Being at Ailey has literally changed my life for the better and I look forward to my weekly class. The performance workshops also are a great opportunity to challenge yourself as a dancer and are incredibly rewarding. The only thing I don't like about Ailey extension is that some classes labeled as "beginner" are clearly not, whereas some "beginner" classes are as they say. I think the range of what constitutes "beginner" is very vague and some re-classification of the classes would be useful. I have taken absolute beginner contemporary and beginner broadway, but the beginner contemporary class is quite challenging. read more

LOVE coming here for dance classes! The instructors are fantastic, the staff is very friendly and helpful, and the facilities are large and clean. They have a variety of classes available in studio or online, and a wide range of levels. I've taken Absolute Beginner Contemporary, Horton, Ballet, Hip Hop, and Vogue - all classes I'd readily take again. Such a fun way to work out and learn some new moves! read more

The ladies at Ailey Extension cancelled me from the Judith Jamieson memorial later plus any classes in all of Alvin Ailey. I was going to take one later, saying I violated protocols. They are violating protocols with cancel culture, and no specific provable accusations. Being "negative" when we are free to be any way and I don't know what that means and who if anyone complained, is BS. No apology for being contacted on a Sunday is the same. I am glad to be able to take lessons all over the world in environments not full of BS cancel culture like this one. Thanks for saving me from an environment not up to par to who I am and integrity, at least involving a few in power, since I cannot speak for everyone there and have had some great times there with many and various people. Thankfully, I saved money and watched a better show, the Country Musis Awards. Wonderful artists and amazing lyrics read more

If you're into dancing, learning and expanding, learning to move - this is your place! New Yorker's are so lucky to have this place! So many talented teachers and you can just drop in and participate. You don't have to be a professional dancer, just willing to try - to move - express yourself and be free in movement! I've been following Quenia Riberio for years. She teaches Brazilian Samba and Afro-Brazilian styles of dance. She always starts class with a proper warm-up, gentle movement and stretching and light core work. Then she goes into the Brazilian Samba portion. There is choreography, footwork, and hip movements. Lots of hip movements!! Don't worry if you don't pick it up on your first try. Stick with it and practice. The live drummers come after the warm-up is complete. It's so enriching to have the live drummers!! They bring a lot of good energy. Then we go into Afro-Brazilian portion of the class. So much fun. Quenia has great energy and she's truly the best, dedicated Brazilian dance instructor EVER! Full of smiles and encouraging. I've been taking her classes on and off now for 10 years. I only go to the Ailey Extension for her classes. But its cool to watch the other classes going on, and see all the other dancers practicing their craft - all ages and body types - men - women. So inspiring!! They also have locker rooms equipped with showers. So you can bring your towel and toiletries to freshen up after a dance workout. The check-in process can get hectic. I would recommend coming early or doing as much as you can ahead of time. Highly recommend. Grab your dance shoes and move while you can!! read more

I came for Jonathan Lee's beginner hip-hop dance class on Thursdays at 7:30pm-10pm. For someone as swaggerless and uncoordinated as me to have fun in this environment is saying a lot. There's people who have taken this class for years as well as noobs like moi, and he knows how to help everyone in his extremely popular class. Expect thirty minutes of dancey stretching followed by an hour of learning about half of a choreography and repeating it a million times for practice. I laughed a lot (at myself and at Jonathan's jokes). I may have even picked up a move or two! If you're brand new to Alvin Ailey, you can do two classes for $36, versus the one class for $24. It's not the greatest deal, seeing as how you save $4, but I did it anyway, being the economical Jew that I am. There's a bathroom adjacent to the class upstairs and locker rooms downstairs. The space is so well professional, spacious, and pretty. It's obviously the place for professional dancers, but don't be intimidated if you want to just dip your toes in and try a class here and there. I dug it. Salsa is next up for me woot woot! While you're here, take some time to learn about Alvin Ailey and his life. He's a significant figure in the world of dance and his experiences are quite the inspiration. Can't wait to come back. read more

This is my feedback for Yancy Greene's beginner hip hop class (subbing for Johnathan Lee) Pros - great dancer Cons - late to class for 15 mins (didn't make up for the time after) - really disrespectful to the class of beginners (this is his direct quote to when the whole class needed to practice a certain part of the choreo: "I'm repeating this again. You are doing the whole class a disservice for not paying attention.") - extremely insistent on beat counting without letting us learn by the rhythm of music I would not go back to his class again. Really regret going to the sub class read more

I attended the beginner contemporary class of Monday evening. They call it beginner but it is not beginner as it goes way too fast with no explanation of in depth movement. I left after an hour. The point of attending a beginner class is to learn something not doing a choreography right away. There was no structure to the class. It was more showing off. read more

