Most people looking to go clubbing in New York City head downtown at night, but there are a few options if you want to dance the night away close to Central Park. Try Columbus 72 on the Upper West Side for top 40 and hip-hop music to dance to.
New York is home to several important dance schools, including the world-renowned Juilliard School, located only a block and a half west of Central Park. The school's dance division offers undergraduate programs providing a Bachelor of Fine Arts or a diploma in dance at the program's completion. Students may also dance at Juilliard as part of the Summer Dance Intensive, a three-week course for modern and ballet dancers between the ages of 15 and 17. For dancers of various ages or those looking to learn different types of dance, schools such as the Manhattan Ballet School, Luigi's Jazz Centre and Ballet Academy East are all positioned close to the park.
If you enjoy getting together with fellow dancers and getting your groove on in a group, the Manhattan Ballroom Society hosts Friday night dance parties at St. Jean Baptiste Church on the Upper East Side near Central Park. The society also offers classes on ballroom, Latin and swing dancing on a regular basis. St. Jean Baptiste Church also hosts the New York Swing Dance Society, which uses the church for its social dances and has a regular dance night there the first Sunday of every month.
New York City is home to several seasonal events for dance lovers, many taking place in and around Central Park. Every Sunday in the summer, the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center at the north end of the Park hosts the Harlem Meer Performance Festival. Attendees listen to great performances of jazz, blues and world music. The location invites picnics and impromptu dancing during sets. In addition to music and dance festivals, several dance schools in Manhattan offer intensive summer programs, including the Ailey School and Ballet Academy East.
