Dance School
Come dance with us!
Can’t stop the feeling? Keep it going with a dance class at The Riverdale Y, where people of every age and skill level can experience the joy of movement. Choose from hip hop, jazz, modern, tap (through pre-professional) and ballet (through pre-pointe). Kids as young as three can explore dance in specially designed tap, ballet and jazz classes. Our faculty is filled with working artists, devoted to excellence and creativity and to inspiring the same in their students. Our spring dance concert offers students the opportunity to perform in our state-of-the-art Riverdale Y Theater.
We Hope You’ll DANCE!!
Riverdale Y Dance has proudly sustained our programming throughout the pandemic. We began our Fall Classes Outdoors (under our gigantic tent on the back deck!) and transferred to Virtual once the weather became a challenge.
We begin our spring semester the week of February 15. This time we will begin Virtually and switch over to In Person Outdoor Classes the week of March 7. While we have a limited number of classes this spring, there is something for all ages!
Please note that throughout we will continue to follow the strict State and City Safety Protocol Guidelines from the DOH, DOE and CDC. (Students and Instructors wear masks at all times!). Safety continues to be our priority!
We will be having our annual Dance Recital out on the Back Deck on Sunday, June 20.
For more information, please contact our Dance Director, Jessie Sector at dance@riverdaley.org.
Dance School Schedule
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
The arts have the power to transform people and communities. There has never been a better time in our country to have an outlet for discovery of your own self-expression. The Riverdale Performing Arts Center is home to vibrant performances and professional training. We nurture passion for theater, music and dance in people of all ages and skill levels.
Building upon the strength of our thriving programs, we have added some incredible theater arts professionals who are not only working Actors, Directors, Dancers and Musicians, but a faculty committed to bringing professional training to those who want to keenly develop their performing skills or to provide an atmosphere of joy and camaraderie to those who simply want to have fun!
New This Year:
- All participants in Jr. Rising Stars and Rising Stars will receive individual evaluations and class recommendations from our faculty, based on our Fall Audition Process.
- All Jr. Rising Stars and Rising Stars will be taking a Theater Dance class as part of their rehearsal process
- The formation of THE TROUPE, our new traveling performance group. The Troupe will be selected from among our Theater, Dance & Music School students. We will create 30-45 minute revues with both original music/dance as well as featured songs from Broadway musicals. The Troupe will be available to entertain at area hospitals, senior centers, street fairs, community gatherings, special political events or wherever they can brighten someone’s day!
- New music classes that include Vocal Ensembles, Beats & Buckets, Group Guitar, Womans’ Choral Group celebrating music of the 1960s & 1970s.
- Focus in the music department in Voice, Drumming & all Orchestra Instruments, in addition to Piano, Violin & Guitar
- Acting Classes in Film/Television, Improv, Commercials, Scene Study, Stage Acting Basics –highlighted by Guest Artists who will offer Master Classes that will culminate in auditions for Casting & Talent Agents.
We remain dedicated to bringing quality performances to the Bronx. We are tremendously excited about the season ahead and what these new enrichment opportunities will bring to our community. This array of Performing Arts classes for children of all ages AND adults promises to raise our award-winning program to another level.


Laurie Walton is the founder of the Riverdale Rising Stars, the Y’s renowned teen theater group, and the Riverdale Repertory Company, The Y’s adult theater program. Under Laurie’s guidance, the…
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From kindergarten in Staten Island, to high school in the Bronx, and from elementary school kids at the 92nd street Y to eighteen to twenty year old adults at Rikers…
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