This review is for the power Ashtanga class with Irini, which was the best yoga class I've ever taken that was outside of a dedicated yoga-only studio. Class was in a very large mirrored room. The instructor seemed to be very experienced and knowledgeable at ashtanga and quite an advanced yogi herself (contrast this to most run of the mill yoga studios around the city where instructors are very inexperienced... do you really trust them to not injure you with bad alignment?!?). The class had lots of challenging and interesting variations for intermediate or advanced yogis, but also had a lot of good modifications for beginners, which the class also had quite a few of. (Also I really envy beginners that got to take this class! I wish my yoga journey started with such great instructors that taught basics so well.) We went through most asanas in the primary series. The teacher gave spot-on instructions and hands on adjustments. The pace was just right. Overall a great experience, actually one of the best yoga classes I've been to in the city - surprised such a thing actually exists outside of yoga studios! Highly recommend, if you can get in. read more

Chris Santamaria!!! The moves, NRG and his awesomeness are all here err Friday! *He's at 305 Fitness now so yay! Super yay!!! Hands down the best in Nyc!! I've seriously been waiting and hoping his name would just pop up magically one day on the mind and body app and today is seriously my luckiest day ever!!!! I love august!! Shake it up for an hour of non stop unstoppable fun!!! Z club has always been my go to for some serious calorie buuuurn..with Jaime and Irina but Chris's class at Aileys got dem beat even though they are all great. Not sure if everyone can handle this intense hip hop music video j lo type of class since it is extremely goal oriented yet is truly fun for all levels. Chris S's class was very inclusive of everyone whatever your level of dance experience or lack of. Other Zumba instructors along with utube salsa gurus, they know what's good. They all can be seen dancing, shaking, popping to Chris Santamaria's modern and super hot moves. Honestly he is more of an advanced instructor or is just the best of the best in this field. We Newyorkers are so lucky to have him here at Alvin Ailey!! Yes!!! Thank God for small miracles!! Thank you Alvin Ailey for hiring such an awesome and much needed dance instructor!! He is all that and more! My friend who is a Pilates and Zumba instructor stated that he is her new fave! I totally agree!!! Class every Friday is a done deal for me. There's no other activity or even anything I'd rather be doing. I'm here every Friday and my world is complete. Sweating, dancing and coordination are all at play and I'm loving this and the quick results of his fast paced class. Super ahhhhmazing class in a dope profesh environment for super fun times while learning some real dance skills as well. Sweeet!! Those moves simply take my breath away but in a good sweaty way is just the best of Chris Santamaria!!! The moves, NRG and his awesomeness are all here hopefully to stay!!!!!! SHOUTOUT!!! To Tweet Boogie's hip hop class!! Insanely talented and knowledgeable diva of hip hop movement who has a natural and incredibly solid way of teaching dance so you get it, have fun and get a great werkout at the same time. You better come, ready to werk wif these 2! read more

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I really love Zumba (and I mean it). I was recently visiting New York City for 3 days for a friend's wedding. 5:30am - I arrive in New York City on a flight 6:30am - I finally get to the hotel that is 2 blocks away from Alvin Ailey studios 7:15am - I head for a quick "nap" 11:30am - I wake up to get ready for Zumba class at Alvin Ailey studios There is one available on Fridays at 12:30pm hosted by Samuel Salazar (http://samuelsalazar.zumba.com/). It was worth it though! He is up to date with his Zumba songs. Fresh. Energetic. Fun. He's legit (i.e. an official Zumba instructor for other Zumba instructors). What a great way to get a workout by dancing. I was able to be on a "Zumba High" to kickoff a full weekend of socializing in New York City! Tip: There are showers in the Lower Level in the locker rooms (there is another door to get into the showers)! Tip: Prepay for your classes online or in the MindBody app on your mobile phone. read more

Currently, it is NYC Dance Week 2012. You have a few more days to take advantage of free classes offered by selected dance studios throughout the city. Yes, free classes and honestly it is the best way to see if you like a dance studio. We came here last Sunday to take advantage of a free class. A friend of mine always wanted to try ballet and since I am quite the Curious George, I agreed to take the class with her. Now granted I know nothing about ballet. And honestly, it isn't my strong suit. Sure, I like to go see ballets and find ballerinas absolutely graceful and beautiful, but to actually imitate them is another story. The space here is beautiful and if you like dance, I highly suggest this place to take classes. They have world famous teachers here and the studios are top notch. I didn't print out my dance week pass, but the guy at the reception desk was nice and just let me by. That was pretty nice of him. Our class started at 2:15pm and it was a 90 minutes. We went through so many moves, that I can't even begin to describe everything. Our teacher, Finis Jhung, was went very fast and I had a hard time keeping up since I was an absolute beginner and I wish he would have demonstrated the moves more. I do remember plie, which means to bend and I recall doing this movement often. I also learnt the first position and all the way up to fifth position. Some positions I really enjoyed because there was a lot of stretching and it reminded me of yoga. I also really enjoyed the music that went along with practicing the moves. I would definitely come back to take hip-hop (more my thing) and African dance! I really love just being active and challenging my body to something different and new. So if you love to explore and dance, this is definitely a place for you. If you want to try FREE dance classes throughout the city until July 1, check this link out: http://nycdanceweek.org/ read more

