We are so excited to welcome you to swim lessons, instructional sports, dance and more.


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Spring I Programming starts February 26!
Member registration opens Saturday, February 10 and community registration opens Saturday, February 17. Session availability varies by branch location. Explore your branch offerings today and Join the Y today for early access and discounts!


Youth Instructional Sports, Dance & Community Arts

Need Help?

For more information, please contact Program Director, Anisya Reese.  Please note that classes are not refundable or transferable.

Basketball Clinic, Ages 3-12

A clinic that will allow young people to develop their basketball skill while building relationships. The clinic will not include physical contact.  Please choose the offering according to skill level – beginner, intermediate and advanced. Bring your own basketball with your name on it, filled water bottle and towel (optional).  We will provide basketballs for those who do not have their own. All programs will be modified to allow for additional safety precautions including ensuring social distancing as appropriate.

 

(Age 3-5 years)

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(Age 6-8 years)

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(Age 9-12 years)

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Jin Sei Ryu Karate, Ages 4-12

Jin Sei Ryu Karate develops physical conditioning, mental awareness and self-defense strategies. Students will learn to develop speed, power, focus, and balance. 

Pee Wee (Age 4-5 years)

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Junior (Age 6-8 years)

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Youth (Age 9-12 years)

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Ballet, Ages 3-6

This ballet class is perfect for young dancers of any skill level. This class will be tailored to each student's abilities, while challenging them through classical barre exercises, across-the -floor combinations, and creative play. Dancers will learn basic ballet positions, balances, port-de-bras, short variations, and modes of expression form the classical canon. 

(Age 3-5 years)

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 (Age 4-6 years)

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Youth Hip Hop, Ages 3-12

A form of fast-paced dance combining strength, energy, rhythm and coordination with multiple funky, upbeat steps and jams.

Register

Intro to Theater, Ages 4-6

Introductory theater course for beginners to build confidence, vocabulary and skills for theatre making.  Learnings include stage directions, script reading, character arc, emotive action and more. Low pressure and lots of fun!

 

Register

Characters Theater Class

Introductory theatre course for beginners to build confidence, vocabulary and skills for theatre making. Learnings include developing a character, learning the basics of creating a monologue and developing their own monologue for their character. This class is a combo of comedy, acting and script writing 


Instructor: Alyson Kloster

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Ceramics, Ages 5-8

A fun clay class designed especially for this age group. Children will explore the entire clay process including making, glazing and firing their work. Projects include boxes, lanterns, wall reliefs, mugs and sculptures.

Instructor: Sybil Costello

Register

Improv, Ages 9-12

Embark on a confidence-boosting journey into the world of improvisational theatre with our Introductory Improv Class, tailored for beginners. This course combines comedy, acting, and scriptwriting to provide a  approach to performance art. Participants will engage in character-building exercises, learn the basics of crafting a compelling monologue, and enjoy interactive sessions fostering spontaneous creativity. Conclude the course with a showcase, inviting friends and family to witness the joy of self-discovery and performance.

Instructor: Alyson Kloster

Register

Isadora Duncan Dance Class, Ages 10-13 years

"Dance Fusion: A Creative Movement Experience" is an invigorating and free-flowing art form suitable for all ages. Kick off the class with gentle floor warm-ups, paving the way for a seamless transition to ballet barre exercises. As participants progress, they'll engage in graceful flow and expressive dance combinations, fostering both technique and creativity. Join us for a harmonious blend of structured movement and artistic freedom, creating a vibrant space for individuals of all ages to explore the joy of dance.

Instructor: Lori Belilove

Register

Adult Artworks and Writer's Voice Classes

For Adult Artworks and Writer's Voice classes,
please visit our new page!

 

Classes for Adults

Swim Lessons, Parents & Child

Need Help?

For more information, please contact Aquatics Director, Melanie Torres, at torresm@ymcanyc.org. Please note that classes are not refundable or transferable. Make up classes will be scheduled upon availability if the classes is not fully booked. Please contact Melanie to for make up inquiries. 

Stage A: Water Discovery, Ages 6-18 months
  • Class length: 30 minutes
  • Qualification: None needed 
  • Adult participation: One parent or guardian per child must be in the pool for each lesson

The class introduces infants and toddlers to the aquatic environment through exploration.
 
