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Dance Studios

American Ballroom Dance Studio

25 W. 31st St., nr. Fifth Ave., fourth fl.; 212-244-8400; pierredulaine.com

Pierre Dulaine heads up the staff at this time-tested school. Just eight instructors teach the classes, which cover all the standard styles. After a half-hour initial free consultation, couples can take five, ten, or twenty private one-hour lessons (prices upon request).

Ballroom on Fifth

37 W. 37th St., nr. Fifth Ave., second fl.; 212-532-6232; ballroomonfifth.com

With a staff of professional champions, Ballroom on Fifth offers several wedding packages: three one-hour-long “emergency” couples lessons for $260, five for $445, and ten for $850. They’ll also customize a plan incorporating semiprivate classes for you or your entire wedding party.

Ballroom Wedding Dance

37 W. 26th St., nr. Sixth Ave., ninth fl.; 917-375-3027; ballroomweddingdance.com

Director Peter Jones recommends that brides-to-be and their grooms begin lessons at least three to four months in advance of the wedding date. Jones has more than 20 years of experience as an instructor, specializing in fox-trot, rumba, and swing. This 5,000-square-foot studio, with a main dancing floor and four side studios, targets social dancers as well as beginners.

Billings Jones Dance

212-866-7750; biljonsdance.com

Husband and wife Sarah Billings and Richard Jones have been offering private lessons and classes for groups for more than a decade. A standard wedding package includes six 55-minute lessons ($415). They don’t like to choreograph dances per se, but will with sufficient time. Their hourly rate is $75.

Champions Dance Studio

257 W. 39th St., nr. Eighth Ave., fourteenth fl.; 212-307-7707; championsdance.com

Whether you want to cha-cha, trot, or swing into marriage, Champions Dance Studio has the right kind of packages to get you on your feet. Its basic program costs $300 and buys five couple’s lessons with a private instructor. Here, you can also find help coordinating your first dance.

Dance Chelsea

127 W. 25th St., nr. Sixth Ave., fourth fl.; 917-606-0289; dancechelsea.com

Private, personal lessons make this west side studio a great place to learn ballroom and Latin dancing. From the fox-trot to meringue, salsa and swing, they know the steps that will prepare couples for the big day. Each lesson lasts 50 minutes, and wedding packages start at $90 for one lesson, $415 for five, and $820 for ten.

Dance Manhattan Ballroom Swing & Latin Studio

39 W. 19th St., nr. Fifth Ave., fifth fl; 212-807-0802; dancemanhattan.com

This school teaches all the standard styles in both private and group settings and offers a crash-course option if time is of the essence. They’ll even send instructors to your reception if you’d like them to teach your guests—or just perform. Hour-long group lessons for two cost $75 per person per four-week session. There are also five- and ten-lesson wedding packages (from $375).

Dance New York

237 W. 54th St., nr. Broadway, third fl.; 212-246-5797; dancenewyork.com

This ballroom and Latin-dance studio offers group and private lessons as well as practice-studio rental. The wedding package ($395) includes five private lessons and a onetime private-room rental for extra practice. Additional private classes run about $85 each per couple, and the school is happy to teach styles like hip-hop and quick-step.

Dance Times Square

156 W. 44th St., nr. Broadway, third fl.; 212-994-9500; dancetimessquare.com

Owned and operated by former U.S. Latin-dance champions Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin, this dance facility specializes in teaching cha-cha, samba, rumba, mambo, tango, and swing. Wedding packages include five private 50-minute lessons ($525) and another package of ten ($1,000) taught by world-class instructors on staff.

Empire Dance

127 W. 25th St., nr. Sixth Ave., eleventh fl.; 212-645-2441; empiredance.com

Word-of-mouth sends hundreds of couples to this five-room Chelsea studio, which has played host to Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, and the Black Eyed Peas. Empire’s skilled instructors aim to lend a couple’s wedding-day turn a natural ease—whether it’s a showstopping choreographed tango or an informal twirl around the dance floor. Private one-hour packages start from four lessons ($320) to twenty ($1,400).

Fred Astaire Dance Studios

212-595-3200; fredastairemanhattan.com

Founded in 1947 by the legend himself, this national chain is consistently ranked as one of the best. They offer a special wedding program run by competitive dancers who can teach you everything from the tango to the West Coast swing. Introductory packages—two private lessons and a practice party—start at just $75 per couple.

Manhattan Ballroom Society

310 E. 42nd St., at Second Ave.; 917-734-4778; manhattanballroom.net

Manhattan Ballroom Society understands that couples aspire to a first dance that’s elegant and sophisticated. That’s why their instructors can choreograph an easy routine that even two sets of left feet can master. The instructors will also help you with other wedding-day dances: the fox-trot, the waltz, the salsa, etc. Eight weeks of classes cost $155 per person.

NY Wedding Dance

1261 Broadway, nr. 32nd St., Ste. 510; 212-904-1114; nyweddingdance.com

Veering outside the strict perimeters of the typical wedding fox-trots or waltzes, instructors work with clients to choreograph their first dance. Their goal is to make you look like you haven’t had lessons. They offer packages: six sessions for $510, ten for $820, and fifteen for $1,200. House calls are $135 per session.

Paul Pellicoro's DanceSport

22 W. 34th St., nr. Fifth Ave.; 212-307-1111; dancesport.com

This popular studio, which has boasted clients like Al Pacino and Vanessa Williams, has been one of the city’s biggest since it opened in 1985. They offer impressive wedding packages ($665 to $1,040) that include a personal consultant, unlimited practice sessions, group classes for wedding couples, private lessons, music consultation and editing, a pre-party group class, and a complimentary rehearsal video.

Sandra Cameron Dance Center

199 Lafayette St., nr. Broome St.; 212-431-1825; sandracameron.com

Founder Sandra Cameron has won every major International Style dance competition in the United States. You can get a private lesson for $85 per couple per hour or opt for a four-week group class for $85 per person. The wedding package includes a four-week group course and three private lessons ($375).

Soho Dance

598 Broadway, at Houston St.; 212-226-6767; sohodancestudio.com

The dance instructors pride themselves on helping uncertain couples find the beat. Although they can do a crash course in a week, they recommend three months of rehearsals. Choose six sessions for $495, ten sessions for $800, or twenty sessions for $1,550.

WeddingDayDance

520 Eighth Ave., at W. 36th St. 939 Eighth Ave., nr. W. 54th St.; 917-796-4960; weddingdaydance.com

This small, affordable center focuses on professional ballroom and Latin American dance. All instruction is conducted in private rooms. Consultations last a half hour and cost $30, while one private lesson costs $80 per hour. The wedding packages start at $225 for three lessons, $350 for five. Their instructors also make house calls.

Zack's Dance Loft

37 E. 28th St., nr. Madison Ave., Ste. 206; 212-731-9632; zacksdanceloft.com

Dance instructor Zack Engel was recently chosen by New York as offering the city’s “Best Dance-With-the-Stars Lessons,” and with good reason. The Israeli’s private lessons are looser and far more fun than the average studio class. Lessons open with a drink to set the mood, and include as much conversation as salsa. He also often videotapes couples so they can see their errors. He’ll even take small groups out to clubs, where he’ll scan the floor for dancers to match his students’ skill level. A one-hour lesson is $79.

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