So I'm done with my 10-class card, and I will definitely be purchasing more when it gets warmer! My favorite classes were Zumba (with Ben) and Absolute Beginner Hip Hop (with Tweety)! Both of them made me sweat a LOT and were really easy to catch on. Zumba made me feel muscles that I never thought existed in my body. I'm still sore after 2 days. Ben is so much fun, and incorporates different latin dance moves into this workout. You're sweating, dancing, having fun all at the same time. West African is different and fun... live drums! It inspired me to buy some lapas for dancing. MELT was like a full body massage... except you're doing all the work. it was a slow paced class, goes into reflexology and pressure points, which is cool to learn. I felt so refreshed and relaxed afterwards! Other than the regular classes they have, they also do special workshops like Argentine tango, salsa, intensive ballet, hip hop, etc., which I eventually want to try! The other classes that I took were good also, but these are my favorites. Enjoy! read more

It was my first time taking a beginner afro dance class and here and contrary to other dance studios i've gone to, this one was actually beginner level and I could get my head and my body around the moves. The instructor was very down to earth and caring. The facility was modern and clean. Would definitely come here again. read more

When you love to dance like me, Ailey Extension is the place to explore this love through and through. This space is so modern it makes me feel like I am not amateurs but the fact that I am using the same facilities as experts makes the experience so much more authentic. My lovely friends know me so well, that they graced me with this gift package of 5 classes, but I love going so much that I bought more classes on my own. I love my Pilate's Class on Saturday Morning and right after the Masala Bhnaga class which is Traditional Indian dance that would be done at a wedding but with a nice modern twist of Indian reggae, bollywood music and pop. Zumba is always so much fun, but doing it in an extra large studio makes me feel like I am living the dream of a dancer. So many ladies from different cultures and different sizes and ages just getting down and having a good time is inspiring. This is one of the factors I enjoy about the Ailey Extension, the diversity not only in race, but age. That makes the experience so much more enriching. I bought more classes on my own so I will take Hip Hop Contemporary the Samba and some other classes just for the heck of it. read more

Facility is neat and clean. I have taken Power Ashtanga Uoga classes with Irini Res. She's an amazing instructor & motivator! Class is quite challenging but it's good to experience a few new poses. She offers 2 options (basic or advanced) in each pose, which is helpful for non-flexible people. If the basic pose is too easy for u, then do the advanced one. If you're up for the challenge, i highly recommend this class! read more

Gravity meets grace. Unfortunately, during college I was too macho to go see them everytime they came to Zellerbach Hall. Eventually I sucked it up (for a girl, of course) and watched them perform at the Kennedy Center. It was OFF THE CHAIN! I'm officially converted. I love Alvin Ailey (in a manly, 100% hetero way). Tips: Catch them if they're in town. read more

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Studios are gorgeous. It's pristine. The locker rooms and WCs are sparse (not on every floor) and accommodating. And did I mention, the studios? I mean, this place is gooooood lookin', inside and out! I've taken ballet with Finis (good for beginners; taped music; uses props, what?!) and Kat (all her classes are intermediate or higher; there is no such thing as beginners-Wildish! lots of technique, starts with non-traditional barre combos); samba w/ Xenia (she's so awesome!) and zumba with Sam (great instructor! music is loud and boomin'). I love watching other classes too. There isn't a huge stretching area outside studios, but cleanliness of the floors is unbeatable. I miss taking modern, so it would be nice to see a few styles of modern classes at night. I'd recommend this place for beginners and lifers alike. Funniest moment -- I was walking down the sidewalk as this dude parks himself on the bench and utters, "Now this is my new favorite spot!" to watch a mostly female Samba class. lol. read more

