I really want to take up some dance lessons. I want to learn how to swing, Salsa, samba, rumba, mambo, cha cha, tango, fox trot, waltz all that good stuff! I really want to perfect what I already know and add some other fancy, crazy dance moves on top of that. Does anybody know of a good dance school in the New York City Area. I've been looking, but a lot of place are really expensive and some of the schools only teach one form of dance for months at a time. I want some variety. Can somebody help me out? If any of you are professionals and do private lessons that would be even better.

Some of the best dance schools and dance teachers in the USA are in New York City. Unfortunately, their expertise does not come cheaply. Also, learning to dance all the different dances that you are interested in takes some time.

Two great studios are Dance New York and also Ballroom on Fifth, both in Manhattan. Some of the best professionals in the country teach at these places.

I started learning to dance at the Fred Astaire on the Upper West Side, but that was quite an expensive option.

You could also look for classes at a local college or university, some of the schools have clubs or teams that non-students can join. Or you could see if there are classes at a YMCA or JCC or other community center type place near you.

And finally, some clubs that have partner dance parties offer beginner lessons beforehand. These can be very inexpensive, and perhaps the teachers will also do private lessons at other times.

Thanks a lot. I appreciate the info. I do have a YMCA nearby, so I'll check that out first then I'll see if some of the City Colleges close by have anything going on. If neither of these options work I guess I will have to be willing to break my pockets a little bit and go to a dance studio in Manhattan. I think it would probably be well worth it! Thanks again.

If you actually talk to the teachers themselves and not the receptionist, some of them have unpredictable enough lives that they might be willing to meet you on a few hours notice when schedules match. You could almost make a habit of calling at 4pm on days you are free to see if there have been any cancellations or holes in someones schedule.

Private lessons are going to be expensive. You are hiring an employee for an hour, someone who has to make a living from an incomplete schedule, so the cost for an hour can be nearly $100.