Ballet Tech School

- 890 Broadway, New York, NY 10003

For New York City residents seeking an exceptional and completely tuition-free public education that merges academic excellence with intensive professional dance training, the Ballet Tech School, also known as The NYC Public School for Dance (M442), is a truly unique institution. Located in the cultural heart of Manhattan, this secondary school offers students in grades 4 through 8 a rigorous, integrated curriculum unlike any other in the city. The school operates through an unprecedented partnership between the Ballet Tech Foundation and the New York City Department of Education.

The core mission of Ballet Tech is to identify and train talented New York City public school children who might not otherwise have access to high-quality dance instruction. They achieve this by holding annual auditions at hundreds of public elementary schools across all five boroughs. No prior dance training is required for a child to audition—the school looks for raw physical aptitude, musicality, coordination, and a genuine enthusiasm for movement. This commitment to discovering talent regardless of socioeconomic background ensures a highly diverse student body, fostering a supportive community where, as some families note, the school often feels like a "loving family." The small student-teacher ratio and focused environment provide an excellent foundation for both academic and artistic success.

Students who are accepted into the full-time program receive a challenging general education alongside pre-conservatory level ballet and dance training, all under one roof. The school's success is evident in its exceptional student safety and teacher satisfaction scores, and its graduates frequently go on to attend prestigious performing arts high schools or continue dancing at top companies globally.

The Ballet Tech School is situated in a highly desirable and easily accessible area of Manhattan, providing students with proximity to some of New York’s major cultural institutions and transportation hubs.

The main location for The NYC Public School for Dance is at: 890 Broadway, New York, NY 10003, USA.

This address places the school right in the Union Square area, at the corner of 19th Street, a location well-served by numerous subway lines and bus routes, which is essential for students traveling from all five boroughs. The convenience of the location, central yet distinct, supports the school's city-wide enrollment.

Accessibility is a key consideration for the facility, which serves as a public educational institution. The following accessibility feature ensures that the school is welcoming to all students and visitors:

• Wheelchair accessible entrance, making the facility accessible for individuals with mobility challenges.

As a school that serves children in grades 4 through 8, the environment is certified as Good for Kids, and it offers flexibility with payments, accepting debit cards for any non-tuition related fees, although the academic and core dance program is tuition-free.

The services offered by Ballet Tech extend across a full academic curriculum, intensive dance training, and city-wide outreach programs. This comprehensive approach is designed to nurture the whole child—intellectually, physically, and artistically.

The specialized services and programs available include:

• Ballet Tech Across New York (BTANY): A free dance enrichment program that travels to public elementary schools city-wide to introduce 2nd and 3rd graders to basic dance tenets and identify talented students.
• Introduction to Ballet Program: An intensive six-week introductory program held at the 890 Broadway studios for students showing strong aptitude in the BTANY classes, serving as the final audition stage for full-time enrollment.
• Full-Time Classical Ballet and Dance Training: A rigorous daily schedule of dance instruction for enrolled students in grades 4-8, including Ballet Training, Classical Dance Instruction, Technique Classes, Pointe, Allegro, and Modern Dance.
• Diverse Supplementary Dance Arts: The curriculum is broadened to include other disciplines like Jazz Dance, Tap, Theater Dance, and Choreographic Repertory, offering a well-rounded foundation for a dance career.
• Visual Arts and Enrichment Classes: Offering Visual Arts Classes and other forms of Arts Instruction to ensure a comprehensive artistic education beyond pure dance.
• Academic Rigor: Providing a challenging academic curriculum for grades 4-8, with a small student-teacher ratio (approximately 11:1), with a focus on critical thinking, deep text analysis (using programs like Wit and Wisdom), and specialized instructional support services.
• Performance Opportunities: Students are part of the "Kids Dance" student performance troupe, providing regular opportunities to learn choreography and develop performance skills in an annual season at venues like The Joyce Theater.
• Audition Preparation: Offering specialized Audition Prep sessions to eighth-grade students to prepare them for admission to highly competitive performing arts high schools and summer dance programs.
• Online Classes: Providing the flexibility of Online classes in a variety of subjects or formats, a modern amenity that supports student learning and engagement.
• Alumni Program: Offering ongoing classes, professional development, and performance opportunities to graduates, fostering a lifelong connection to the school's community.

The distinctive features of the Ballet Tech School stem from its unique educational model, which balances the discipline of a professional conservatory with the resources and inclusivity of a public school.

Notable highlights for New York families include:

• Tuition-Free, Pre-Conservatory Training: A rare and invaluable feature in New York City, students receive world-class, professional-level dance instruction and all necessary attire at no cost, removing financial barriers to the arts.
• Fully Integrated Education: The academic and dance programs are housed in the same facility, eliminating the transportation logistics and time-drain often associated with separate school and studio schedules, thus making the demanding schedule manageable.
• Exceptional Student Outcomes: Graduates are highly sought after by top performing arts high schools, and alumni have gone on to dance with prestigious companies such as the American Ballet Theatre, Alvin Ailey, New York City Ballet, and Dance Theatre of Harlem.
• High Safety and Supportive Environment: School surveys consistently show very high percentages of students who feel safe and teachers who would recommend the school, with a significantly lower-than-citywide average of chronic absenteeism, reflecting the positive and nurturing atmosphere often described as a “loving family.”
• City-Wide Outreach and Diversity: The unique audition process ensures that the student body is exceptionally diverse, reflecting the full cultural tapestry of New York City and providing a truly representative learning environment.
• Small School Size: With a student body of under 150 students across grades 4-8, the school provides the benefits of individual attention, small class sizes (no more than 24 students), and a close-knit, advisory-group-based approach to education.

For more information on the academic program, audition schedules, or foundation initiatives, interested New York City parents and students can use the following contact details.

Address: 890 Broadway, New York, NY 10003, USA

Phone: (212) 777-7110

Mobile Phone: +1 212-777-7110

For a New York City student with a passion for dance, the Ballet Tech School is undeniably one of the most worthwhile educational choices available. It offers a solution to the classic parental dilemma of balancing a child’s artistic talent with the necessity of a strong academic education. By integrating both into a single, seamless, and tuition-free public school model, it delivers "The Best School Experience" that numerous parents and community members have praised.

The true value proposition of Ballet Tech lies in its profound dedication to equity and quality. It provides an elite, pre-professional ballet foundation that would cost tens of thousands of dollars annually at a private school, yet offers it entirely for free. The small class sizes and the warm, supportive environment—where teachers are seen as "loving parents"—ensure that the demanding curriculum in both dance and academics is met with personalized care and support. Furthermore, the school’s focus on audition preparation ensures students are strategically positioned for admission to high schools, whether they choose a performing arts track or a traditional academic one, having benefited from the discipline and rigor that ballet instills. Choosing Ballet Tech means choosing a diverse, high-achieving, and supportive artistic home for a child's pivotal middle school years.

Ballet Tech School

890 Broadway, New York, NY 10003, USA