Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Reviews

Finis Jung is a true legend! Really enjoy his class at Ailey s. Looking forward to taking more classes there. Hope the pandemic will be over soon.

Went with friends for some salsa lessons. Had a grear time. The instructor was excellent and a lot of fun. The steps, twists and turns weren't easy to start with but once you get going it becomes easier. He taught us some steps at first, then we tried the turns and then the twists with partners.

My son enjoys his classes and teachers. They are patient, kind, tough, and forces him to always do his very best.

Family and friends have been and will be a great part of that dance company!

Some of the best teachers, in the best studios in town! A great place to explore the world dances like West African, Sabar, and Capoeira! Though no studio is perfect, this one offers great classes at a competitive price! I fully recommend it, to anyone from new dancers, to vets doing some drop ins!

One of the icons of New York City, this dance company continues to impress. I had attended their anniversary performances several years ago, but recently attended my first class. I say first because I hope I get to return since their instructors are so friendly, patient and talented. The teacher took us through the basics of Salsa dancing, what separates from other dances like the Merengue and played some great music by Tito Puente. Definitely take a look at their weekly classes and you can even organize a private class with your friends!

I took an Advanced Beg Horton class on Saturday afternoon with Karen Arceneaux. She was fabulous -- she has the perfect attitude for a class with wide-ranging skill and levels. She never made me feel badly about not doing something perfectly, yet she always wanted us to strive to do our best. I would go back next time I'm in town. Love the studio too. Everyone was nice. It was clean and lovely. Only one downer -- they need towel service for a small fee or at least paper towels in the dressing room. I was going out to dinner/show after and would've liked to clean up better. Other than that, it was a perfect experience!

Took a Salsa class here... Teacher was entertaining and informative. The variety of dance disciplines to learn is great and they also teach capoura. Studio was well lit and clean...definitely would take a class here again.

March update:
- never heard any feedback from Ailey despite my many attempt to reach out (social networks, front desk ) and them telling me my request is in good hand.
- on March 9th, a student threw up during the class, because it was overcrowded and no control on temperature in the room. A room in the basement with no windows doesn't help.
- for some reason, when another teacher is subbing, we end up on the ground floor, in a classroom with windows. It doesn't seem very fair.

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I have been following Voguing class for a while at Ailey Extension. Before attending classes regularly here, I have been trying other classes around town. It happened to me that Cesar, the teacher, was doing an amazing job at not only teaching how to Vogue, but also at being INCLUSIVE, which means showing strong teaching skills. You can be good at something, but it doesn t mean you will be good at teaching it well, Cesar s classes at Ailey Extension combine both of these skills.
This reflects a lot in the crowd following the class: it is super diverse, in background, age, gender and this is exactly, as a foreigner like me, but resident here now, what NYC is about: diversity. Cesar Valentino not only brings Voguing and teaching to a high level, but also brings the true essence of NYC, and this is everything.
The great thing about Voguing here is to learn about walking a runway, but also empowerment through femininity! No matter your gender, everyone wear heels here, and everyone gets super excited about it! It s not only a performing class, it s also a lot about exploring yourself and gain self-confidence through femininity. Every time friends of mine are visiting, I bring them to this class, and their enthusiasm when leaving it means a lot, and it works every time thanks to Cesar and his skills.

But why such a bad rating you might ask.. well, the thing is that it feels like Ailey extension doesn t support what happens here:

2/ There is only one class a week here, where in every other dance facility, vogue classes happen 3 to 4 times a week. This is very frustrating when you enjoy such a class to only have it once a week again, why??

At the end, it feels like Ailey Extension doesn t fully support Voguing, and it hurts to feel not supported, specially when as a participant to this class, you can feel such a high energy every time. Maybe I missed something, or maybe Ailey Extension is a bit blind.

So, this message feels a bit like an open letter: Dear Ailey Extension, would you make a statement in supporting this class, open new sessions and help build a community here!! Until then, I have decided to not fully support Ailey Extension as long as they are not ready to make a change and be more rewarding to what happens here, until further notice.

I hope you will hear this message, because I m living for Saturdays thanks to Cesar and his Voguing class, but the bitter taste I get from the lack of support from A.E. needs to be solved.

Will 2019 be the year for Vogue to shine at Ailey Extension?
I hope yes!

I took two classes here: hip hop, and zumba. Both classes were amazing!

I used to love taking Kat's class here, but the way in which Ailey handled the situation was in poor taste. I'd rather take class with a great teacher than at a studio with shady operations.

Great experience!!! Good staff, good teachers, good vibes. And wonderful classes.

This is THE dance studio to learn or perfect your dance moves. In addition to dance classes ranging in all levels and workshops they also offer fitness classes. I went to a beginner salsa taught by Joey. Did you know there are several forms of salsa? Yes, like 7 :) He taught us NY style salsa which is a lot harder than I would think. After getting the basics down, you are split into 2 groups and you rotate partners practicing all of the moves you learned. Fun, hardcore, intricate foot work, and Joey is no joke!

