The Top 15 Best Dance Schools in New York City

Dancing is as old as man. It has existed even from the time of the stone age when they beat rocks and wood together to form a beat while they dance around the fire. In the modern world, dancing now has different forms which we have listed in this article. Meanwhile, students who attend the best dance schools in New York are at a greater benefit in their dancing careers.

However, have you never wondered why you feel relief dancing with someone you love, or even dancing with a stranger? What does a baby experience when you sway around the room to the music that gives him much delight? All these are the aesthetic attributes of a dance.

Furthermore, I know some questions might be running through your mind. Questions like what is dancing? Is dancing a good career? Are there different types of dancing? Why attend the best dance school in New York? And many more. Thus, these questions are what prompted us to put together this article to clear questions.

Also Read: Top Ten Free Online Courses in Dance With Certificates in 2022

The Top 15 Best Dance Schools in New York City

What is Dancing?

Dance is a form of performing art consisting of sequences of movement, either improvised or purposefully selected. A crucial distinction is to be drawn between the contexts of theatrical and participatory dance, although the two categories are not always completely separate; both may have special functions, whether ceremonial, competitive, social, erotic, martial, or sacred. Other forms of human movement are said to have a dance-like quality, including cheerleading, gymnastics, martial arts, marching bands, and more.

Types of Dancing

  • Ballet
  • Ballroom
  • Contemporary
  • Hip Hop
  • Jazz
  • Tap Dance
  • Folk Dance
  • Irish Dance
  • Modern Dance
  • Swing Dance

Ballet: Ballet dance developed during the Italian Renaissance, before developing in Russia and France Into a concert dance meant for public performance.

Ballroom: Ballroom dance is a type of partner dance that originated at the end of the sixteenth century in France. Generally used as shorthand for any partner dance, the ballroom has evolved into two main subgenres namely Latin/rhythm and standard/smooth

Contemporary: Developed during the mid-twentieth century, contemporary dance is one of the most technical and popular forms of dance studied and performed professionally, especially in the United States, and Europe. Known for its emphasis on strong legwork and torso, fall and recovery, contract and release, and floor work.

Hip-Hop: Hip-hop dancing pertains to a range of street dances that created hip-hop music and culture. Hip-hop dancing dates back to the early year of the 1970s in New York and California, evolving into Funk and the development of breakbeats.

Jazz: Jazz dancing has its roots in 17th-century African traditions, brought to the Americas through the Atlantic slave trade as slaves continued dancing traditions in the US, Brazil, and elsewhere on the continents.

Tap Dancing: This type of percussive dance is denoted by “taps” of shoes hitting the floor as a person dances. Tap dancers wear metal “taps” on the heel and toe of a shoe to intensify the sound.

These are also part of dance types

Folk Dance: it’s prominent worldwide with people of different cultures and religions using several forms of folk dance to portray stories, emotions, historical events, or even factors of daily life.

Irish Dance: Originated in Ireland, this form of traditional dance has been famous for hundreds of years among other countries worldwide and the Irish people. Irish dancing is popularly known for its fabulous display of footwork and dance formations.

Modern Dance: modern dance mainly arose in western countries such as the Germany and USA during the late 1900s. The objective of modern dance is to rely on the dancer’s interpretation of the music to guide movements.

ALSO CHECK OUT:  Temple University Acceptance Rate and How to Get in Easily

Swing Dance: Swing is a dance that developed between the year 1920 to 1940s as an acknowledgment of the growing popularity of swing jazz in America. The dance began to change with the likes of swing music encouraging faster, more rigorous movements.

Also Read: The Top 15 Best Art Schools in California

Importance Of Dancing

  1. Dancing allows one to express oneself
  2. Dancing provides physical/mental refreshment and relaxation.
  3. Laughter and fun
  4. Dancing is a form of exercise.
  5. Dancers find inspiration and motivation as they become lost in the dance.
  6. Dancing allows professional dancers to form affiliations.

Why Attend Best Dance Schools In New York?

You can be a dancer without attending dance school but, attending a dancing school has its benefits, students who attend dancing school often stand out from other dancers. And also;

You’ll get enough practice. Students who attend dancing schools get enough time to practice since that would be their main focus. Unlike, dancing and having other things to study, your study is dancing.

New York the major Broadway shows. New York is a city that has the most renowned Broadway shows, so studying in New York gives you a better opportunity to perform in a Broadway show since the application process will be much easier to go through.