Summary: A beautiful environment. Great instruction and variety of classes. Affordable relative to other classes in the area. Better weekend and evening times than early morning. Citibike: I live close by, but for citibikers, you can drop off at 54th and 9th Ave. Price: I think it's $15/class and $75 for a 5 class card for 2 months. You can extend the 2 months for an extra... which I almost always have to do. Facilities: 6 floors of studios with 2 lower levels. People don't always realize this, but are in fact showers in the downstairs bathrooms. Just ask. It really is a full facility for dancing. Classes: I've taken nearly all of them over the years. Here are some notes: Zumba - There are 3 instructors, all of which are great, but serious... Ben Byrd... he's amazing. I have no idea how to describe why, but he just is and as a result, his class is always very full. You need to get there early and they give you a wrist band, like it's a club. This is because Ben doesn't want them stopping class to count everyone. Ballet - Finis Jung is better for folks that want to focus on details and minutia. I prefer Kat Wildish... not sure how to explain the difference, because she's also very detailed.... you got to try them both if you're interested as they could not be more different. Masala Bangra - fun fun fun. Every class I've taken totally rocks. Great energy from the instructor. Belly dancing... wow.. I generally like it, but got to admit, it can really vary depending on the instructor. It's not a bad workout at all. Capoaera - Not bad. Small classes and people are super nice. It was not my thing. 5pm Sun Yoga - I could not love this instructor more. She has the best voice. I can't believe she gets all these muscle guys who take this class to tie themselves into a knot. That to me is the best show in all of the theater district. Good job guys! way to be flexible and super strong!! Beginner Jazz -- Boy... I am really not very good at this, but Sheila tried really hard to make me feel comfortable being terrible anyway. I really think she's great and would take her class again. I can't remember the other classes I've gone to, but the keyt hing here is the consistency. For classes that are larger, the instructors now how to handle the crowd. Versus classes that are large at equinox, you don't feel so terribly overwhelmed or just plain uncoordinated... even if you are. Other: Definitely a place you can go to with your friends to catch up. Also, the classes before 10am, are awesome in their lack of people. Small classes and always a great way to start the day. Also, there are loads of children's classes. If I had little ones, boys or girls, I would absolutely have them burn off their energy here. The instructors - who often are in the classes prior to mine - really seem to know how to handle little ones. read more

I came here for a couple of classes and they were always pretty enjoyable although challenging at times. Unfortunately the last class I had I ended up having Jonathan Lee as my instructor. Turns out he was extremely rude. I had gotten to the class early so I positioned myself in the front row. To clarify, I am not a beginner dancer, I have been dancing since I was 7 years old and so I am not terrible. Well, after the class had filled up and we had done our warm up, apparently Jonathan Lee didn't like that I had positioned myself in the front row of the class and so he called me out in front of everyone to give up my spot to another girl (I guess she was a regular and his close buddy since they had been laughing and bantering all throughout the warm up, although she had arrived LATE) to switch spots with me. Mind you he was very cold in his manner of saying it, no please or thank you and it wasn't a request it was a command. I of course was embarrassed to hell and back and had no option but to move to the back 3rd row. To this day I am not sure what about me annoyed him so much to have done that, there were actual beginners in the front row that had never even taken a beginner class, so I honestly don't know what I did wrong to deserve that treatment. I never returned, I couldn't believe that I had paid so much money to be humiliated and disrespected in front of 40+ people. I had attended hoping to have a good time and a good workout but instead I was treated rudely and with pettiness. If you're gonna take a class I definitely love Alvin Ailey's, but just avoid Jonathan Lee unless you want to be judged and mistreated with a large price-tag. read more

Ok so the facility is nice. That's it. And personally that's not too important to me. I paid a for a package over $300 for a set number of classes I could take in whatever I wanted. I am a professional performance artist in NYC. I book work regularly and that is my job full time. I perform with other artists like aerialists, contortionists, burlesque, anything really. So...I thought what a good idea to keep my technical skill and learn more technique! Really keep my mind & body sharp. I was wrong. Classes were Waaaaaaay too crowded. I pay good money for a technique class I want the proper training. I was stuffed into a packed studio, no one was correcting my alignment or ANYTHING. I want to be corrected, that is how you learn. It was so crowded I did a turn and my shin hit another woman. I cannot even turn with out bumping into someone! That's what I have my tiny NYC apartment for! Don't over book your classrooms! I find that tacky & a waste of my time. And I cannot be injuring myself as a professional who gets paid to dance, big no no. And I cannot be injuring other people due to your crowded studio. Just bad I ended up throwing hundreds of dollars away not coming back. Waste If you don't care about learning technique and just want something fun to do as a work out, ok. Then this is for you. But if you want real training, don't waste your money! That said, I hate when people are all snotty and think they are hot shit dancers. Calm down, you're in an open class. The class made me feel like a bad dancer. But I know I'm a good one, people pay lots of money to hire me. Was looking for a cool place to help me grow. This place is all about money & ego read more

Love love love. The facilities really make me feel like I'm dancing in New York City. BDC and Steps are also quintessentially "New York" dance studios, but there's a level of elegance and sophistication here that really can't be found anywhere else. The sleek and modern architecture, the clean dressing rooms, and the spacious marley floors are awe-inspiring. Since the Ailey Extension is catered to adults, most of the classes during the week are at night and there's something almost enchanting about taking night classes here. It's a beautiful feeling to be able to dance among other talented dancers with the NYC lights as a backdrop, made completely possible by the high ceilings and gorgeous windows. In the middle of a routine, I catch glimpses of our reflections superimposed on the NYC night view and I feel so privileged to be dancing in this city, even if it's only for a couple of hours a week. The Alvin Ailey Dance Theater and the actual Company are known for their modern dance and African American dance styles, so those Extension classes are obviously phenomenal. I love the Tuesday/Thursday night Contemporary classes, the Horton classes, and the Beginner West African class. What is a pleasant surprise is that the Zumba and Masala Bhangra classes are also great. They are high energy fitness classes with amazing instructors and they are perfect for even the novice dancer. Everyone will be concentrating on getting their own steps down that you will never feel judged or incompetent. Both are super popular, so get there early! Luckily, you can prepay and sign up for all classes on Alvin Ailey's website beforehand, and you just have to sign in at the front desk or kiosk when you get there. Likelihood of another visit: Without a question. read more

