Brooklyn has quietly become one of the most dynamic training grounds for ballet in the United States. With Manhattan's soaring studio rents pushing established institutions and experimental choreographers eastward, the borough now offers something rare: world-class instruction without world-class price tags, served alongside the diversity and creative energy that defines New York's most populous borough.
Whether you're a parent seeking pre-professional training for a promising young dancer, an adult returning to the barre, or a serious student auditioning for company contracts, Brooklyn's ballet landscape delivers unexpected depth. Here's where to study, categorized by training focus rather than arbitrary ranking—because the "best" school depends entirely on where you're headed.
Classical & Pre-Professional Powerhouses
Brooklyn Ballet
Founded: 2002 | Neighborhood: Downtown Brooklyn (Brooklyn Heights)
Brooklyn Ballet occupies a unique position as the borough's only professional ballet company with an integrated school, operating from a sun-drenched studio on Schermerhorn Street. Under artistic director Lynn Parkerson, the organization has built its reputation on Vaganova-based classical training filtered through a distinctly Brooklyn lens—accessible, community-rooted, and unafraid of collaboration.
The school's "First Steps" scholarship program deserves particular attention: since 2010, it has provided free training, shoes, and performance opportunities to students from underserved neighborhoods, with several graduates now dancing professionally. Notable alumni include Dashaun Young (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater) and Brittany Pollack (New York City Ballet, via Brooklyn Ballet's early training).
Summer intensives draw students nationally, and the school's annual "Brooklyn Nutcracker"—performed at the Kings Theatre—integrates hip-hop, flamenco, and traditional ballet in a production that sells out annually.
Best for: Students seeking professional-track training with demonstrated commitment to access; those interested in performance opportunities at the student level.
American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School at SAB
Founded: 2014 (Brooklyn location) | Neighborhood: Fort Greene
When the School of American Ballet—George Balanchine's official training academy for New York City Ballet—sought to expand beyond Lincoln Center, Brooklyn was the obvious choice. The Fort Greene location, launched in partnership with the Brooklyn Academy of Music, brings pure Balanchine technique to a borough that had lacked SAB's precise, speed-oriented methodology.
This is pre-professional training at its most rigorous. Students follow SAB's established curriculum, with annual evaluations determining advancement. The payoff is direct: SAB's Brooklyn students audition for NYCB's renowned Winter and Spring Workshops, and several have received company apprenticeships or contracts with NYCB and other Balanchine-repertory companies including Miami City Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet.
Admission is by audition only, with most students entering between ages 8 and 12. The Fort Greene studio—located within the BAM Fisher building—offers professional-grade sprung floors and live accompaniment, amenities rare at any price point.
Best for: Serious young dancers with Balanchine-specific career goals; those who can commit to 15+ hours weekly by age 12.
Contemporary & Modern Crossover
Mark Morris Dance Center
Founded: 2001 | Neighborhood: Fort Greene
Let's be precise: Mark Morris Dance Center is not a ballet school. It is one of America's premier modern dance organizations, home to a internationally touring company and a choreographer whose musicality has redefined contemporary dance. But for ballet dancers seeking to expand their range—or modern dancers needing classical fundamentals—the Center's ballet program offers something invaluable.
Adult ballet classes here are legendary among working dancers for their musicality-focused approach. Faculty including Barbara Mahler (former Graham dancer) and Kathy Westwater teach ballet not as rigid technique but as dynamic, breathing movement. The Center's Dance for PD® program—ballet and modern classes for individuals with Parkinson's disease—has been replicated in 300+ communities worldwide.
For pre-professional students, the School at the Mark Morris Dance Center offers a Modern/Contemporary Track with required ballet fundamentals, producing dancers who move between techniques with uncommon fluency. Alumni include Samuel Black (L.A. Dance Project) and Micaela Taylor (founder, TL Collective).
Best for: Dancers seeking technical breadth; adults returning to training; those interested in somatic approaches to ballet.
Joffrey Ballet School Brooklyn
Founded: 1953 (Brooklyn location: 2010s) | Neighborhood: Williamsburg
The Joffrey name carries weight: Robert Joffrey's company revolutionized American ballet with contemporary repertoire and diverse casting
