The first step to enjoying dance is determining which style is right for you. The second step is finding someone to teach you. Tribeca’s first comprehensive dance center, Downtown Dance Factory has a full-floor studio complex at 291 Broadway (at Reade) where your child can choose from a wide variety of dance styles, ballet to tap to hip hop. The full menu is below. But don’t drag your feet! The semester begins next Friday, September 16, and classes are filling up. Register here or by calling 212-962-1800.

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BALLET
Headed up by former New York City Ballet ballerina Jessica Flynn, the ballet program starts with KindiBallet classes for 3-and-4-year-olds and progresses through to 4th graders. Strong technique is encouraged—this is ballet, after all—but within a creative and encouraging environment.

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JAZZ / HIP HOP FUSION
If your child dreams of dancing her way onto MTV, this is the class. Combining technical aspects of jazz dance with modern hip hop elements, it explores the style of dance used in present-day video clips, movies, and on dance floors everywhere—within the bounds of what’s age-appropriate! There’s also KindiHop! for preschoolers and the edgier street hip hop for pre-teens and teens.

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LYRICAL
DDF added this modern/interpretive dance style to its program just last year, but after the class’s beautiful recital performance, demand has soared: The program has quadrupled, giving students from 2nd through 6th grade the opportunity to express themselves.

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TADA! MUSICAL THEATER
DDF is thrilled to offer musical theater classes again this year, run by the award-winning Tada! Youth Theater group. Expect lots of fun singing, dancing, and acting, culminating with a semester-end presentation.

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BOYS PROGRAM
With five sons between them, DDF’s co-founders were adamant that a boys program be an integral part of the offerings. The all-boy classes see close to 100 boys come through the doors of DDF each week. Hip hop, breakdancing, funk—these boys rock.

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TAP
Tap is also a relatively new dance style at DDF, and they can hardly keep up with demand. With KindiCombo (ballet/tap combination) classes for preschoolers and tap for big kids too, it’s a great way to discover your inner rhythm—and make a great big noise!

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TUTU TOTS
DDF’s youngest dancers are the two-year-old TutuTotters. Students and their caregivers are exposed to a “tasting menu” of dance styles—ballet, jazz/hip hop, creative movement, fun dance-based games, and most importantly, a large dose of imagination!

Photographs by Angela Weir. This post was sponsored by Downtown Dance Factory.