I have a secret: I hate exercising. The reasons are plentiful. I was definitely one of those "picked last for the team" kids, and my hand-eye coordination led to my face being crushed by many different types of balls of the sports variety. Being one of the shortest kids in the class didn't help the situation. Sure, I got the "most improved" award in 8th grade field hockey, but isn't that just the award you give to the kid who sucked really bad at first and by the end of the season was just barely passable on the team? Most importantly, I suppose, I can't exercise while being covered in a fleece blanket and munching on dark chocolate covered almonds watching bad TV. And when I have to choose between the two, the latter inevitably wins. That being said, I *did* take dance lessons from the ages of 2 to 12. Jazz, mainly, with a few tap classes here and there. And I loved it. Alas, the demands of middle school called to me, and I stopped dancing. (Plus, the recitals and sparkly costumes start becoming a little awkward once you start "developing.") It was this old love of dance that drew me to Alvin Ailey when my new love handles started to be somewhat of a concern. But I wasn't about to haul my rapidly expanding ass to the gym. I chose Zumba because it was a combo of aerobics and Latin dance, something I'd always wanted to try. I was more than a little intimidated entering this sanctuary of American dance, but once the class started I felt better. The people in the class (95% women) were all ages and skill levels. There were definitely some professional or very, very good amateur dancers there, but also people who looked like they have never stepped into a dance studio. Ben, the teacher, picked great music (a combo of Latin, hip-hop hits, and oldies), and his energy is just infectious. He occasionally pointed people out and corrected them, but in a friendly way. He just wants everyone to try hard and really engage his/her muscles while dancing. Although 20 min. into the class I was feeling exhausted and hating myself, I came out of the class dripping with sweat, and feeling absolutely amazing. I never believed in the whole "endorphin high" from exercising, but I definitely had one after this class. I didn't get every combination or step perfectly, but I had a great time shaking my booty. I went pretty regularly to Ben's Zumba classes, but stopped for the past several months while studying for the dreaded LSAT. I was back last night, and it was just as good as I remembered. There are some cons, though: the classes are always packed, and the price isn't exactly what I'd call a bargain. But I definitely recommend this class and Alvin Ailey classes in general as a way to get some exercise in your life. (Also - a great activity for you to take your friends who are visiting NYC!) read more

Hips (at least not mine) don't lie, but this place is sneaky. I came here for a class during Dance Week and let me tell you, it did not turn out as smooth as I thought it would. I anticipated on taking a Zumba class last Friday night and was actually excited because their studios seem clean and spacious. I had been taking different classes in light of Dance Week and I did not have a problem getting in any of the classes until I came here. When I arrived, I went straight to the elevators and up to the studio because the check-in booth was all the way in the back, it might as well be hidden; this is where my frustration with this place began. When I went to sign up for the class, there were 2 ladies in front of me that were also signing up for the class. Since they were strictly enforcing the Dance Week pass, one of the ladies didn't have hers and was trying to log in Eventbrite on her friend's phone, which did not have signal. Apparently, both of them were the last to sign up for the class and were the cut off for any registrants. I was not told this when I first asked them about the class and was given the waiver. While one of the ladies was still trying to log in her account, I already had my pass and waiver ready and the girl checking the passes was constantly ignoring me while waved my phone and waiver in front of her repeatedly. THEN, they told me I couldn't get in that class anymore because I just missed the cut. Instead, I had to opt for the SharQui Bellydance class in vain, which set me an extra half-hour back because they did not make any note that classes have quotas. To be fair, the Bellydance class was not awful. It was very crowded though because I'm sure a lot of people, like me, were hoping to get in the Zumba class. I didn't realize this class was a full hour and a half long and being used to high intensity workouts, I was easily a bit bored. The instructor, Sharon Zaslaw, was very energetic and fun, and the class will teach you to move like Shakira, but it wasn't for me. If you are looking for something fun and light, this is the class for you. Since it seems like they've been a participant in Dance Week for awhile now, I would expect them to be more organized and crystal clear, but it seems like they are highly disorganized. What really annoyed me was that during class, staff members came in a number of times to check who was not registered for the class and disrupted the class a few times. Honestly, they are taking this too seriously. There are plenty of studios in the city that offer free classes and they don't search thoroughly to see if you've signed up or not--not saying that's a great thing, but potential clients should never be given a hard time on something so menial. Also, they are always misleading with their classes on Eventbrite, setting it as "free," when in fact, you have to pay for them. Sneaky business practices and certainly a hassle to deal with. read more