You’ll meet like mind. Attending a dancing school is another way to meet people of the same caliber, you’ll have lots of friends who are into the same thing you’re doing. thereby, giving you the friendly joy you seek for.

You’ll get lots of on-stage practice. Practicing outside the stage Is one thing, but practicing outside the page is another thing. In the best dance schools in New York, you’ll get an on-stage practice with your instructor to direct. It helps to eliminate fear and low self-esteem.

You’ll learn from some of the best. You know the saying “learning from the best is the best”. attending the best art schools in New York gives you the opportunity to learn from some of the best. You’ll be sure to know you are doing the right thing and that you have a bright future ahead.

Top 15 Best Dance Schools in New York City

#1. Juilliard School

Juilliard School of Dance is indisputably the first on our ft of best dance schools in New York, its faculty comprises trailblazers and virtuosos. Known for its innovative approach to video technology and live performance. Outstanding faculty is just one aspect of the dance program’s illustrious reputation.

Also, as with the other schools on our list, Juilliard students benefit from the various opportunities available to them due to NYC’s robust, cultural and artistic institutions.

Visit School Website

Also Read: 10 Best medical schools in New York

#2. Fordham University

Through its cooperation with the Ailey School, Fordham University’s BFA Dance program gives students the best of both worlds; an exceptional liberal arts education, coupled with proficient dance training. Students will venture out into the world as talented and well-rounded, human beings and young professionals.

Visit School Website

#3. The New School

The Dance major at The New School’s Eugene Lang College actively integrates new developments in the area of dance. Experimentation and research drive the curriculum, giving students a “hybrid experience” that stirs the rigor of a quality liberal arts education with performance, and practice.

In addition, dance students have access to resourceful institutions, artists, performances, and events. Faculty have gathered many prestigious awards.

Visit School Website

ALSO CHECK OUT:  The Top 15 Best Creative Writing MFA Programs in the US

#4. New York University

New York University Tisch’s School of the Arts is one of the most internationally well-known schools. Unsurprisingly, its dance department made it to the 4th on this list. Tisch dance faculty are world-respected professionals who have received prestigious awards and have danced in many outstanding companies alongside top choreographers.

The undergraduate dance curriculum is intensive, with its emphasis on the contemporary dance and techniques of ballet.

Visit School Website

#5. Marymount Manhattan College

The Department of Dance at Marymount Manhattan College is one of the Top 15 Best Dance schools in New York. Marymount Manhattan College Dance alumni are employed in a wide collection of professions, from physical therapy to Broadway. Students evolve into the professional world through a variety of opportunities, such as study abroad programs, internships, or a year-long residency with the Marymount Manhattan College Dance Company.

Visit School Website

#6. Pace University

Students desiring a dance career in the entertainment industry should look no further than Pace University. The course is the first of its kind, drilling students for a BFA in Commercial Dance. Commercial dance majors are covered in a well-rounded curriculum that trains them in jazz, ballet, and contemporary styles. Students have the option to choose a discipline in either choreography or performance.

Visit School Website

Also Read: Top 10 Best Boarding Schools In New York City 2022

#7. American Musical Dramatic Academy

The American Musical and Dramatic Academy is one of the pickiest schools on the list. Forthcoming students are required to submit the required fare for a college application. An essay, an application, a letter of recommendation, an audition, and, of course, academic records and transcripts.

While the application procedure may be normal, AMDA’s dance program is outstanding. It is one of the only programs in the country that focuses on dance theater offering an Associate of Occupational Studies, a BFA, and a Conservatory Certificate.

Visit School Website

#8. Barnard College

The dance department at Barnard College appears on this list of best dance schools in New York. It is located close to the Ivies and one of the oldest and most myriad institutions of higher education in the US, Columbia University. It has an active, interdisciplinary curriculum that intermingles the art of dance with a vigorous, liberal-arts education.

Barnard College exposes students to the cultural, technical, choreographic, and historical factors of dance in the City of Lights.

Visit School Website

#9. CUNY Hunter College

The Hunter College Dance Department believes that dance is crucial to a liberal arts education. Its alumni are the products of its detailed and diverse curriculum. Dance faculty are accomplished seasoned professionals in their own right. According to a current ranking, Hunter College is among the top 15 best Dance Schools in New York.

Visit School Website

#10. Queens College

Dance students at Queens College get a well-rounded education that incorporates rigorous study in the liberal arts and science and professional, technical training in jazz, Asian, African, ballet, modern, and tap. Graduates have a lot of career opportunities, ranging from choreography to dance therapy.