Loveeeee my Afro/Samba instructor Quenia Ribeiro....she's so amazing!!! I like the Ailey Extension program, I'm so glad I get to attend her class...lucky me!

Went to see the BFA Fall Concert, and I love it. Lots of performance going on alla year around. Ailey is a must to visite when you come to New York- You are going love it

People are lazy, I'm no different but look what effort can achieve. My daughter had the pleasure to be a part of the Ailey family for two years, a very, very special time in my life. They remembered my birthday today and sent me a greeting. Because of the memories it kindled, I shared their post with my entire network and took THE TIME to write this review. This is the type of organization I'm proud to have been a part of and I highly recommend it for expiring dancers.

Beautiful artistry shown during every performance!! We definitely felt the emotions of the dance pieces..

really good!!! they have classes that range from beginner to advanced. I've taken their hip hop, Afro-cuban and Afro-brazilian classes. Both the Afro-cuban and Afro-brazilian classes feature live drumming and are EXCELLENT cardio.

nice, spacious and clean location, great instructor and easy to learn dance

Don't even know where to start... bottom line it's amazing & fanTastic!

I took class here on 2 occasions while on vacation. Great ballet classes! Just not very clear on the procedure for people who are not familiar with the studio.

World famous for good reasons

Also a great school for training young dancers and for rec classes

It's fantastic place and to clean place and historical places and people are skills and experience with warm greetings from the place to stay in touch with you and your family and friends is responsible executive performances and trendy pleasure to have a great time in touch

A fan from when Jamison danced "Cry" I was hooked . What makes this dance conmpany stand out is it's ability to dig in the global-collective soul and bring to dance our past and our present. And they do this with the permission of the undying sprit.

I took the Beginner West African Dance. The instructor was amazingly patient, talented, and energetic. The live-music, drummers, brought a joy to me that I can't describe. Overall the dance class was a wonderful experience. The staff too were very welcoming and very helpful in identifying other classes and opportunities I would be interested in. (The registration process was very smooth and easy as well)

Love the location and studio spaces! I've only taken Theater Dance, and love that as well! I'll update when I try more classes.

I love Ailey's Extension. The variety of dance classes are great. The teachers are fabulous making the dance experience all the more exciting. I try to get there at least three times a week. I look forward to class knowing I will have a good time that is also a great stress relief.

We have been taking private group classes and tours here for the past 7 years. The old group services coordinator, Kristen, was amazing, howevee their new coordinator, Selena Campbell, is a NIGHTMARE. She is never available during her office hours and doesn't return phone calls. We arrived for our private master class and tour which had been paid in full only to be told she did not make arrangements for the tour. Ailey is a highlight of our trip and this girls casts a negative light on an outstanding legacy. We will not be returning in years to come if she is in charge of groups.

Beautiful studio and great instructors
I love Quenia's samba class

This is one of the best dance studios/schools in the area. I had the privilege of doing a performance here and the staff and building were great. I would recommend any dance enthusiast to take a class or here or just go by to see a show.

Like last year, I visit New York for a few weeks to take lessons in "Horten" and "Contemporary Dance" with Alvin Ailey. It is fantastic and always the highlight of my trip. It is worth it for all "movement people" even if you only visit for an hour.

Enjoyed every performance with my family and friends. Looking forward to attending classes, for myself, as well, with my niece of 9 years old I am prayerful, that we will be able to start off by registering for Saturday classes-/mornings/m-w-fri. All the best

From Absolute Begonner to Professional....quwlity classes, family atmosphere.

The staff must have been trained in hospitality, because I felt like I was staying at a five star hotel. Campus is clean and structure is sturdy. There were no cracks in the wall or banana peels on the floor. Also worth noting that the students are the most shapely and conditioned in the entire city.

They offer the general public free demos of their dancers warmup exercise.

Translated by Google)
Very annoyed customers! I walked into your place which is located a few steps from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and was told $ 35 for my SUV. My sister backed away from behind me in my SUV and I said she was with me. The guy clearly says $ 35 for me and $ 15 for a total of $ 50. I ask more than once to clarify because it looks good and even asks for it

Great class both times i took them. Jonathan Lee especially

I saw the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater at the gorgeous City Center and it was a thing of sublime beauty.

This was my first time and what a way to become indoctrinated into the world of dance theater!
To start was Gustavo Ramirez Sansano's "Victoria" instead of the standard fare, much to the dismay of the elderly patrons. I LOVED IT! I particularly loved the music "Rewriting Beethoven's Seventh Symphony". Written by award-winning composer Michael Gordon, it was an avant-garde, seamlessly morphing piece that relentlessly drove the dancers throughout the mesmerizing first act.

