Shoutout for Ballet Academy East (NYC)
Just wanted to shout out the adult classes at Ballet Academy East.
I’ve been taking Intro/Basic there for a couple of years, and one thing I’ve noticed is that most adult ballet classes fall into one of two camps:
- They assume you already know what you’re doing and you’re just flailing trying to keep up, or
- It’s super casual and no one really teaches proper technique
BAE somehow avoids both.
They actually teach. Instructors break down the basics, give real corrections (to everyone, not just the “good” people), and take adult beginners seriously. Most instructors ask who is totally new and keep an eye on these students.
Also, they’ll nudge you to level up when you’re ready, which I really appreciate because it’s easy to not know where you stand otherwise.
I’ve tried a few other studios around the city and haven’t found anything else that’s this focused on actually teaching ballet to adult beginners.
And every class has live pianist. Which is just awesome.