Shall We Dance?: Learning the steps at Fred Astaire.

Dance Lesson Directory

Ballroom on Fifth
319 Fifth Ave., at 32nd St., fourth fl.
212-532-6232
ballroomonfifth.com
With a staff of mostly professional and amateur champions—as well as visiting experts—Ballroom on Fifth offers several wedding packages: three hour-long “emergency” couples lessons for $199, five for $349, and ten for $649. They’ll also happily customize a plan incorporating semi-private classes and will even arrange lessons for your entire wedding party.

Billings Jones Dance
Call 212-866-7750
or visit biljonsdance.com for locations
Husband and wife Sarah Billings and Richard Jones have been offering private lessons and, occasionally, classes for groups for over a decade. Their lessons encompass a wide range of genres from salsa to hustle to ballroom. A standard wedding package includes six 55-minute lessons ($385) that you can schedule on evenings and Sundays as well (hourly rates are $70). They don't like to choreograph dances per se, but will script an entrance and a finale for the couple.  

Champions Dance Studio
257 W. 39th St., nr. Eighth Ave., fourteenth fl.
212-307-7707
championsdance.com
This school, where you can learn all the standard styles—ballroom, salsa, tango, swing—has a variety of packages to get you prepared for the big day. The basic program ($300) gets you five private couples lessons with the instructor of your choice, who will also help choreograph moves for your first dance at the reception.

Dance Chelsea
127 W. 25th St., nr. Sixth Ave., fourth fl.
917-606-0289
dancechelsea.com
Learn to dance with private lessons at this Chelsea studio where ballroom and Latin dancing are specialties. Couples can choose to learn anything from a fox-trot and swing to salsa and merengue. Each lesson lasts 50 minutes. Choose from three wedding packages: one private lesson ($75), five lessons ($360), or ten ($690).

Dance Manhattan Ballroom Swing & Latin Studio
39 W. 19th St., nr. Fifth Ave., fifth fl.
212-807-0802
dancemanhattan.com
This school teaches all the standard styles in both private and group settings, and offers a crash-course option if time is of the essence. They�ll help you pick out a song for your first dance, and choreograph a routine, too. They�ll even send instructors to your reception if you�d like them to teach your guests�or just perform. Hour-long group lessons for two cost $75 per person per four-week session. There are also five- and ten-lesson wedding packages (from $375).

Dance New York
237 W. 54th St., nr. Broadway, third fl.
212-246-5797
dancenewyork.com
This ballroom and Latin-dance studio offers group and private lessons as well as practice-studio rental. The wedding package ($395) includes five private lessons and a one-time private-room rental for extra practice. Additional private classes run about $85 each per couple, and the school is happy to teach styles like hip-hop and quick-step.

Dance Times Square
156 W. 44th St., third fl., nr. Broadway
212-994-9500
dancetimessquare.com
Owned and operated by former U.S. Latin dance champions Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin, this five-year-old dance facility specializes in teaching cha-cha, samba, rumba, mambo, tango, and swing. Wedding packages include five private 55-minute lessons ($425) and another package of ten ($800) taught by world-class instructors on staff. There�s a 30-minute introductory test run ($20) to find out if you like the team. They suggest starting five months before your wedding so you can learn the dance they'll choreograph for you.

Fred Astaire Dance Studios
Call 212-595-3200 or visit
fredastairemanhattan.com for locations.
Founded in 1947 by the legend himself, this national chain is consistently ranked as one of the best. They offer a special wedding program run by competitive dancers who can teach you everything from the tango to West Coast swing. The package includes private lessons as well as staffed “practice parties” designed to alleviate your social anxiety. Introductory packages—two private lessons and a practice party—start at just $75 per couple.

Manhattan Ballroom
Call 917-734-4778 or visit
manhattanballroom.com for locations
Practice your moves at either of this dance society’s huge ballrooms, where they teach all the classic steps you’ll need for your wedding. An eight-week course is $150 per person; your second course will cost just $95. Customized wedding packages available.

NY Wedding Dance
1261 Broadway, nr. 32nd St., Ste. 1108
212-904-1114
nyweddingdance.com
This dance company—one of the few that focus solely on wedding-dance instruction—offers private dance instruction for couples looking to hone their style, and aims to create fun and unintimidating moves for you and your partner ($85 per couple per lesson). House calls are available.

Paul Pellicoro's DanceSport
1845 Broadway, nr. 60th St.
212-307-1111
dancesport.com
This popular studio, which boasts clients like Al Pacino and Vanessa Williams, has been one of the city’s biggest since it opened in 1985. Dancer Paul Pellicoro and internationally ranked partner Eleny Fotinos teach, along with a large staff of pros. They offer impressive wedding packages ($665–$1,040) that include a personal consultant, unlimited nightly practice sessions, group classes just for wedding couples, private lessons, music consultation and editing, a pre-party group class, and a complimentary rehearsal video.

Pierre Dulaine Dance Club
25 W. 31st St., nr. Fifth Ave., fourth fl.
212-244-8400
pierredulaine.com
Pierre Dulaine, a faculty member at the School of American Ballet, personally heads up the talented staff at this time-tested school. Just eight instructors teach the classes, which cover all the standard styles. After a half-hour initial free consultation, couples can take five private one-hour lessons or ten one-hour lessons (prices upon request).

Sandra Cameron Dance Center
199 Lafayette St., nr. Broome St.
212-431-1825
sandracameron.com
Studio founder Sandra Cameron has won every major International Style dance competition in the U.S. You can get a private lesson for $85 per couple per hour or opt for a four-week group class for $85 per person. The wedding package includes a four-week group course and three private one-hour lessons ($375).

Soho Dance
598 Broadway, at Houston St.
212-226-6767
sohodancestudio.com
The dance instructors at Soho Dance not only teach you to dance�they also pride themselves on being good at choosing the kind of dancing that best suits their students� personalities and moods, should the couples need more direction than average. Choose anything from a basic fox-trot or Viennese waltz to a more complex combination of both. Choose five sessions for $450, ten sessions for $850, or twenty sessions for $1,600. Each session is an hour long.

WeddingDayDance
Call 917-796-4960 or visit
weddingdaydance.com for locations
This intimate center focuses solely on preparing couples for their big day, employing just a few instructors so you get tons of individual attention. After a half-hour consultation ($30), you can choose from a variety of packages: The introductory one consists of three private lessons ($185 per couple).

You Should Be Dancing . . . !
412 Eighth Ave., at 31st St., fourth fl.
212-244-0011
youshouldbedancing.net
One specialty here is the Cuban salsa rueda, but you can also learn Latin, ballroom, or the hustle in either group or customized private lessons. Perhaps start with the Introductory Special (which includes a half-hour private lesson, a one-hour group lesson, and attendance to one of the company's parties) for $40 per couple.