Best Dance Classes in Poughkeepsie, NY

Barefoot welcomes children and adults of all genders, sizes, shapes and backgrounds to dance in a non-competitive environment. Many of our students graduate and major in dance in college and become professional dancers, while others study at Barefoot for recreational purposes. Students come from New Paltz, Gardiner, Highland, Ulster Park, Port Ewen, Marlboro, Kingston, Rosendale, Tillson, Carmel, Saugerties, Rhinebeck, Red Hook, Hyde Park, Woodstock, Clintondale and Poughkeepsie.

Barefoot guides dancers with special attention given to somatic understanding. We encourage our students to work within their own skeletal structures and use muscles efficiently. With healthy placement of bones and joints, muscles work with greater ease, and fewer injuries occur. Students are never asked to over-turnout or to lift their legs unnaturally high, thereby putting unnecessary strain on hip and knee joints. Class discussions include anatomy and the balance between effort and ease. We aim to make dancing a healthy and joyful experience.

Barefoot Dance Center has an annual concert at the end of our spring term. All students may participate in this celebratory event. (If your child wishes to perform, be sure to enroll in a class that has a performance element). Classes throughout the year focus on ensemble work, technique skills and the creative process. We believe that deep and meaningful process-oriented learning experiences lead to unique choreography and confident performers. This philosophy is why we choose to keep classes going for as long as possible before rehearsing for the concert. Most of the pieces performed are created by the students. Other dances are choreographed by the teachers and guest choreographers. Audience members are often impressed by the innovation of the pieces and the genuine performances by our students.