Visit School Website

#11. State University of New York at Purchase

The State University of New York at purchase is a public liberal arts college in Purchase, New York. It is one of the 13 comprehensive colleges in the State University of New York system. It was established by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in the year1967 as “the cultural gem of the SUNY system.”

Purchase College offers the following degree: Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music(MusB), Bachelor of Science(BS),  Master of Fine Arts (MFA), Master of Arts (MA), and the Master of Music (MM).

ALSO CHECK OUT:  The Top 15 Best Art Schools in Florida

Visit School Website

Also Read: Is NYU an Ivy League School? Ranking, Acceptance Rate, and Scholarships

#12. Manhattanville College

Manhattanville College is a private college giving graduate and undergraduate degrees in Purchase and is one of the best dance schools in New York. Founded in the year 1841 at 412 Houston Street, Lower Manhattan, it was known firstly as the Academy of the Sacred Heart, then later as Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart after the year 1847.

Visit School Website

#13. Hofstra College

Is a private university in Hempstead, New York. It is Long Island’s biggest private university. Hofstra was founded in the year 1935 as an extension of New York University under the name Nassau College – Hofstra Memorial of NYU. It became an independent Hofstra College in the year 1939 and gained university status in 1963. Comprising 10 schools, including the Deane School of Law and  Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hofstra has hosted lots of prominent presidential conferences and some United States presidential debates.

Visit School Website

#14. Long Island University

Long Island University Post is a private university in Brookville, New York. It is the largest campus of the private LIU system.

The campus was named after the breakfast cereal inventor Charles William Post who is the father of Marjorie Merriweather Post, who sold the property to Long Island University in 1951 for about $200,000 ($2,087,949 today). Three years after it acquired the property, Long Island University renamed it C.W.

Visit School Website

#15. Rutgers University

Rutgers University at New Brunswick is a regional campus of Rutgers University, New Jersey’s public research university. It is located in New Piscataway and Brunswick. It is the oldest campus of the university, the others being in Newark and Camden.

The New Brunswick campuses include 19 graduate, undergraduate, and professional schools. Forthcoming first-year students can apply to the School of Environmental and Biological Science, School of Arts and Sciences, School of Engineering, the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, the School of Nursing, the Mason Gross School of the Arts, and the Rutgers Business School.

Visit School Website

Also Read: Juilliard University Acceptance Rate And How To Get Accepted Easily

Conclusion

After going through this list of best dance schools in new york, we are sure that you must have found your school of interest. Thus, we urge you to procrastinate no further and make the bold step. Also, dancing is a good career since a professional dancer can’t anything less than $24 per hour.

Nonetheless, we at Xscholarship are always here to attend to your questions in the best possible way we can. We will surely give you the response you seek for.

FAQ’s on Best Dance Schools in New York City

What is the most famous dance school?

The Juilliard School of Dance is another world-famous education institution that opened in 1905 and quickly created a high standard in artistic education.

Do dancers make money?

On average US-based professional dancers can expect to earn about $24.50 an hour.

Is dancing a career?

People are involved in Dance as a career, as a leisure activity, or as a way to learn about the world, history, culture, and other subjects but, it can also be a career.

What age do professional dancers start?

Training to become a professional dancer takes between 8-10 years. Students begin at about age 7. Beginning ballet usually consists of 1-2 ballet technique classes a week.

Is it hard to become a dancer?

Being a professional dancer is a physically demanding job that often takes a lot of hard work. Also, you must practice regularly and prepare for auditions and rehearsals. They also spend a great deal of time learning complicated routines and must be able to remember choreography. It is hard but not impossible.

READ ALSO: Free Accredited High School Diploma Online for Adults

COPYRIGHT WARNING! Contents on this website may not be republished, reproduced, redistributed either in whole or in part without due permission or acknowledgment. All contents are protected by DMCA.

The content on this site is posted with good intentions. If you own this content & believe your copyright was violated or infringed, make sure you contact us at [xscholarshipc(@)gmail(dot)com] and actions will be taken immediately.

Photo of author

Martin Uwakwe

As an SEO Strategist, Web Analytics Expert, and Content Developer with over 7 years of experience, I'm passionate about leveraging data-driven insights to optimize online visibility, drive organic traffic, and boost search rankings. My track record includes successfully optimizing and analyzing hundreds of e-commerce websites, managing multi-million-dollar marketing budgets for maximum ROI, and crafting engaging content that resonates with audiences. With proficiency in SEO, data analysis, web optimization tools, and content creation, I'm dedicated to helping businesses thrive in the digital landscape.