NYC Dance Arts

I purchased a Groupon for 10 classes but ended up getting a refund.
The only reason why I returned the Groupon is because the Adult Ballet class lumps all the students — no prior experience, beginners, intermediate, and even advanced — into one class. I was in the «no prior experience» category and found myself very lost in this class. The instructor jumped right into positions and kicks and postures and I found myself extremely lost, just copying the other students when I expected a little more help and corrections from the instructor herself. Because I know I was doing everything wrong.
The class is good if you have had prior ballet experience but NOT if you are completely new to the dance. I would go to this school again only if they added another class specifically for «no prior experience» students. I would like to gain proper dance postures and habits, but this is just impossible in a class that lumps all levels of students together.

Very friendly setting, but a good hard class. I took the conditioning for ballet class with James a couple of times and boy that’s a tough work-​out. Much harder than other classes I’ve taken in the city. A lot of good stretching and ab work. The barre work isn’t as extensive as I had hoped, but it’s still a good time. The classes are small (both times I was there by myself). No one showed for his next class and James asked if I wanted to focus on anything specific. We ended up working on some basic technique for an hour. A private lesson for an hour! He could have very well just canceled the class, but he seemed perfectly fine with helping me. His standards seem higher than other ballet teachers and he doesn’t let you get away with very much – unlike some other classes I’ve taken in the city. He’s a very good and I highly recommend him if you’re considering getting the groupon.
The groupon is well worth it in my opinion. The downside is that the space seems like a seedy area of town… I don’t necessarily feel totally safe walking down that dark street at night and the building is very old. The locker facility is scary and this police tape has been blocking a certain part of the stairwell for weeks.
But if you can get past that, I think James is a very picky teacher and is genuinely excited about helping new dancers get things right.
Looking forward to trying the other classes as well.

Disorganized & unprofessional. That’s what I have to say about their operations.
I purchased a Groupon voucher for this place. Due to extensive personal tragedy and a busy schedule, I have been trying to use the voucher this month as the expiration date is forthcoming.
First off, these people can’t be bothered to have a simple link on their website going to their «Calendar» or «Class Schedule.» I had to learn about today’s schedule by going on the link to pay for their classes online. My voucher is supposed to be for 5 drop in classes of my choosing. Why would I be going to the «pay for classes» part when I have a VOUCHER for FREE CLASSES!!!
This also does not facilitate their supposed policy of allowing you to «drop in» or «walk in» for a class.
Second, I went to the venue last week (a waste of $ 5 in Metrocard travel) to go to their Friday Hip Hop Dance class. Unbeknownst to me, they were having a rehearsal for a show & not having a class. Again, no link to their calendar so nearly impossible for me to learn about this.
I spoke to a staffer there, who told me they WERE having this class next week & I could use my voucher then before it expired on the 21^st.
We now come to this Friday, when the next Hip Hop Dance class is supposed to take place. I waste $ 5 more on Metrocard travel (that $ 10 adds up when you can’t afford a monthly pass) & speak to the facility owners. Apparently, the people from NYC Dance Arts left at 7 with no explanation & left a bunch of people seeking the 7 p.m. ballet class in the lurch. I finally find this hidden calendar to see no listing for the Hip Hop Dance class. When I check for the next week (when my voucher is set to expire), they are on «Summer Break.»
I take the facility owners’ suggestion & call NYC Dance Arts’ listed number. When I do, it says «the person you are calling can not be reached at this time.» I try this both with a blocked and unblocked number.
Maybe Groupon will be helpful on this but it seems the concept is far different from the execution. If these people would actually have their business organized and not waste people’s $ 5 to attend these phantom classes (unless they live within walking distance of the studio), maybe they could thrive in this city. Instead, they choose to A) NOT have a number where anyone can even leave a voicemail, B) NOT have an accessible calendar or class schedule on their website, C) offer NO way for drop-​ins to actually take place despite claiming they take them & D) discriminate against a huge portion of their customer base by leaving them with the choice of wasting time & money or not bothering to show up in the first place.
I will not be wasting my time & money (travel or otherwise) with such an amateur and unprofessional operation.