Ailey Extension FAQs
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SIGNING UP FOR CLASS
It's easy to start dancing at Ailey Extension. First, create an Ailey Extension Mindbody account online here or through the Ailey Extension app.
We encourage students to register for class in advance—classes and workshops can and do sell out. Simply sign into Mindbody in our app or on your browser, find your class or workshop, click “Book,” and pay for your class. Please note that class packages are subject to expiration dates upon activation.
Students are also welcome to sign up for class at the Extension Desk at The Joan Weill Center for Dance by paying with card, cash, or contactless payments.
You must be 16 or older to take Ailey Extension classes and workshops.
If your child is not old enough to take our drop-in classes or workshops, we offer Kids & Teens classes for ages 2–3 and 5–17 every Sunday.
Our classes are defined by the following:
- Absolute Beginner (ABS BEG): for students with little to no prior experience or knowledge of the technique.
- Beginner (BEG): for students with a basic understanding of the fundamentals and foundations of the technique.
- Advanced Beginner (ADV BEG): for students with prior experience and a more comprehensive understanding of the technique and vocabulary.
- Intermediate/Advanced (INT/ADV): for students with extensive training and an expansive knowledge of the technique and its proper alignment.
- Open: for students of any level.
If you still aren't sure which class level is right for you, contact us at aileyextension@alvinailey.org.
Many of the classes offered at Ailey Extension are suitable for seniors. We recommend Sarita Allen's Online Restorative Stretches for Adults if you are looking for a slow-paced adaptable fitness class that is specifically focused on increasing mobility and flexibility for older adults.
If you are interested in a particular fitness or dance technique class, we suggest asking an Extension staff member what they think is right for you by emailing aileyextension@ailey.org.
Weekly adult classes are $15 for a single online class and $25 for a single in-studio class. Discounts are available to first-time students and older adult dancers (age 60+), and you can save on all classes by purchasing 3-, 5-, and 10-class packages.
We also offer discounts to employees of our Corporate Donors. To see if your employer participates in our Corporate Donor Program, please visit your company's website.
Workshops and Kids & Teens classes are priced individually. Please visit those pages for specific pricing information.
You can purchase single-, 3-, 5-, and 10-class packages for weekly adult classes as well as pricing options for workshops and Kids & Teens classes through your Ailey Extension Mindbody account.
Please note that after you purchase a pricing option, you must make sure that you sign up for your class or workshop to "assign" your package to your registration in Mindbody. Class cards are subject to expiration upon activation.
You may early cancel an existing weekly adult class reservation up to one hour before class starts for in-studio classes or up to 10 minutes before class starts for online classes. When you early cancel your reservation, your class package will go back into your account for you to use for a future class.
To cancel a reservation, log in to your Ailey Extension Mindbody account here or in our app, navigate to "My Schedule" and click "Cancel" next to the class you do not want to attend. You will receive an automated email confirming your cancellation.
If you late cancel your class reservation after the cancellation window, you will forfeit your spot in class and you are no longer eligible for a refund.
All purchases are non-refundable and non-transferable, including workshops and Kids & Teens classes.
Yes! You can pay for classes for your friend, family member, or another student at any time by purchasing them their own class packages. Students under the age of 18 must have their classes paid for by a parent or guardian.
- Make sure the person you are buying classes for has an Ailey Extension Mindbody account (to create an account for a family member, click the “Profile” section in “My Account” and select “Add Family Member”).
- Find the desired class in the schedule and select the “Sign Up Now” button and log-in to your account when prompted. Once you are logged-in, you’ll come to the Make a Reservation screen where you will have the option of making a reservation for “Myself” or for “Someone Else.”
- Enter the name of the person you are paying for in the search bar. The “Pay for this client?” box will always remain checked. Since packages may not be shared, even if you have a class card, you will not have the option of using any of your active class packages for another client. You must purchase a new class card for the requested client.
- Select the pricing option and add to cart.
Gift cards are also available for purchase both online and in-person at the Extension desk. Learn more how to purchase a gift card.
*Please note that there are no refunds or exchanges, and all classes are non-transferrable and may not be used by another client.
Make-up classes are not offered for any missed Kids & Teens classes. Students may only attend classes for which they are registered—all Ailey Extension purchases are non-refundable.
PREPARING FOR CLASS
In general, we suggest you wear comfortable loose-fitting clothes that you can move in, such as sweats, yoga pants, leotard, t-shirts, tank tops, etc.
For Afro-Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, Capoeira, Dunham, Horton, Graham, Limón, and West African, we suggest you don't wear shoes or socks, just bare feet.
For Afro’Dance and Masala Bhangra, students are welcome to dance barefoot or wear clean sneakers—whatever you are most comfortable in.
For ballet, we suggest ballet shoes, leotards, and tights, or other form-fitting ballet attire.
For hip hop, hip hop cardio, house, and Zumba®, please wear clean street shoes.
For heels, we suggest wearing comfortable, low heels or boots if you do not own a pair of dance heels. You are also welcome to dance barefoot or in clean sneakers.
For jazz and Broadway dance, we suggest you wear jazz shoes or dance sneakers.