Since I wrote my review 3 years ago, I've become a loyal attendee of Ben Byrd's classes at Ailey. He has taught zumba there for 6 1/2 years and it's easy to see why his classes were always popular. I could take zumba for free as part of my gym membership, but the quality of Ben's teaching made paying the money to Ailey well worth it. I've spent hundreds of dollars on his classes by this point, but it remains one of the best investments I've made in myself. However, Ben will no longer be teaching at Ailey as of the end of March 2014. Ailey is still a beautiful facility with many fine teachers teaching great classes (I also liked samba with Quenia Ribeiro), but this confusing management decision--and the frustrating lack of communication about it despite many attempts by my fellow students--means a lot of us will be taking our business elsewhere. That is, wherever Ben will be teaching next. Find him on Facebook to see his schedule of classes. read more

The Alvin Ailey Extension is among the top 5 reasons why I am loathe to ever leave New York. As a non-professional dancer/lover of dance, the Extension is something I treasure with all of my heart. It has done sooo much good for my body and soul. I've made great friends here, lost weight here, learned new dance forms here, and made New York my home HERE. I've taken Beginner West African, Sabar, Guinean, Samba, Hip-Hop and Afro-Cuban here, and will vouch for all of these courses as great introductions to African and Diasporan culture, and as great ways to enjoy creative release and physical activity. The Joan Weill Center, furthermore, is a magnificent space. It is so nice to have access to a clean, modern, spacious facility. When you're here, it's almost as if anything is possible, because the space is so open. The only downside is the price of the classes, which is quite expensive. I hope the Extension will find a way to keep dance accessible to everyone, regardless of financial means, because as the price rises, it becomes prohibitive for many who would benefit greatly from the Extension's offerings. read more

I've used Ailey with ClassPass and have tried their Yoga, Masala Bhangra and Belly Dance classes. In general, the teachers here are pretty serious about dance techniques - which is great because I love dancing! The Power Ashtanga Yoga class was quite challenging - I took the class with Irini Eckes who is adorable and oh so flexible! She made the weirdest, most convoluted positions seem so easy. It was good to push myself and experience a few new poses in this class. I do prefer some of the other yoga studios I go to because of the "vibe". There were a lot of pretentious "yogis" here and I didn't feel very centered after the class. The Masala Bhangra class was AMAZINNG! Highly recommend the class - it was a great workout and I actually learned some legit Bhangra moves, not just the watered down aerobics morphed "balle balle""s you see in most Bollywood classes. The Belly Dance class was fun - the dance moves are sexy and graceful! I felt amazing through it and the instructors are quite patient. They even bring the gear for you to wear so you look the part too! It's just not the best "workout" so not a good option of you want the burn. read more

My favorite dancing teacher is taking her long vacation in Japan right now. This gave me a lot of chances to branch out and find new classes. I have tried many enough studios in town. But none of them has ever stopped me from trying something new. Sometimes I thought I was just too picky, over sensitive about my feeling on things... But when I attended the dancing class here, I instantly knew that this studio is exactly what I was looking for and I would settle down here. I attended Kat's advanced beginner ballet class. I was very well challenged as well as encouraged. She is the theater type teacher, full of energy and strength. The students around me are younger than the average that I met at other dancing classes, and they looked very serious about dancing. Yes, I got a lot of peer pressures. Hmmm, I think I got hooked by this school already... read more

After I moved to Hell's Kitchen, I've been looking for a place where I could sweat it out in a dance workout. I called up a few friends to try out the Beginner Hip Hop class by Jonathan Lee at Ailey and have been very satisfied after my first two visits. The 90 min class is sure a workout, Jonathan does a really good job at keeping the enthusiasm level high and making sure all students are comfortable with and learn the moves well. What has really impressed me about Ailey is that it prides on its professionalism but still makes dancing accessible and makes learning effortless to the beginners. Love it. read more

I was visiting my friend in NY during a weekend, and she usually comes here for Zumba classes. Having nothing else planned to do on a Sunday morning, I decided to use my time wisely and get some workout done. So, both of us walked to the Ailey Extension to get into the 10AM Zumba class with Ben. The people at the front desk were very friendly, and I paid $17 for my 70 mins Zumba class. You could get a 2 class pass for $25, but it expires within a month (I still think this is an awesome deal though.) The building looked very modern and well maintained. Class started and it was GREAT! Ben was smiling the whole time and kept encouraging everyone to dance and shake their booty. He definitely knows what he's doing and he just made me excited for the next time I come visit. The class is def. on the harder side and you get an amazing workout. Definitely worth coming to even if this is your first time practicing Zumba! read more

