Dance Lessons in Union Square, New York City

Our studio sits at 17th and Broadway, in the heart of the Flatiron District — an easy trip from anywhere downtown or midtown.

We teach adults of every age and level, and you don’t need a partner. Most students start with a $50 private introductory lesson: 30 minutes one-on-one with a professional instructor, built around your goals — a new hobby, date night, or a wedding first dance.

Private lessons come with weekly group classes and monthly practice parties, so you’re dancing socially from the very start. Every Thursday evening we run a Social Group Dance Lesson (7 PM) followed by a Practice Session (8 PM) — all levels welcome.

Walk in curious, walk out dancing. Book your $50 intro and meet your teachers.

New Student Special

Dance for the Fun of It!

Take the first step on your dance journey today, and discover a new world of joy, confidence, health, energy and fun!

Start Dancing Today

Good Dancers Look Better on Their Wedding Day

From a simple First Dance to YouTube-worthy routines for the entire wedding party, we can help you make your Wedding Day even more special!

View Wedding Programs

Which Dance Style
Suits You Best?

As a Fred Astaire Dance Studios – Union Square student, you can choose which dance style you’d like to learn first based on what’s most appealing, and your individual dance goals! Stop by our studio on 17th and Broadway!

learn-to-ARGENTINE-TANGO-scaled-1

Argentine Tango

Although the exact origins of the dance (and the world) are lost to legend, Tango originated in Argentina in the late 1800s

learn-to-BOLERO-scaled-1

Bolero

Classic Bolero, introduced in Spain in 1780, is truly the “dance of love”, and is performed to music featuring a constant beat of drums.

learn-to-CHA-CHA-scaled-1

Cha Cha

A Cuban dance derived from the Mambo and Rumba; its name comes from the rhythm developed by a syncopation of the fourth beat.

learn-to-EAST-COAST-SWING-scaled-1

East Coast Swing

East Coast Swing evolved from the Lindy Hop in the 1940s, and is perhaps the most famous American folk dance.

learn-to-FOXTROTscaled

Foxtrot

In 1912, Vaudeville dancer Harry Fox was the first to use the “slow step”, danced to an exhilarating new style of music – ragtime.

learn-to-HUSTLE-scaled-1

Hustle

A more modern entry, this disco style was most popular in the nightclub scene from the late 1960s through the 1970s.

learn-to-JIVE-scaled-1

Jive

This style evolved from popular American dances of the 1930s such as Jitterbug, Boogie-Woogie, Lindy Hop, East Coast Swing, etc.

learn-to-MAMBO-scaled-1

Mambo

First introduced in Latin America in the 1930s, Mambo attained instantaneous popularity in American film and pop culture.

learn-to-MERENGUE-scaled-1

Merengue

Lore has this dance originating at a royal fiesta honoring a returning war hero, in either Haiti or the Dominican Republic.

learn-to-PASO-DOBLE-scaled-1

Paso Doble

This dance dates back many centuries, and was originally intended for use at bullfights when the matador was victorious in the arena.

learn-to-QUICKSTEP-scaled-1

Quickstep

The Quickstep has its roots in 1920s New York City Ragtime, and only later became a partner dance.

learn-to-RUMBA-scaled-1

Rumba

Characterized by a smooth, subtle hip motion and a heavy walking step, Rumba first invaded the U.S. in the early 1930s.

learn-to-SALSA-scaled-1

Salsa

Salsa combines passion, energy, sensuous style and joy, and has its origins in the Afro-Cuban dance, Rumba.

learn-to-SAMBA-scaled-1

Samba

Of Brazilian origin, this festive serenade features a repetitive melody, continually interrupted by the strumming of a guitar.

learn-to-Tango-scaled-1

Tango

The romantic Tango descended from an early Spanish folk dance, and features intriguing asymmetrical and sophisticated dance patterns.

learn-to-VIENNESE-WALTZ-scaled-1

Viennese Waltz

The Viennese Waltz was first danced by European royalty in the 1800s, and was deemed startling due to the close proximity of the dancers.

learn-to-WALTZscaled

Waltz

The Waltz dates back to Bavaria 400 years ago, but it was not introduced into “society” until 1812, when it first appeared in English ballrooms.

learn-to-WEST-COAST-SWING-scaled-1

West Coast Swing

With its sophisticated style and easy adaptation to contemporary rock music, this 1950s style quickly gained popularity in the U.S.