 

Register

Stage B: Water Exploration, Ages 12-36 months
  • Class length: 30 minutes
  • Qualification: Child is comfortable in the water or child has taken Stage A Water Discovery
  • Adult participation: One parent or guardian per child must be in the pool for each lesson

Focuses on exploring body positions, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills.

 

Register

Stage 1 Water Acclimation with Parent, Ages 2.5-5
  • Class length: 30 minutes
  • Qualification: None needed. This class is for kids who aren’t yet comfortable going under water voluntarily.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Bob to submerge in water
    ○ Front and back glide to the wall for 5 feet with no help
    ○ Front and back float for 10 seconds with help
    ○ Roll from back to front and front to back with help
    ○ Jump, push, turn, grab with help
    ○ Swim, float, swim 10 feet with help
    ○ Exit the water

Preschoolers develop comfort with underwater exploration and are introduced to basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance.

 

Register

 

Swim Lessons, Preschool

Stage 1 Water Acclimation, Ages 3-5
  • Class length: 30 minutes
  • Qualification: None needed. This class is for kids who aren’t yet comfortable going under water voluntarily.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Bob to submerge in water
    ○ Front and back glide to the wall for 5 feet with no help
    ○ Front and back float for 10 seconds with help
    ○ Roll from back to front and front to back with help
    ○ Jump, push, turn, grab with help
    ○ Swim, float, swim 10 feet with help
    ○ Exit the water

Preschoolers develop comfort with underwater exploration and are introduced to basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance.

 

Register

Stage 2 Water Movement, Ages 3-5
  • Class length: 30 minutes
  • Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 1 skills as follows:
    ○ Go underwater and comfortably open eyes without goggles
    ○ Float on front and back with minimal assistance
    ○ Jump into the pool, submerge, and return to the wall with assistance
    ○ This class is for kids who are not able to do a front and back float on their own.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Submerge to look at an object on the bottom of the pool
    ○ Front and back glide to the wall for 5 feet
    ○ Front and back float for 10 seconds
    ○ Roll from back to front and front to back
    ○ Jump, push, turn, grab
    ○ Swim, float, swim 5 yards
    ○ Tread water near the wall for 10 seconds
    ○ Exit the water

Preschoolers focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water, while also continuing to practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into water.

Register

Stage 3 Water Stamina, Ages 3-5
  • Class length: 30 minutes
  • Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 2 skills as follows:
    ○ Float on front and back unassisted
    ○ Push off the wall on stomach with face submerged for 10 feet unassisted
    ○ Swim, float, swim 15 feet unassisted
    ○ Jump into deep water and return to the wall unassisted
    ○ This class is for kids who are not able to swim 10-15 yards on their front and back.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Retrieve an object in chest-deep water
    ○ Swim on front and back for 10 yards
    ○ Roll from back to front and front to back
    ○ Jump, push, turn, grab 10 yards
    ○ Swim, float, swim 15 yards
    ○ Tread water for 30 seconds
    ○ Exit the water

Preschoolers learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages. The class also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm/leg action.

 

Register

Swim Lessons, School Age, Teens & Adults

Stage 1 Water Acclimation, Ages 5-12
  • Class length: 30 minutes
  • Qualification: None needed. This class is for kids who aren’t yet comfortable going under water voluntarily.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Bob to submerge in water
    ○ Front and back glide to the wall for 5 feet with no help
    ○ Front and back float for 10 seconds with help
    ○ Roll from back to front and front to back with help
    ○ Jump, push, turn, grab with help
    ○ Swim, float, swim 10 feet with help
    ○ Exit the water

Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and are introduced to basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance.

 

Register

Stage 1 Water Acclimation, Ages 12+ and Adults
  • Class length: 45 minutes
  • Qualification: None needed. This class is for kids who aren’t yet comfortable going under water voluntarily.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Bob to submerge in water
    ○ Front and back glide to the wall for 5 feet with no help
    ○ Front and back float for 10 seconds with help
    ○ Roll from back to front and front to back with help
    ○ Jump, push, turn, grab with help
    ○ Swim, float, swim 10 feet with help
    ○ Exit the water

Student develops comfort with underwater exploration and are introduced to basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance.

