Afro-Cuban

Journey through African and Caribbean folkloric dance traditions, and expand your understanding of their integral role in the development of American dance. Classes are available to students of all experience levels and include Afro-Cuban and Afro-Cuban Modern techniques.

Featured News Releases

Ailey Extension Celebrates Black History Month With The Launch Of Ailey Legacy On-Demand Series And Themed Workshops

(NEW YORK) February 2, 2022 – In celebration of Black History Month, Ailey Extension is launching Ailey Legacy On-Demand, a series of on-demand workshops taught by the stars of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and presenting a variety of workshops and classes that highlight Black contributions to the world of dance. Each day in February students of all experience levels can explore street styles such as hip-hop and Afro’Dance, dive into Afro-Latin techniques from Cuba and Brazil, and immerse themselves in traditional West African dance with Ailey’s elite instructors either in-studio at the Joan Weill Center for Dance – NYC’s largest building dedicated to dance – or virtually from wherever they are located.

Ailey Extension Kicks Off 2022 With Celebration Of Founder Alvin Ailey, New Weekly Classes, And Free Dance Cardio Workshop

(NEW YORK) January 6, 2022 – Ailey Extension is helping people all around the world kickstart their 2022 resolutions with new workshops and weekly classes to help make movement part of a fun and healthy lifestyle. Throughout January, students of all ages and experience levels will have the chance to explore new dance styles and get started on their fitness goals by getting moving with New York City’s elite instructors. The updated weekly schedule offers dancers ages 16 and up plenty of new opportunities to join in the dance either in-studio at the Joan Weill Center for Dance – NYC’s largest building dedicated to dance – or virtually from wherever they are located. Kids ages 5-11 and teens/tweens ages 12-17 can also get moving with Ailey during the Kids & Teens Sunday Dance Series.

Celebrate Pride And Juneteenth With Special Workshops At Ailey Extension

New York, NY – May 26, 2021 – Ailey Extension is jumping into June with plenty of opportunities for people around the world to join in the Pride festivities. All are welcome to learn moves from NYC Ballroom Vogue Icon and Pioneer Cesar Valentino during an Online Vogue Workshop & Mini Ball on Wednesday, June 23 and weekly All Styles Vogue classes. In addition to celebrating Pride, Ailey is hosting a FREE Online Juneteenth Celebration: West African Class on Saturday, June 19 inviting dancers everywhere to commemorate the anniversary of the liberation of African Americans from slavery in the US. Two new weekly Intermediate Ballet and Afro’Dance classes let dancers expand their skills. Young dancers are also welcome to usher in summer with the Kids & Teens Online Summer Session from June 5 – June 27. All classes and workshops at Ailey Extension are virtual and designed for students of all experience levels.

Featured Press Coverage

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Dance Spirit - The Rhythms of Life

Why do you dance? Because you live it? To compete, to perform, to express yourself? In the Afro-Cuban folkloric tradition, dance is so deeply entwined with music, storytelling, and religion that almost everyone dances, and there's almost always a reason to be dancing. "In life, there are so many celebrations to dance about," says Noibis Licea, an NYC-based dancer and choreographer from Bayamo, Cuba, who graduated from the National School of Arts in Havana.