For Pilates and yoga, we suggest you don't wear shoes or socks, just bare feet. We recommend practicing on a non-slip yoga or Pilates mat—Ailey Extension does not provide students mats.
For salsa and NY-style mambo, we suggest wearing comfortable low heels, character shoes, or clean sneakers.
For vogue, students are welcome to dance barefoot, wear clean sneakers, or practice in comfortable heels.
For Tiny Steps classes, students and chaperones are encouraged to wear easy-to-move-in clothing and socks or bare feet.
At least 30 minutes before the start of class, you will receive an email from FitGrid (hello@fitgrid.com) with a personalized link to enter the class waiting room on Zoom.
You will be able to join the class 10–15 minutes before it begins, at which point you will be greeted by an Ailey Extension manager to assist you in the waiting room.
We recommend downloading the Zoom app on your computer before your first class. However, there is no need to create an account with Zoom.
The class link will be emailed to you from hello@fitgrid.com within an hour before class. We ask that you please be sure to check your spam and promotions folders, as well as double-check your Mindbody account to make sure you are enrolled in the correct class and your email is listed correctly in your account.
We encourage students to add hello@fitgrid.com to their email contacts.
If you are still unable to locate the email, you can email extensiondesk@ailey.com with the subject line "Online Class Link Help" for assistance.
Yes! A chaperone must be present with the child in order to attend class. Only one chaperone is permitted per student.
THE AILEY STUDIOS
The Ailey Studios, at The Joan Weill Center for Dance, are located at 405 West 55th at 9th Avenue in midtown Manhattan.
We are walking distance from the Columbus Circle subway station (accessible via 1, 2, 3, A, C, B, and D lines) and 57th and 7th Ave. subway station (accessible via N, R, and Q lines). Convenient buses include M30, M31, M57, and M11.
Ailey Extension is open Monday–Friday from 5–8:30pm and Saturday & Sunday from 9am–4pm.
As you enter The Joan Weill Center for Dance, the Extension Desk is directly to your right with clear signage. Our staff will check you in and point you in the right direction of your studio.
Locker rooms and showers are available for daily use on the lower level (LL) if you need to change before class.
Ailey Extension classes are hosted on the lower level (LL), ground floor, 2nd floor, 5th floor, and 6th floor.
Studios are named according to their floor level and position on the floor. A & B studios are to the left and right of the elevators and C & D studios are located down the hallway as you exit the elevator.
If you ever need assistance finding your way around the Ailey Studios, our staff is here to help.
Locker rooms and showers are available on the lower level (LL) for Extension students to change before or after class. Lockers are only available for daily usage and must be cleared out by the end of the day.
We encourage students to bring a water bottle from home. Filtered water stations are available on the lower level (LL), performance entry level (PE), ground floor, 5th, and 6th floors to refill water bottles.
Parents and guardians are not allowed in the studio for Kids & Teens classes except during parent observation week or in Tiny Steps classes.
Parents and guardians are welcome to stay at The Joan Weill Center for Dance for the duration of their child’s class in our Kids & Teens holding lounge. Please ask a staff member to show you to the lounge when you arrive or check the studio schedules to the left of the elevators for the location.
Students will not be permitted into any in-studio class 15 minutes after the beginning of class to help protect your health and the experience of other students in class.
You may early cancel an existing weekly in-studio adult class reservation up to one hour before class starts. When you early cancel your reservation, your class package will go back into your account for you to use for a future class.
To cancel a reservation, log in to your Ailey Extension Mindbody account here or in our app, navigate to "My Schedule" and click "Cancel" next to the class you do not want to attend. You will receive an automated email confirming your cancellation.
If you late cancel your class reservation after the cancellation window, you will forfeit your spot in class and you are no longer eligible for a refund.
AILEY is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive space at The Joan Weill Center for Dance. Please see the list below of accessibilities and accommodations at the Ailey Studios:
- There is a ramp to access the front entrance of the building on 9th avenue. Stairs are available on the 55th street side of the building.
- There are two manual front doors operated by our security team and a revolving door.
- Certified service animals are welcome. Pets are asked to stay outside.
- The Ailey Citigroup Theater and all studios are accessible by elevator and are wheelchair accessible.
- All elevators have braille on their buttons identifying individual floors as well as a spoken voice to identify the floor when the doors open.
- Restrooms and water bottle-refilling stations are available on the lower level
(LL), performance entry level (PE), ground floor, 5th floor, and 6th floor. - Wheelchair accessible restrooms are available on the ground floor and performance entry level (PE). Doors to those restrooms are wave-activated to open on both sides.
- Baby changing stations are available in the men’s restrooms on the ground floor and performance entry (PE) level and the women’s restrooms on the lower level (LL).
- Showers and locker rooms are available on the lower level (LL).
- AILEY provides access to a public a Wi-Fi network for visitors.
If you require a specific accommodation to attend an Ailey Extension class, please email aileyextension@ailey.org or call 212-405-9500.
The Joan Weill Center for Dance is a mask-optional environment. While masks are still encouraged, they are not mandatory for students, faculty, musicians, or staff of Ailey Extension. We continue to monitor case levels, prioritizing the safety of our community. In the event of another COVID-19 surge or a new variant of concern arises, our guidance will adjust accordingly.
Questions?