Voyeur central every night of the week! I stay right near the amazing Alvin Ailey studio when I'm in New York, and one of the best things about Hell's Kitchen is watching the classes if I have a few free minutes. It would feel a little creepy if a) i lived in the city and risked running into these people in other situations, b) the company hadn't built a bench outside the huge windows to encourage viewers, and c) there weren't 10 or 15 other people sitting right next to me doing the same thing. Someday I'll actually go see them perform - I know that it'll put what I've seen so far to shame. But until then, I'm a proud peeping tom. read more

Unfortunately, I came only once, and that was all I needed to know I did not want to return. I think that it was an unlucky serendipity that I came on the last day of Kat Wildish's teaching tenure here, but it was high drama and it affected my experience. It wasn't a bad class, but I felt no need to return. Most people love the rooms here. Not that I don't love them, but whatever - it's a studio, like so many other places in NYC. It felt like a PIA to get here - dunno why. Anyway, I bought a two-class card and used only one of the two classes. So I lost the money because I didn't care to return within the 30-day period. For ballet - there are so many other amazing options in NYC, that you don't HAVE to come here to have a great learning experience. I suppose if you already have a connection or loyalty here, then it's good. Otherwise, it just blends in to the masses of other schools in the city. read more

Currently my favorite place on earth! They have the huge selection of dance classes of different styles and techniques, friendly staff, and bright and spacious studios. Most importantly, my favorite ballet teacher, Finis Jhung, is teaching beginner level classes there. He is one of the best teacher for adult beginners. He never tries to force his students into potentially dangerous positions, but encourages us and teaches us to make the best out of what our body allows us to do. His approach is very unique. The other teachers will usually have beginners do a standard set of bar exercises and some petite allegro steps. They usually focus on poses. But Finis always emphasizes on movements instead. I am taking both his level 1 and level 2 classes. His level 1 class is very slowe paced but quite difficult if you really commit to the exercises. He will have us do exercises with the support of the bar and repeat everything without the bar. Those simple movements like basic tendu, rond de jambe a terre becomes very difficult when practiced with slow music on one leg without cheating (e.g.moving or tilting the hips). Eventually you will develop strong and lean muscles all over your body for more difficult moves. His classes' sole focus is balance. He always have us lift up our heels when balancing on one leg to make sure that our body weight is placed over our toes rather than sitting on our heels. He always reminds us that there should be one straight line from the head to the supporting foot and that ballet is not about making pretty poses but it's about being able to go up and down on one leg and stay balanced. His level 2 classes are much faster paced with pirouettes and linking steps like glissade, jete, assemble, pas de chat and etc for center works. So it's good to get strong enough at level 1 classes first before joining level 2. I have improved a lot from taking his classes. His unique approach to teaching ballet really helped me to learn. Instead of just showing the students how to make those movements and having students following blindly, he explains the physics of how the movements works. With the correct concepts in my head, I find myself improving at a faster rate. I have taken a couple of ballet classes in college and I still couldn't dance at all after a whole semester of classes. But Finis's classes really made a difference. His classes also made me a much happier person. There is nothing more relaxing to me than a great ballet class after a long day at work. I have tried a couple other classes here too like robin dunn's hip hop, Samara's belly dancing, and intro to Horton. They are all very nice and fun loving teachers who encourage students to have fun and be better dancers. read more

Great place to try any type of dance you want and get a good work out. I recommend Zumba with Bryan Bird. I tried Zumba in multiple places around NYC but found it to be slow-paced with a bunch of overweight middle aged women. Then I found Alvin Ailey dance studies and took advantage of the 2 for 25 deal--a GREAT deal for trying ANY dance studio in or out of NYC. I loved the fast pace and upbeat nature of the class as well as the facility. Only minor con is that for any class you need to get there early, at least 15 minutes ahead of time. The classes fill up fast and the good spots (depending on your personality, either in front of the mirror or in the back) become hard to find read more

I spent almost 4 years looking for a good dance school in NYC! I was a bit desperate, i couldn't believe my lack of luck in a city where there are so many choices for everything and everyone. I guess it took me some time to land here due to its popularity, i must admit i was money wise a bit skeptical. But as i said, i was desperate so i took advantage of their $25 / 2 classes offer and tried the wonderful, amazing and best-ballet-teacher-ever Kat Wildish advanced-beginner class. And it was love at first sight!. She truly is the best ballet teacher I've ever had in my life. O, and I can't forget to mention the great Vladimir!, Wildish' class pianist. No CD's or stereos are to be found in her class. We have a classical Russian pianist that plays the tunes and songs that we dance. Isn't that neat? The building is amazing, the facilities and rooms are big, clean, new, spacious. Everyone is really nice and it feels cozy. By the way, and answering other people's reactions on the street open window "creepiness"; I must say we dancers love it! many times we have asked the teacher to raise the blinds if they are down. It's a rehearsal to a future audience, and people in the streets are really enthusiastic. :) read more

