The Dance Loft

Intermediate and advanced ballet dancers who successfully develop the required strength and control may be invited by our ballet faculty to begin training in pointe. Pointe work involves dancing in a hard shoe that facilitates a dancer working on top of her toes and requires extensive ballet training. Pointe work assists students in the further strengthening of their foot and ankle muscles and culminates in the development of long, strong lines. Many of our students who train in pointe have been accepted by highly respected summer programs like Joffrey and American Ballet Theater .

This is a conditioning class that includes a full body workout to help students improve their overall technique and help them build a strong base towards the physical requirements of the dance world and the different genres. This class will focus on strength, flexibility, mobility and breathing technique, with emphasis on posture and core strength. Students will learn how to stabilize their body while mobilizing it through the work of their deep core muscles. We will also focus on proper body alignment and help each student gain a better awareness of their own body and its movements, especially how to access and isolate certain muscles and joints. In the PBT portion of the class we will put emphasis on how to correctly achieve turn-out, adductors strength and flexibility, and how to articulate and properly point feet, so students can implement that knowledge better in their other classes and performances on stage. The work that is being done in Pilates/ PBT is mostly floor, barre work, and center, and we will also use props to help “find” those muscles that need to be activated or stabilized throughout the workout. Ideally, we will educate and prepare the dancer’s mind and body better, and provide them with knowledge they can apply on their dance journey.

This class is designed for 5 and 6-year-old students who love to dance, demonstrate potential, and who may want to join our award-winning competition team when they are a bit older. This class will provide your child with an excellent technical foundation and an appreciation for the artistry that The Dance Loft is known for throughout Long Island. For those of you who might be a bit nervous about the idea of 'competition', please rest assured that by taking this class students are in no way obligated to join our competition team the following year. It is simply a means for our students with promise to begin training at a bit of a higher level while still having a great time in class! In this 1.25 hour format, students will be training weekly in ballet to establish their technique, and they will study jazz and tap on a rotating basis. By year's end, we expect that students will have a solid foundation in all three genres.

Tap is a fun, upbeat form of dance that emphasizes excellent rhythmic awareness. Classes begin with a thorough warm-up engaging the brain and body while focusing on coordination, rhythm, weight shift, and articulation. Technical exercises in the center and across the floor challenge students both physically and mentally, and our instructors break down complex footwork so that students are able to follow and execute movements with clear sounds, smooth transitions, and musicality. Tap is an excellent choice for students of all ages, from our youngest dancers through adults.

Our specialized ‘Musical Theatre’ class will build upon jazz technique and focus on the storytelling element of Broadway-style dance. Additionally, students will work on vocal performance, and this class will culminate in a recital piece that includes live singing (with microphones) and Broadway-style dance. Musical Theatre is open to all TDL students and is highly encouraged for members of our sister program, Professional Youth Theatre.

Lyrical dance began as an offshoot of jazz dance and was originally termed ‘lyrical jazz’. For that reason, lyrical is considered a fusion of ballet and jazz, with expressive movements that aims to tell a story. Modern dance draws on several well-established techniques (Horton, Graham, Cunningham, Limon, etc.), and contemporary dance builds on elements of modern to include athletic floor work and innovative gestural movements. A unique trait of the lyrical/contemporary/modern genre is the emotional connection and storytelling brought to life through the movement. If your child is looking for a means of physical expression, these genres will be an excellent fit for them!

Designed specifically for students ages 2.5 to 4, this is a wonderful option for students transitioning from our Dance With Me class or just beginning their dance journey. Students will engage in a variety of dance styles (ballet, tap, and jazz) as well as creative dance games and activities that will enhance their motor skill development and foster an appreciation for movement. Students will perform in our end-of-year recital!

Jazz is a highly stylized genre that incorporates classical technique, Broadway elements, and street styles. Our jazz classes emphasize proper technical development, alignment, and movement quality. Classes include engaging warm-ups, isolations, stretches, across-the-floor progressions, and choreography combinations. These classes are for dancers who enjoy precision and rhythm, physical challenges, and personal style and expression. Set to a variety of fun, engaging, and age-appropriate music, jazz classes are a great workout and are fun for all ages!