BENEFITS OF DANCE

Ballroom dancing is that perfect combination of physical activity, social interaction, and mental stimulation, it can bring so much to your life – and it’s FUN!!

With all these reasons to start dancing – we challenge you to find a good reason NOT to dance.

WHY FRED ASTAIRE DANCE STUDIOS?

An atmosphere of kindness, warmth and fun awaits you at every Fred Astaire Dance Studio! It’s what our students tell us they notice from the first time they step inside – an energy and sense of “FADS community” that is 100% welcoming, non-judgmental, and truly joyful!

Since 1947, our passion is helping to enrich lives – physically, mentally, emotionally and socially – through the positive, transforming power of dance. There are thousands of reasons why people start dance lessons… and once we show you how much fun ballroom dancing can be, we know you’ll want to keep coming back. From wedding dance instruction, a new hobby or way to connect with your partner, physical and emotional health, improving your social life…

Have Questions?

How do I get started?

At Fred Astaire Dance Studios, all new dance Students can take advantage of our special money-saving Introductory Offer! Simply complete and submit the Intro Offer form on this website to get yours, and we’ll contact you right away to learn about your dance goals and help you set up your first Lesson. Once you discover how much fun ballroom dancing can be, we know you’ll be back for more!

How often should I take lessons?

We highly recommend that you schedule your Lessons close together, especially in the beginning. The less time between Lessons means the less you will forget, the less you will need to review, and the more quickly you will reach a confident level in your dancing. We also recommend private Lessons in conjunction with group classes and practice sessions, as it’s the most effective and efficient way for you to learn and stay motivated.

Is it difficult to learn to dance?

No, it’s not! Our Dance Instructors are all highly-qualified and welcoming professionals, who participate in ongoing dance training throughout their careers. In addition, our progressive system of instruction and unique trophy system make it easy for you to learn. It will take a bit of time to master the various dances and a repertoire of steps, but a steady approach with periodic practice will produce visible results in less time than you’d think. We highly encourage you to keep your Lessons scheduled close together. You will progress more quickly, and it will make your experience more valuable to you. We promise: the learning is fun – and you will be on your way to confident social dancing after your very first dance Lesson!

What our students say

5.0 · 119 Google reviews

“Working with Sasha at Fred Astaire for our wedding dance was one of the best, most fun choices we could have made. We started working on our wedding dance a little earlier than most (about a year out), but used each night we went to practice as a fun date night. While learning the initial dance was difficult at first, Sasha made it easy and fun to learn. She is not afraid to tell you to work at a certain move again, but makes sure to give equal amounts of encouragement. We felt so prepared for our dance when it came time to actually do it on our wedding day. I was worried about dancing in a big dress, but knowing the moves so well beforehand really helped make the whole dance feel seamless and fun. Go here for date nights, wedding dance practice, or simply if you want to learn a new skill that you can use for the rest of our life.”
Megan – Google review

“For our wedding dance, we worked with Ilmira, who was just as excited to have us as her students as we were to have her as our teacher. We were combining two songs for our first dance: one slow and romantic, and one much faster. Ilmira started by showing us what the dance could look like and then worked with us to tailor it to what felt natural, comfortable, and achievable. She struck the perfect balance between challenging us and making us feel capable. After 10 lessons, we somehow found ourselves performing at the studio’s monthly party, complete with glow sticks and a room full of people cheering us on at the top of their lungs. It was such a fun and unexpected highlight of the experience. It was priceless to have such a real-world rehearsal opportunity before the wedding! My husband also took additional lessons with his mom for their mother-son dance. With two choreographies happen