The term “dance mom” may get a bad rap sometimes, but the truth of the matter is that it takes an immense amount of love, understanding, and positivity to support a passionate dance student. To get the scoop straight from some very dedicated—and inspiring—parents of young dancers, we turned to some of the top dance programs in the city and asked some supportive moms to share their stories and pearls of wisdom.
Plus, we’re also pleased to present a selective list of amazing NYC dance programs to help spark your own child’s love of movement and dance (regardless of age, interest, or skill level).
The Mom: Donna Smalls
The Dancer: Adanna Smalls, age 10, specializes in ballet, tap, and modern dance in the pre-professional program for juniors
Years In The Dance World: 7
Her Story: “Adanna started her dance journey at the age of 3. We signed her up for a simple creative movement class and she impressed her instructor so much that her instructor insisted that we place her in a ballet class. Adanna has always displayed a passion and desire to dance…we could tell from the sparkle in her eye that it was a must to pursue as much dance training as possible.”
What She Loves: “The thing I enjoy most about having a child interested in dance is seeing the excitement she has when being challenged with something new, her appreciation for all types of art, and that internal drive she has to give the best performance she can give.”
Her Advice: “You have to establish and maintain strong communication between your child, fellow dancers, other parents and instructors. You want to learn as much as you can about the inner workings of the ‘dance world.’ Keep in mind that it is not only exhausting work for the parent, but your child works very hard as well—know your child and how far they can be pushed.”
The Mom: Jenn Massa
The Dancers: Brianna Massa, age 12, level 6; Sophia Massa, age 9, level 4; and Tristan Massa, age 8, level 4; all ballet dancers in the pre-professional division
Years In The Dance World: 6
Her Story: “One summer, when Brianna was 6, and Sophia was 4, they asked me if they could take ballet classes. We found a school nearby that offered summer classes. Tristan wanted to join the girls, but we waited until fall to take the Mommy and Me class for a year. When he was 3 the following summer, I told him we couldn’t take Mommy and Me anymore and he had to wait until he was 4…he cried and stood outside the studio door until the owner and teacher of the studio invited him to join the class. The rest, they say, is history…and a similar situation happened when we moved to BAE. At age 6, I was told Tristan was too young to audition for the Summer Intensive, but he stood outside Sophia’s class, put on his ballet slippers, and danced in the lobby. The next day, he was invited to join Sophia’s level.”
What She Loves: “I enjoy watching my children have a great time dancing and I know that they take pride in the work they do in class, and I think it shows. I am very proud of them for that… There are so many reasons why I enjoy having my children so interested in ballet. I can name you all the reasons that might sound trite: From the discipline they get to the exposure to high art and classical music, but most of all, I enjoy learning from them—their appreciation and love for ballet teach all of us something.”
Her Advice: “Finding a school that fits the needs and goals of your children –and your own—is important. The best facilities or big names do not automatically equate to best schools. Be realistic in what your kids can or can’t do, and allow them to find their own powers in their craft. In other words, give them space. It’s their thing. Our thing is to keep them healthy all around—[to] drop off, pick up, pack snacks, do their buns, encourage them to eat healthier, and everything else. Don’t compare them to others and stop them when they start to compare themselves. They’re hard enough on themselves without us expecting them to do things they are not ready or cannot innately do. Lastly, enjoy the journey with your kids. It’s a privilege.”
BROADWAY DANCE CENTER
The Mom: Nina Fradenburg
The Dancer: Katarina Fradenburg, age 15, attends the children and teen program and enjoys many styles of dance, but excels especially at tap
Years In The Dance World: 12
Her Story: “When Katarina was 3, I enrolled her in a creative movement class and realized how much she seemed to enjoy it. The following year we enrolled her in local suburban dance schools, but soon realized many of them lacked structure. When she was 5 we researched schools more carefully [and] found out about BDC’s children and teen program… The level of encouragement and support that Katarina experienced at BDC, from the director to the support staff and instructors, was exceptional.”
What She Loves: “The greatest joy in supporting our daughter is watching her perform and grow as a dancer. Katarina was a shy girl and dance had the ability to help draw her out of her shell. For a parent to see this transition is priceless… The most enjoyable part of seeing Katarina take interest in dance is the springboard it has provided to other areas within the arts where she has also expressed interest.”
Her Advice: “The best advice I could ever give another parent is to follow your child’s passion and embrace it regardless of whether or not you expect it to continue as a career… We share and support whatever goals Katarina chooses, but also try to encourage her to have multiple interests. We believe that dance will always be a part of her, and our goal is that as long as she continues to enjoy dancing she keeps at it, whether it’s for fun or a career.”
