Best Tap Dancing Classes In NYC: Adult, Beginner, Drop-Ins, More

As one of the premier centers for dance in the United States, New York has numerous schools where tap lessons are available. Here are a few of the best-known tap locations for tap dancers of all ages and experience.

American Tap Dance Foundation 

154 Christopher St., Suite 2B
New York, NY 10014
(646) 230-9564
www.atdf.org/index.html

Founded by professional and maser tap dancer Brenda Bufalino, along with Tony Waag and the late Charles 'Honi' Coles in 1986, this nonprofit organization has year-round rhythm tap training and enrichment for beginning through advanced professional tap dancers. The schedule includes tap dance rudiments, technique and repertory classes. It also offers ensemble performance opportunities, professional tap dance intensive weekends and seasonal master classes, jams, performances and special events. Visitors can purchase books by Ms. Bufalino as well as CDs and tap DVDs. Prices begin at $16 and $18 for individual classes. Multiple-class cards are available.

Broadway Dance Center 

322 W. 45th St.
New York, NY 10036
(212) 582-9304
www.broadwaydancecenter.com/

The attraction at this popular midtown center: dozens of classes a day, 350 classes a week. They are given during the day as well as in the evening. Classes range from those for absolute beginners to experienced dancers with ten years or more of experience. Guest instructors are announced regularly. The Center is popular with visitors who come to the city for training. Its studios are regarded as state-of-the-art. Costs run about $17 per class.

Mark Morris Dance Center

3 Lafayette Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11217
(718) 624-8400
markmorrisdancegroup.org/dance-center

An outgrowth of celebrated choreographer Mark Morris's troupe, this center holds adult classes for beginners, intermediates and advanced students in the evenings. The center says its tap sessions draw "from both Broadway and contemporary rhythm-tap styles, working on precision and musicality." It is based in downtown Brooklyn, convenient to all subways. Its beginner classes explore tap styles from different periods. Cost begins at $15 for a drop-in class.

Steps On Broadway

2121 Broadway
New York, NY 10023
(212) 874-2410
www.stepsnyc.com

This longstanding neighborhood dance center on the Upper West Side attracts both local students and professionals. Steps also has occasional master classes. The schedule shows tap classes almost every day, with some as early as 10 a.m. or as late at 7:45 p.m. The cost is $19 for a single session, with multiple-class plans that provide a discount.

Ailey Extension

405 W. 55th St.
New York, NY 10019
(212) 405-9500
www.alvinailey.org

This school for all styles of dance is a branch of the fabled Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, now under the direction of Robert Battle. Its tap classes currently are for beginners. The school describes it this way: "Through rudimentary tap steps, students will learn the essentials of rhythm comprehension and begin to develop an innate ability to hear and play the dance as music." The cost is about $16 per class.

Grace Lichtenstein is an author and former New York Times reporter. She writes principally about books, music and sports. She contributes to the Washington Post, NYCityWoman.com, Aspen Magazine and other publications. She is a board member of Bike New York, as well as a member of the Authors Guild and the National Book Critics Circle.