The second was "Members Don't Get Weary". It was much more traditional so I'm sure the old biddies loved it, but honestly it was the more forgettable of the three for me.


What a finale! I didn't want it to end! I can't stop gushing about it. If this is the future of Alvin Ailey then it's in wonderful hands. I want to do this again next year!

1. They have a very clear division between actual school classes and classes for the public. Some classes are completely off limits for public. If you go to actual school class and not community class, they point out to everyone in class that you are what they call a "guest with us" which I find highly humiliating.
2. High quality of instruction when it comes to school classes. Community ballet classes could be by far better taught.
3. You have many options here in all types of dance styles and techniques. Many dance workshops you can choose from. All in all, you will enjoy going there for a class.
4. If you decide to audition for the school, you MUST BE BETWEEN AGES 16-25 as they almost never make exceptions for someone who is older than that. Might as well not try at all.
So, in terms of excellence, 5 stars for school quality and 3 stars for community classes.

I have always been there whenever Kat Wildish teaches. She is the most kind, genuine, and sweetest teachers - she has nothing but love for her students.

After witnessing the Sep 2014 incident where an unruly and aggressive parent attacked her after pointe class, Ailey suspended her without pay. I believe that suspending Kat Wildish and requiring her to attend anger management classes was the wrong response. Witnesses from both the pointe class and the attack as well as hundreds of Kats students wrote letters and organized a petition (450+ people signed within 2 weeks) to ask Ailey management & board members for justice. Ailey's response was "She will be back on November 1st".
At the end of October, Ailey terminated her. Due to Kat's students (Ailey s clients / good people), Ailey was overwhelmed with our support of their mistake.

I must use the word "Hate" with the Ailey Extension Management. I have never seen such injustice done to an employee or even a human being. A single incident with a student should not dictate her abilities as a master ballet teacher. Kat brings her expertise and 40 years of experience as a master teacher everywhere she teaches and Ailey Studio should be honored to have someone like her on their faculty. She is passionate about her teaching and we can all learn so much from her.

It was rough for a few months. We simply needed a good ballet class to train as dancers. I cannot believe Ailey Extension as an educational institute, a signature of the dance world, created such painful drama for its employees and clients. The scar will never go away... We all gladly moved on with Kat. We are now following her all over the city with studios that appreciate her effort. Thanks to Ballet Arts, Peridance and Gibney. And of course the amazing Kat. Happy dancing & stay away from Ailey!

i love my samba and afro cuban class so much ! im going to try more classes in the fall so excited !

Do NOT go here. It s so bad and expensive. I just cannot express how terrible this is. Waste of time.

Wonderful school with a great selection of classes. Excellent teachers, Sekou Miller has a winning personality and is a true teacher. Lots of fun!

The best studio in town! Beautiful, clean with lots of light. Always great teachers!

Amazing dancers~! Just go, you won't be disappointed by their performances. Try to sit still in the audience chair.....Control yourself, remember this, you're not the dancer.

I was visiting the city for the weekend and took a class on Sunday morning! It was amazing! First, the staff was friendly and helpful as I navigated the path to the class. The instructor was high-energy, very cute and friendly. I didn't feel the pressure to perform or even keep up, but I did! Yay me! If you're visiting or living in Midtown or the Hell's Kitchen area, go!! Aren't you tired of wasting your bucks on a lame coffee? Why not spend a few of them to get in shape??

I dance here, and I love my teachers. They're awesome

I love the open window studios at Ailey. Gorgeous view that makes you feel like you are right in the middle of the city. The teachers are experienced and the class schedule is varied. I didn't like however that the beginner ballet class was super beginner and the next step up was too hard. That and the rude treatment I experienced in the non-beginner class. I doubt I will return, which is a shame seeing as they have so many wonderful classes from which to choose.

Alvin Ailey is phenomenal. I love the performances. The energy, the art, the music. All makes it the best show to take your mind away from it all. Love Alvin Ailey!

I will continue to praise The Ailey Extension! There are so many exciting and fun classes at The Ailey Extension...it's difficult to choose one. Some of my favorites are Adv. Beginner Jazz with Jeffrey Bynum, Groovefit Bellydance with Janelle Cortes and of course Vogue with Guest Teacher Cesar Valentino!! I mean come on where else can you get Vogue technique people?!! The Ailey Extension is like an ever-changing family, where you can come let your guard down, learn something new, work on your craft and continue to support the fabulous legacy of Mr. Alvin Ailey... And, how lovely is it to receive an Anniversary reminder from The Ailey Extension offering a guest pass for a single class because of one's continued loyalty?!! Next time you want something fun to do with your crew, plan a trip to The Ailey Extension...you won't regret it. #twirlforever #dancelife #aileylove

I just go there because I love the capoeira classes but the people who work there really need an etiquette course.