 

Register

Stage 2 Water Movement, Ages 5-12
  • Class length: 30 minutes
  • Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 1 skills as follows:
    ○ Go underwater and comfortably open eyes without goggles
    ○ Float on front and back with minimal assistance
    ○ Jump into the pool, submerge, and return to the wall with assistance
    ○ This class is for kids who are not able to do a front and back float on their own.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Submerge to look at an object on the bottom of the pool
    ○ Front and back glide to the wall for 5 feet
    ○ Front and back float for 10 seconds
    ○ Roll from back to front and front to back
    ○ Jump, push, turn, grab
    ○ Swim, float, swim 5 yards
    ○ Tread water near the wall for 10 seconds
    ○ Exit the water

Students focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water, while also continuing to practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into water.

 

Register

Stage 2 Water Movement, Ages 12+ and Adults
  • Class length: 45 minutes
  • Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 1 skills as follows:
    ○ Go underwater and comfortably open eyes without goggles
    ○ Float on front and back with minimal assistance
    ○ Jump into the pool, submerge, and return to the wall with assistance
    ○ This class is for kids who are not able to do a front and back float on their own.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Submerge to look at an object on the bottom of the pool
    ○ Front and back glide to the wall for 5 feet
    ○ Front and back float for 10 seconds
    ○ Roll from back to front and front to back
    ○ Jump, push, turn, grab
    ○ Swim, float, swim 5 yards
    ○ Tread water near the wall for 10 seconds
    ○ Exit the water

Students focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water, while also continuing to practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into water.

 

Register

Stage 3 Water Stamina, Ages 5-12
  • Class length: 30 minutes
  • Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 2 skills as follows:
    ○ Float on front and back unassisted
    ○ Push off the wall on stomach with face submerged for 10 feet unassisted
    ○ Swim, float, swim 15 feet unassisted
    ○ Jump into deep water and return to the wall unassisted
    ○ This class is for kids who are not able to swim 10-15 yards on their front and back.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Retrieve an object in chest-deep water
    ○ Swim on front and back for 10 yards
    ○ Roll from back to front and front to back
    ○ Jump, push, turn, grab 10 yards
    ○ Swim, float, swim 15 yards
    ○ Tread water for 30 seconds
    ○ Exit the water

Students learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages. The class also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm/leg action.

 

Register

Stage 3 Water Stamina, Ages 12+ and Adults
  • Class length: 45 minutes
  • Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 2 skills as follows:
    ○ Float on front and back unassisted
    ○ Push off the wall on stomach with face submerged for 10 feet unassisted
    ○ Swim, float, swim 15 feet unassisted
    ○ Jump into deep water and return to the wall unassisted
    ○ This class is for kids who are not able to swim 10-15 yards on their front and back.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Retrieve an object in chest-deep water
    ○ Swim on front and back for 10 yards
    ○ Roll from back to front and front to back
    ○ Jump, push, turn, grab 10 yards
    ○ Swim, float, swim 15 yards
    ○ Tread water for 30 seconds
    ○ Exit the water

 

Students learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages. The class also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm/leg action.

 

Register

Stage 4 Stroke Introduction, Ages 5-12
  • Class length: 45 minutes
  • Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 3 skills as follows:
    ○ Submerge and retrieve an object in chest-deep water
    ○ Swim front crawl 15 yards while taking a breath
    ○ Swim, float, swim 15 yards
    ○ Jump in and tread water for 30 seconds
    ○ Swim to wall and exit
    ○ This class is for kids who are not able to swim 15 yards of front and back crawl.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Swim the front crawl with rotary breathing for 15 yards
    ○ Breaststroke kick for 15 yards
    ○ Butterfly kick for 15 yards
    ○ Elementary backstroke for 15 yards
    ○ Dive from a sitting position
    ○ Tread water using a scissor and whip kick for one minute
    ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 25 yards

Having mastered the fundamentals, students learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique.