A fun class for all levels, combining athletic movements and energetic, upbeat music. Hip Hop encompasses many different urban dance styles like popping, locking, waving, breaking, and gliding. Classes starts off with a guided warm up and stretch, isolation work, and basic grooves. A major emphasis in hip-hop is musicality. Students will not only learn how to count music but will also become skilled at listening for different elements and rhythms within the instrumentation (i.e. the base, snare, horns, synthesizers, vocals, etc.). As combinations in the class are taught, each step is broken down slowly to ensure that students understand the full scope of the movement. The result is a fun and dynamic form of dance for all ages and abilities!

A developmental class focusing on child participation designed for dancers under the age of 3 and their caregivers. Unlike standard ‘mommy and me’ dance classes, this class utilizes a variety of modalities to keep our students engaged—developmentally appropriate music, movement, instruments, puppets, props, and even special guests (professional musicians and puppeteers!). This class offers an environment for children to grow, both individually and socially, in a dance class setting. Activities will explore gross motor skill development and rhythmic awareness. This class is a wonderful introduction to dance and will help transition our students into dance classes on their own!

The Dance Loft is home to our unique and accomplished competition program. For dancers ages 5 to 18 interested in elevating their training to the next level and committing to dance as their primary after-school activity, we invite parents to get in touch with us to see if our competition program might be the right fit for your child. The “Dance Loft Difference” is something that our families notice and appreciate—rather than exploiting students with meaningless tricks and skimpy costumes, our professional faculty members emphasize the artistry of dance through innovative, meaningful choreography and tasteful costumes. We look forward to our competition season as a vehicle for our students to practice and refine their craft, not just as an opportunity for them to “win”. If you are interested in our competition program, please email danceloftlb@gmail.com for more information!

For our students who are ready to separate from their caregivers, we offer a variety of ‘combination classes’ that explore multiple genres during each hour of class, providing our students with a stimulating introduction to the joys of dance! Combination formats include Ballet/Tap, Ballet/Jazz, Jazz/Tap, Jazz/Hip-Hop, and Tumbling/Jazz. These classes lay the foundation for correct, safe, and successful dancing while still creating a fun and engaging environment for our youngest dancers to learn and grow. Along with the introduction of basic steps and terminology, our qualified instructors (who specialize in early childhood education and dance) continue to foster creativity through imaginative games. Dancers in our combo classes receive a well-rounded dance education that focuses on flexibility, coordination, rhythm, and classroom socialization.

Ballet is the foundation of most dance forms. This beautiful and physically challenging technique is a necessity for all young, aspiring dancers and continues to serve dancers through their formative developmental years and well into adulthood. Beginning classes focus on classroom etiquette, proper placement, and body alignment. As students advance, training encourages greater precision, a quickness and lightness of movement, the ability to cover space with ease and grace, and a refined carriage of the body. Each class will include an extensive classical barre, center floor work (adagio, petit allegro, etc.), and across-the-floor combinations (turns, grand allegro, etc.). Classes are available for both children and adults.

A style that combines basic acrobatic and gymnastic skills with dance, improving strength, flexibility and balance. Young students will begin with basic movements such as log rolls, forward rolls, cartwheels, and beginner balances. More advanced students will continue to add to their repertoire with moves like walkovers, aerials, handsprings, and tucks. Instructors are trained to provide every student with the necessary instruction and skill to ensure that students are developing their acrobatic skills in a safe way. Unlike traditional gymnastics classes with apparatuses, our classes focus on mat work only, providing students with the necessary skills to incorporate acrobatic movements into a dance.

School year classes - September 3, 2025 through June 20, 2026. Includes mandatory onstage rehearsal and recitals.

Specific dates/times of rehearsals will be coordinated by Ms. Beth

The Dance Loft is one of the only dance studios on Long Island offering multiple genres and levels of adult dance training from top dance professionals in the industry. Pop by for a drop-in class or sign up for the month and receive a significant discount on tuition.

The Dance Loft is one of the only dance studios on Long Island offering multiple genres and levels of adult dance training from top dance professionals in the industry. Pop by for a drop-in class or sign up for the month and receive a significant discount on tuition.

The Dance Loft is one of the only dance studios on Long Island offering multiple genres and levels of adult dance training from top dance professionals in the industry. Pop by for a drop-in class or sign up for the month and receive a significant discount on tuition.

The Dance Loft is one of the only dance studios on Long Island offering multiple genres and levels of adult dance training from top dance professionals in the industry. Pop by for a drop-in class or sign up for the month and receive a significant discount on tuition.

The Dance Loft is one of the only dance studios on Long Island offering multiple genres and levels of adult dance training from top dance professionals in the industry. Pop by for a drop-in class or sign up for the month and receive a significant discount on tuition.