WHERE TO DANCE IN NYC
The Ailey School: This historic school offers programs for kids and young adults, ages 3-25. The Junior Division, for dancers 3-17, has a First Steps/Bounding Boys class for ages 3-6; and a Pre-Professional training program for ages 7-17. alvinailey.org
American Youth Dance Theater: Open to kids of all ages and abilities, there are a myriad of classes offered at this Upper East Side school. Mommy-n-Me, Tiny Tots, Pre-Ballet, Ballet and Pointe, Tap, Contemporary, and Hip-Hop are just some of the possibilities. americanyouthdancetheater.com
Applause NYC: The home of Rock ‘n’ Roll Babies, Broadway Babies, and Broadway SuperStars, Applause Theatrical Workshops are designed for kids who love to perform, whether they’re newborns or in grade 12. This Upper East Side studio offers theater games, improvisation, musical theater performance, acting, and dancing. applauseny.com
Ballet Academy East: The Upper East Side’s Ballet Academy East offers classes for children and adults of all ages. Programs include the Petite Dancer classes for 18 months to 2 years, as well as pre-ballet, tap, and modern for ages 3-6. The primary ballet class for ages 6-7 leads into the Pre-Professional Division for ages 7-19 and the less intensive enrichment program for ages 7-12. Adults and teens of all levels can join the many ballet, tap, jazz, modern, Zumba, yoga, and Pilates classes, offered seven days a week. balletacademyeast.com
The Ballet Club: The Ballet Club is a unique program that provides professional training in a nurturing environment, as well as foundational life skills and intellectual stimulation. Class groups include the Children’s Creative Dance Club Division for ages 3-8, and the Performing Arts Pre-Professional Division for more intensive study for students ages 7 and up. Classes incorporate classical technique with a modern approach and emphasize technique, creativity, choreography, and performance. theballetclub.com
Ballet Hispanico: This ballet studio on the Upper West Side adds Hispanic culture and dance styles to traditional ballet. A special Adventures in Dance class is offered for the 2-5 crowd; the general program for ages 6-18 offers over 25 classes a week in ballet, flamenco, hip hop, and salsa, as well as training in varied Latin American dance traditions. ballethispanico.org
Ballet School NY & New York Theatre Ballet: Ballet School NY, the official training academy of New York Theatre Ballet, offers graded classes for ages 3 and up at its new location in the East Village. The school’s small classes teach dance as a total art form, developing strong technical skills and discipline through individualized instruction. For advanced students, classes in modern, theater dance, pointe, variations, and repertory round out the training curriculum. For qualified students, the school’s relationship with NYTB provides unique performing opportunities throughout the year in ballets featuring roles for children. nytb.org
Broadway Dance Center: Young dancers receive elite training from leading dance teachers and choreographers in the Dance Center’s state-of-the-art studios located in the heart of the Theater District. The Children and Teen Program (ages 3-18) offers 32 weeks of instruction in creative movement, ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, musical theater dance, Latin jazz, contemporary, jumps and turns, and lyrical dancing. broadwaydancecenter.com
Dancing Divas and Dudes: With locations on both the Upper West and East Sides, classes for children ages 2 and up abound here. Voted Nickelodeon’s Parent’s Pick for Best Dance Class, they offer ballet, tap, acro, jazz, and hip-hop at varying levels. dancingdivasanddudes.com
Downtown Dance Factory: Kids and adults can dance their hearts out at this Tribeca school. Kids age 2 through teens can take ballet, jazz/hip-hop fusion, tap, or lyrical dance at varying levels. For adults, there’s cardio dance and Zumba. downtowndancefactory.com
Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet: This Tribeca institution provides two programs: A full-day Professional Training Program for dancers ages 12-26; and a Young Dancer Program, which includes the Children’s Division (ages 3-12) and a Pre-Professional Division (ages 10-14). gelseykirklandballet.com
Joffrey Ballet School: Kids who enroll at the Joffrey Ballet School in the West Village are trained in classical and contemporary ballet as well as other forms of dance, including modern, jazz, hip hop, and character dance. A Children’s Program (ages 2-9) also offers Dance with Me (where parents or caregivers are the dance partner). A Young Dancer’s Program is available for ages 10 and up. joffreyballetschool.com
Lucy Moses School: This Hebrew arts school, located at the Kaufman Center on the Upper West Side, offers dance classes for kids and adults of all ages. Class offerings include Creative Dance (ages 3-4), Hop, Skip, and Dance (ages 2-3), Jazz & Broadway (ages 5-7), Pre-Ballet and Ballet Prep (ages 3-4 and 5-6), and Hip Hop Dance (ages 6-7). kaufmanmusiccenter.org/lms
Manhattan Movement & Arts Center: Located near Lincoln Center, children ages 3-teens can take a variety of classes, including Storybook Play, tumbling, pre-ballet/tap combination, and hip-hop. There are also drop-in ballet classes for older students. The MMAC is also home to the pre-professional Manhattan Youth Ballet. manhattanmovement.com
Manhattan Youth Ballet: Located at the Manhattan Movement & Arts Center, this audition-only ballet academy is geared toward young dancers (ages 8-23) seeking to dance professionally at the regional, national, international levels. manhattanyouthballet.org
The School at Peridance: The renowned School at Peridance has been recognized as a pioneer in dance education. The PeriChild Program for students 18 months to 18 years features a progressive, interdisciplinary approach to dance training, emphasizing a thorough understanding of various dance techniques while promoting self-expression and creativity. Classes include Creative Movement, Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, and African. peridance.com
The School at Steps: The School at Steps cultivates young dancers, ages 3 months to 18 years, from their first step in a dance studio through their pre-professional training. Students discover their individual artistic voices in a creative environment under the guidance of an internationally recognized faculty. The personal attention the school provides encourages students to mature as dancers, grow as individuals, and enrich their passion for the art form. StepsNYC.com/school
The Shooting Stars Performing Arts Company: With various locations in the city, this company offers a non-competitive dance class for children ages 6-9 that combines street jazz, hip-hop, and pom precision, along with traditional dance technique. Competitive award-winning teams for children 7-18 include the Eastside Energy Team, the Express Dance Team, and the Lyrical Expression Team. Schools can also work with the Company in providing afterschool programs like glee club and acting class. shootingstarsny.com