 

Register

Stage 4 Stroke Introduction, Ages 12+ and Adults
  • Class length: 45 minutes
  • Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 3 skills as follows:
    ○ Submerge and retrieve an object in chest-deep water
    ○ Swim front crawl 15 yards while taking a breath
    ○ Swim, float, swim 15 yards
    ○ Jump in and tread water for 30 seconds
    ○ Swim to wall and exit
    ○ This class is for kids who are not able to swim 15 yards of front and back crawl.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Swim the front crawl with rotary breathing for 15 yards
    ○ Breaststroke kick for 15 yards
    ○ Butterfly kick for 15 yards
    ○ Elementary backstroke for 15 yards
    ○ Dive from a sitting position
    ○ Tread water using a scissor and whip kick for one minute
    ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 25 yards

Having mastered the fundamentals, students learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique.

 

Register

Stage 5 Stroke Development, Ages 5-12
  • Class length: 45 minutes
  • Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 4 skills as follows:
    ○ Front crawl and back crawl 25 yards
    ○ Swim breaststroke kick and dolphin kick 15 yards
    ○ Tread water using multiple kicks for 1 minute
    ○ This class is for kids who are not able swim the front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke across the pool.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Swim the front crawl with bent-arm recovery for 25 yards
    ○ Breaststroke for 25 yards
    ○ Butterfly with simultaneous arm action and kick for 15 yards
    ○ Back crawl for 25 yards
    ○ Sidestroke for 25 yards
    ○ Dive from a kneeling position
    ○ Tread water using a scissor and whip kick for 2 minutes
  • ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 50 yards

Students work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive swimming strokes.

 

Register

Stage 5 Stroke Development, Ages 12+ and Adults
  • Class length: 45 minutes
  • Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 4 skills as follows:
    ○ Front crawl and back crawl 25 yards
    ○ Swim breaststroke kick and dolphin kick 15 yards
    ○ Tread water using multiple kicks for 1 minute
    ○ This class is for kids who are not able swim the front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke across the pool.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Swim the front crawl with bent-arm recovery for 25 yards
    ○ Breaststroke for 25 yards
    ○ Butterfly with simultaneous arm action and kick for 15 yards
    ○ Back crawl for 25 yards
    ○ Sidestroke for 25 yards
    ○ Dive from a kneeling position
    ○ Tread water using a scissor and whip kick for 2 minutes
  • ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 50 yards

Students work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive swimming strokes.

 

Register

Stage 6 Stroke Mechanics, Ages 5-12
  • Class length: 45 minutes
  • Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 5 skills as follows:
    ○ Swim the front crawl with bent-arm recovery for 25 yards
    ○ Swim back crawl with stroke rotation for 25 yards
    ○ Swim butterfly with over arm recovery
    ○ Swim breaststroke for 25 yards achieving stroke rhythm
    ○ Dive from kneeling position
    ○ This class is for kids who are not able swim the front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke across the pool and back.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Swim the front crawl for 50 yards and do a flip turn
    ○ Breaststroke for 50 yards and do an open turn
    ○ Butterfly for 25 yards
    ○ Back crawl for 25 yards and do a flip turn
    ○ Sidestroke or elementary backstroke for 50 yards
    ○ Dive from a standing position
    ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 150 yards
  • ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 50 yards

Students refine stroke technique on the major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle.

 

Register

Aquatics Conditioning, Ages 8-17

Focusing on conditioning to build endurance and stroke technique on all major competitive strokes and encourages swimming as a part of a healthy lifestyle.

 

Register

Aquatics Skills & Drills, Ages 8-17

Young swimmers build strength, speed and endurance while refining their stroke technique in our pre-swim team program. Swimmers enhance skills as a competitive swimmer, make friends & set individual goals. 

Assessment is required. Please contact torresm@ymcanyc.org.

 

Private and Small Group Swim Lessons

Private swim lessons are now available for members ages 3 years and up. Contact us online to learn more >

Family and Friends Swim Lessons
Build your own lesson! This great new program allows you to register your family and friends in the same class. It doesn't matter their ages or abilities. The instructor will create an environment that will build upon any and all skills levels. This is great for families and friends that want to remain in their pod! Contact us online to learn more >

There are no refunds for any aquatics programs. Makeups are given at the discretion of the aquatics director.