Big Apple Ballroom
Pricing
Private instruction · New York City
Looking for group class memberships and punch cards? They have their own page →
How long does this actually take?
It is the real question behind "how much does it cost." Lessons are 45 minutes, and there are honestly two answers — what it takes to get started, and what it takes to feel genuinely good on the floor. For a wedding we work backwards from your date: a great first dance is built, not crammed.
A wedding first dance
15–25 lessons
Four weeks out is about 12 lessons at two or three visits a week — your song, a confident frame, simple and sweet. Eight to ten weeks is about 22, twice a week, with styling, spins and dips. Longer runways get a signature moment and the parent dances.
Dancing at a social
2–3 lessons to walk in
Enough to turn up and dance, and our socials are built for exactly that — teachers and experienced dancers will dance with you from the first night. But walking in is not the same as learning to dance. That takes months of showing up, not a handful of lessons.
Group classes
Weekly, not now and then
$30 to drop in, or unlimited on a VIP membership. A one-off class is a good night out and you are welcome to treat it as one. But nobody learns to dance from the occasional session — the people who get good in group classes are the ones who come every week.
Private lessons
Faster, and a bigger commitment
Privates move at your pace instead of the room’s, so you progress considerably quicker — and they ask more of you, in money and in time. Most people who get good do both: privates to learn it, group classes and socials to make it stick.
Unlimited classes, and every package for less.
Private instruction · New York
VIP · 6-MONTH MEMBERSHIP · CANCEL ANY TIME
$899 · about $150/mo
6 months, paid in full
Unlimited group classes and practice, free socials, a complimentary pair of dance shoes, 20% off every package and 20% off showcases. Group classes are $30 to drop in — the membership pays for itself at about five a month, and most members take two to four a week.
EVERY PACKAGE PRICE BELOW IS YOUR MEMBER PRICEEvery Package Includes
Starter
10 lessons
$1,220
$122 / lesson
SAVE $300Standard $1,520
Explorer
15 lessons
$1,815
$121 / lesson
SAVE $450Standard $2,265
Performer
20 lessons
$2,400
$120 / lesson
SAVE $600Standard $3,000
Mastery
40 lessons
$4,480
$112 / lesson
SAVE $1,120Standard $5,600
| What You Add | Starter | Explorer | Performer | Mastery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple dance styles | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Complimentary pair of dance shoes | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Performance technique | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Natural movement | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Advanced partnering | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Perform at the dance social | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Priority scheduling | — | — | — | ✓ |
All lessons are 45 minutes. Package credits are for private lessons and are separate from group-class credits. Lessons cancelled or rescheduled with less than 24 hours' notice are charged in full.
Before you book
- Do package credits expire?
- Private lesson credits are valid for one year from purchase — and with an active VIP membership, they don't expire at all while your membership stays active. There is no monthly minimum — you use them at whatever pace suits you.
- Am I locked into the membership?
- No. The VIP membership runs in six-month terms and renews automatically, and you can cancel at any time.
- Can my partner and I share a package?
- Yes — a package can be shared between the two of you. Memberships are individual, so you would each need your own, and we have couples pricing for exactly that. Ask us and we will work it out with you.
- Is the membership worth it if I only take a class or two a week?
- At the $30 drop-in rate, the membership pays for itself at about five group classes a month — a little over one a week. Most of our members take two to four, so for them the classes alone are worth well more than the membership costs, before the socials, the shoes or the 20% off packages.
- Do I need a partner?
- No. Most people start on their own, and our group classes rotate partners so nobody sits out.
- What if I have to cancel a lesson?
- Give us more than 24 hours and we will reschedule it, no charge. Inside 24 hours the lesson is charged in full — our instructors hold that time for you.
- What if I am not ready to commit to a package?
- Start with an intro lesson. It is $25, and the fee is waived when you complete our short assessment first. Planning a wedding? Your first lesson is free — no experience needed, any song, any level.