Adult Dance Classes – More Than a Trend

Adult dance classes have exploded on social media this year! Everyone from influencers to everyday people have been fulfilling their childhood dreams by returning to dance or trying it for the first time in adulthood. However, for the regulars at Ailey Extension, this is more than a trend. It has been a years-long passion.  

How It All Began 

Meet Alisoun Price, Naliah Roberts, and Catalina Mendoila, who all started taking class at Ailey Extension between 2019 and 2022, and have been coming regularly ever since. All three trace their inspiration for wanting to dance back to when they saw Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. For Naliah and Catalina, the desire to dance went back even further—both wanted to dance as children but lacked access and the resources to pursue it. For them, coming to Ailey Extension was the first time they unlocked a dream they didn’t know was possible.

Dance is Wellness

For Alisoun, taking classes at Ailey Extension has done wonders for her physical and mental health. As she gets older, she feels like it is important to continue moving her body. She says, “It makes everything better.” Catalina agrees, saying that dance is a “wonderful way to stimulate everything.” When you dance, you are strengthening your body and your brain. Dance engages the whole brain because you must use memory, spatial awareness, and creativity all at the same time.

The Community of Ailey Extension 

Besides the exercise and amazing opportunities at Ailey Extension, the community aspect keeps students coming back. Catalina, Alisoun, and Naliah have built a circle of friends who show up regularly to classes. Alisoun says, “It’s something special about dance friends.” Alisoun and her group of friends get dinner after class or see performances together. Similarly, Naliah says that “dance feeds everyone’s spirit,” while Catalina explains that the “shared reverence and joy for Ailey” is what binds the community together.

From Studio to Stage 

Students at Ailey Extension also get the chance to perform, ranging from adult performance workshops to professional productions. Catalina and Nailah were both selected to perform in Matthew Rushing’s Sacred Songs for the grand opening of the Edges of Ailey exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art. During Catalina’s childhood dance was out of reach due to financial barriers and having the opportunity to perform healed part of her inner child. Her entire family flew in to watch her perform, and in that moment, she realized dancing wasn't an eliminated childhood dream, but one she had discovered in adulthood. Nailah expressed that performing Sacred Songs was an unforgettable experience, one that deepened the community she already found at Ailey Extension.

Come Take Class 

All three students remember the feeling of hesitation before their first class, feeling shy, scared, or like they didn't belong in the room. But as Naliah put it, “The stereotypes in dance do not matter at Ailey.” Alisoun agrees, “Ailey is a perfect place to start.” Ailey Extension classes range from absolute beginner to advanced, and welcome people from all backgrounds, statuses, and abilities. There truly is a class for everyone. Naliah’s advice for first timers who have the jitters is to bring a friend to class with you.

So whether you're thinking of taking your very first dance class or getting back into it after years off, know that you too have a place at Ailey Extension!