wife suddenly wants to go to Buenos Aires on your next vacation and goes out dancing on weeknights with other men...tango, either style, can become a habit fast. Perhaps someone has a ballet suggestion?
posted by hsoltz at 7:58 AM on May 10, 2006 [1 favorite]

Thanks for your great answers! Any ballet recommendations would be great too. Thanks again.
posted by milarepa at 8:32 AM on May 10, 2006

You can find high-quality drop-in beginning ballet classes at Broadway Dance Center ($18/class), Steps ($15/class), Peridance ($17/class), and Dance New Amsterdam ($16/class), among others. Most of these places are cheaper if you pay for several classes at once, and many of them have complete beginner programs if she feels she needs to relearn the basics at a slow pace.

She will probably want to shop around because instruction and level varies a lot among different teachers.
posted by nevers at 8:40 AM on May 10, 2006 [1 favorite]

thanks nevers!
posted by milarepa at 8:54 AM on May 10, 2006

This book might also be helpful. It's geared towards adult beginners in ballet, and is written by a teacher/student team from the Joffrey Ballet School in NYC, which also offers adult ballet classes.
posted by invisible ink at 1:35 PM on May 10, 2006