This review is only for the Advanced Beginner Hip Hop. Waste of money. 40 minutes of stretching, yes FORTY no joke! At $17 per class, I wanna get down to business ASAP...I can stretch on my own free time thankyouverymuch. When we got to the choreography, I thought it sucked. The routine was tedious and uninspired. Will try something else, perhaps Zumba. read more

Very disappointed... Would not recommend unless they revamp their customer service policy. The customer service is actually NON-EXISTENT. They won't even try to help you. I used to recommend this place for their high level of professionalism and commitment to making dance accessible to everyone. Unfortunately it's completely CHANGED. This is the SECOND time, they refused to help me. I stopped going 6 years ago because they wouldn't extend the remaining 8 classes I had on my 20-class card while I was away at school ($136 GONE). I never went back but this year I wanted to give them a second try... I downloaded their app and reserved 3 classes in advance to hold my spot but was unable to attend. Nowhere in the app was it made clear that the reservation was a used class and not just a "hold until sign-in". So they charged me for $50 worth of classes without my knowledge. I called as soon as I realized what happened to see if they could help at least credit the classes back to me just once and they plainly told me there was "nothing they could do". It's not even like I was asking for a refund I was just asking for a credit for my classes! read more

I was ridiculed for having never been to this studio and being a born New Yorker. After attending one class, I now understand why. The Ailey Extension is fabulous! I found out about a barre class from my daily subway read, AM New York, so I googled, and ended up with a beginner class pass which is two classes for $30. One class is $19 so it was a steal. With their abundance of traditional and exotic dance classes, there seems to be something for everyone. The staff was very helpful in answering my noob questions at the front desk. I was a bit nervous to go, being a beginner "dancer" in nearly all categories, however, the instructor and other staff members made me feel very comfortable. The barre studio was quite spacious, clean, and had a fantastic view of the city through the glass walls/windows lining half of the space. Barre is a new class to the Alley Extension and I highly recommend it. You can make it as beginner or as challenging as you can handle. Can't wait for the next class. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because I wish they had more morning classes. Only two classes before noon during the week. Maybe that will change soon :) read more

I wanted to feel like I was a contestant on America's Best Dance Crew (just without the "crew"), so I decided to check out Kim's House class on Thursday. I felt like a superstar! The music made you feel like you were hitting the club, thanks to the live DJ. Kim makes the class easy to follow for beginners. Even if you get lost, you can follow my strategy: just flail your arms and legs a bit, and pretend you know what you're doing. Who cares how you look? You're just trying to get a workout! What is House dancing, you may ask? I can't really explain, so you'll just have to search "House dancing" in YouTube. Prepare to see some mad skills. Subtracting one star for annoying customer service at the front desk. I signed up for the beginner's discount (2 classes for $32) and came for my first class last week. I checked in at the front desk by giving them my name, no problem. This week, I came back for my second class, tried to check in, and was asked for "my key card" or some form of ID. If I need either of these, why wasn't I informed last week? This would not be such a big deal if the customer service rep did not give me so much attitude for not having the card or my ID. She literally looked like she did not know what to do, even though I had an account in the system AND registered online before the class. Just look my up by my name or phone number! That's what she ultimately ended up doing, but I don't see why there needed to be such a struggle to reach this step. Moral of this story: make sure you ask for your key card the very first time you check in for your class or bring your ID to subsequent classes. read more

To start I have to put out there that I am as far from a dancer as you can get. My perspective is as an attendee of private events and participant of Zumba classes. I have been a huge fan of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for years and am thrilled to see how Alvin Ailey's dream has come to fruition and continues to flourish. When I walk in this building it reminds me of my college days. There is a palpable positive energy of artists honing their craft. The studios are bright, many with floor to ceiling windows and the ceilings are high. There are plenty of bathrooms which are clean and there are plenty of water fountains. There is also a locker room with day lockers - bring your own lock and there are showers as well. Signup for classes is handled in the lobby or discounted online and is easy and flexible. You can buy sessions in packages or a la carte and times and dates are all quite varied so you can always find a time that will work with your schedule. Every instructor that I have come across has been fantastic. They have such a passion for what they do and never make me feel bad about how uncoordinated I am. Day 2 - "May Challenge: What's in a name?!" read more

I cannot stop raving at how amazing Alvin Ailey is! I spent a month trying out different dance schools in New York (BDC, Joffrey, etc.) and ultimately came back to Ailey. They have amazing instructors, modern facilities, great class schedules, and one of the cheapest class cards I've ever seen (I pay $13.82 per class with my 20-class card). I take Ballet with Finis Jhung and Horton with Iquail Johnson, and both instructors are very good. Finis' class may be non-traditional, but I find his approach to teaching ballet the most intuitive. He takes the time to explain technique and break movements down for you, and he really pushes you to become a stronger dancer. Iquail's classes on the other hand are always fun (but challenging). He is an amazing dancer and comedian, and really works you hard. read more