I have been going for years now - West African with Maguette Camara and Sabar with Babacar M'Baye. I love, love, love my teachers. Ailey Extension is my most favorite place!!

The West African Dance class on Monday evenings is simply extraordinary. I have never loved every minute of a dance class in the quite a few years. It gives me LIFE and restores my faith in humanity.

I took Cesar Valentino s Vogue class online, and my Mom joined from her aisle of quarantine. If you want to learn fundamentals from an original and originator of the art form, you would love Cesar s class! He made my Mom and I feel welcomed, and while I have more experience than my Mom in this style, there was no limit to the fun for us because Cesar acknowledges everyone s personal style and supports individuality. Take this class, you will love it!!! Zoom did not feel like a limit, it felt like an opportunity I could have missed otherwise!

Nice place to add to this so it is nicer than New York

I enjoy adult ballet classes. I wish there was a beginner ballet (NOT absolute beginner) class Tuesdays and/or Wednesday evenings after 5.
I have no place to take classes Tues and Wednesdays. Hope to see you add a beginner ballet class soon. I'll be the first on line!

I cannot get enough of Tweet Boogie's hip hop class. Its so much fun and it helps keep me healthy. I also love the beginner West African, Samba and House classes.

There is something for everyone at Ailey. It's a great welcoming environment. If you've been thinking about it, do it! You won't regret it!

I took my first class at the extension for All Styles Vogue with Cesar Valentino - I loved the boutique class size (ours was about 10 people) which was great and was enough space to spread out and learn. Cesar made the experience of jumping into a new dance style fun, and super accessible to picking up. Each week features fresh new choreography to learn so I'm def excited to come back soon! Totally worth it, and beautiful studio space!

The studio is perfect and quite frankly beautiful.

However, they are quite uncooperative. I had booked a class and due to heavy rains the public transport was broken. The refused to accommodate or extend even with a fee. Please work on your customer service skills.

Everyone should experience an Alvin Ailey performance at least once in their lifetime. Very rhythmic and stirring.

I went to a salsa class at Alvin Alley American Dance Theater named after the famous dancer Alvin Alley, who died at a very young age. There are many different dance classes at different levels. The beginners class taught by Joe was wonderful. The instructor Joe was very thorough and took his time to explain every step. After class, you will be ready to go out to the clubs dancing.

Awesome classes to refine your dancing skills. Helped me fuse ballet and hip hop.

I've had nothing but great experiences here. The facilities are really lovely, and my teacher (Vic DiMonda, theater dance) is great! Professional yet fun classes, at a great rate (with a discount for performing arts professionals!)
I would highly recommend checking out a class here.

My favorite class here is Ben Byrd's Zumba class, which is like no other. His unique blend of boot camp drill sergeant meets ballroom dancer (with some Krav Maga self defense moves sprinkled in) creates a class that is extremely fun and challenging at the same time. This guy knows his stuff which can be seen by his horde of loyal followers who get up every Saturday and Sunday morning for his brand of torturous fun. I recommend signing up early as his class tends to sell out quickly. I have experienced many Sunday mornings where I am standing in line to check in to class, praying to get one of the last spots to class. I highly recommend this class to anyone who loves to dance and wants to get in some body conditioning as well. Ben will only be at Ailey until the end of March (huge loss to Ailey if you ask me), so catch him there during these last few weeks, or at his Wednesday night 6:30p class at the Ball NY studio on 131 West 35th St - 5th floor.

my first show was 20 plus years ago. I am still in love, thank you. Always the best!!

I regret I took a flight all the way to Frankfurt to see the performance! I live in Bulgaria, I bought a plane ticket, I booked a hotel and I paid 96 Euro for a ticket only to see something that would be perfect to entertain Barack Obama after Sunday mass in church. It was also pretty decent for a family show in Vegas. But this performance had nothing to do with the fantastic photos one can see of the Alvin Ailey amazing jumps. They did not jump at all! Do they use separate jumpers for the photos and the deceiving photos? They did not fly, like on photos - it was more like walking on the stage. The performance was rather mediocre and it was not modern ballet, it was not contemporary, it was nothing.
The difficulty of the performance, rated from 1 to 10, was clearly 1,5.
I saw great looking dancers showing something so simple, it was an insult. Still, I give the show 2 stars, as the moves of the dancers were impeccable.
However, I will never spend another penny more on Alvin Ailey performance even if they come to Bulgaria.

When I saw the posters of Alvin Ailey I realized I was familiar with them. But I never knew they gave dance lessons. I took a free class with Google for salsa. We learned the basic steps and learned how to style our dance. One hour went by fast and we left the class knowing a routine.

i have attended alvin ailey for 4 years in the junior division. it has improved my dancing ability tremendously, especially since i am an aspiring performer. they encourage their students to work harder everyday. I think anyone would enjoy this wonderful school.