Liberated Movement

As good of a dance experience as it gets

Have danced at many many studios in New York City and elsewhere, and Liberated Movement is my favorite for a class focused first and foremost on enjoying dance while also getting really excellent technical instruction. Contemporary and ballet classes guaranteed to make you sore the next day (if you decide to push yourself). Sarah (Tuesday ballet) is the absolute best. She teaches an open level class that truly caters to dancers of all abilities, and her positivity (not to mention her commitment to learn everyone’s names!) is absolutely contagious. I’ve since moved from New York, but can’t wait to visit and take a class with her. $ 10 a class is nice on the wallet, but regardless of price, this is one of my favorite places to dance.

Found the best classes everr in NYC at this studio and they’re donation based too! Highly recommended to dancers and dreamers of any level. Lauren’s class tonight was indescribably awesome. The rain outside just couldn’t put out the sunshine inside us. Thank you for sharing the magic and meditation @laurenpellettieri !

Great experience with Lauren at Masala Bangra! Was my first time but I will definitely go back, so much fun and great energy overall.

Great place to go for inexpensive donation-​based dance classes.
Sarah’s open level ballet is superb, she’s excellent and always has a fun class.
Only negative: the place could be cleaner

Liberated Movement is a demonstration of what can happen when people with a true love for dance and the arts put their hearts and minds together to create something special. These are the same classes you might take elsewhere for $ 20 or $ 30, but taught for a suggested donation of only $ 10. That’s less than I spend for lunch most days, and it’s only possible because of the passion and dedication of LM’s teachers.
If it sounds like I’m raving on and on, it’s because I am. I take classes here regularly and I have so much appreciation for the opportunity this place has given me to dance, work out, and sometimes just relax and unwind from a stressful day at work.
My suggestion… go take a class. And then donate, generously! If we don’t support a gem like Liberated Movement in this expensive and sometimes unfriendly city, places like this will cease to exist!

I was so happy to find this place! The teachers were super friendly and patient – I’m totally new to dancing. It was a very comfortable and friendly atmosphere. The location is both convenient and very clean/​well-​maintained. Their suggested donation is easily affordable, and it’s rare to fine something of such quality with such a generous deal.

Everything that has been said about LM has already been said. Except I don’t understand the comment about the floors being dirty.
Non-​profit. Donation based dance classes in NYC. Encouraging environment. I’ll update after I try all the classes.

I love going to classes at Liberated Movement! First of all, $ 5 for a dance class is probably the best deal you’ll find in this City. Plus, it’s always a great group and so much fun because everyone there is so nice! I’ve been to Masala Bhangra, cardio jazz, and I love their Halloween event where we all get to learn Thriller! I hope other NYC dance studios follow their lead and go the $ 5 /​donation-​based route. It really adds up in this city when you run into classes that are $ 25 each and thankfully there’s now a way for me to try something new for a much better price.

Beginner dancers, rejoice! I took Sara (h)‘s open ballet class last night. It was too basic/​beginner for my needs, but this place still gets 5 stars because it’s donation-​based, has a feel-​good vibe, and it’s one of the only studios in NYC where (I think) absolute beginners would feel welcome. The other beginner classes I go to (Peridance, Steps, Joffrey) are more intermediate (often times, more experienced dancers use beginner classes as a warm-​up for their real class).
My class last night was held in an alternate location (this is apparently very uncommon), so I didn’t actually get to see the dance space. I’ll edit my post eventually if the actual dance space changes my 5-​star review in any way.
I would LOVE if Liberated Movement held a weekly intermediate/​advanced class. As it is, I’m heartbroken that I can’t make this my regular gig because I need a little more of an intermediate-​level class.

It’s a really great concept when nowadays you pay $ 30 for a dance class and have to leave because you can’t keep up!
The classes are fun and really energetic. The instructors are really nice too.
Be ready to climb up several flights of stairs to get to the top! The studio is nice, but my only complaint is that the floor is usually dirty with hair. It’s gross. Especially when you have to be down on said floor. Ugh. Please someone just get a dustmop.
Other than that, you can sign up for the mailing list to see what classes are offered each week.
I recommend the Masala Bhangra and Bhuti Yoga, both will leave you drenched in sweat!

LOVE!
Donation based dance classes without pressure on how much you donate?!
YES it’s TRUE!
I’m not a trained dancer but I love dancing and have always wanted to learn this place is perfect! they have classes for all levels and most of the classes for beginners actually teach at a pace where you can keep up.
I have had a class or two where I was completely lost but I am one of the least coordinated people on the planet so it is always more of a surprise to me when I actually learn the dances.
I love the classes that keep you moving Bollywood is amazing and Jazz usually gets your muscles warm.
I haven’t taken all of the classes yet and that is another reason why this place is amazing! The classes are always changing
from Ballet to boot camp Liberated movement has what you need to get moving!

When I first read about Liberated Movement, I literally began to hyperventilate. At my desk. At work. That’s how absolutely amazing I find this concept to be.
As many of the reviewers have explained, Liberated Movement operates with the same model as «Yoga to the People”– donation-​based dance classes with a suggested donation of $ 5. For the price of your morning coffee you get 60 minutes of judgment-​free, attention-​heavy dance instruction.
My first experience with Liberated Movement was a Masala Bhangra class. A Zumba veteran, I had been searching all over the city for a bhangra class (my favorite Zumba genre). I had initially looked into a series of classes at the 92^nd St Y, which ran $ 300+ for an eight class session. A very focused Google fortuitously lead me to Lauren Pelletieri, who in fact formerly taught said class at the 92^nd St Y, which is my roundabout way of saying that the teachers involved with Liberated Movement are VERY qualified. This was very much apparent in Lauren’s class: true to the description, I got a great workout and had a lot of fun. I also tried the Ballet Basics class, which seemed like a well-​designed class but at which I failed, utterly. Not a reflection on the organization, I promise you.
Even aside from the dance instruction, I find Liberated Movement to exceed expectations. Although they operate in a shared space, there is more than enough room for the classes and there is a small changing room for those of us coming from work. The location is pretty central, but definitely prepare yourself for the five flights of stairs you’ll have to conquer before even beginning your workout!
Finally, everyone I have met at Liberated Movement has been kind, friendly and relaxed. What more can a dance fanatic ask for?

I have come here a couple of times and I really enjoy the classes. The atmosphere here is also very casual and friendly — everyone is there to learn and have fun. I mainly dance street styles, but I also started taking other dance outside my comfort zone — ballet and perhaps also contemporary. The recommended $ 5 is just too good of a bargain to ignore. My only complaint is it’s sometimes difficult to get in the studio because there is no dedicated front desk person to unlock the door. So I had to sometimes wait outside and keep on trying to ring the buzzer from time to time.

I can’t imagine life without this place! I just moved to the city to go to school and was looking for an affordable place where i could learn to dance while still being able to afford college. And this is certainly the place for it! Located in a cool old studio, this is one of the funnest hours i will ever spend. I never have danced before and they made it so much fun. The instructors are so nice and have ALOT of background in all forms and different styles of dance. I can’t wait to go back for more! Highly recommended!

This is the dancer’s answer to Yoga to the People. Just came back from the Masala Bhangra dance class with Lauren. It was awesome! I got such a good work out and it was so fun. Lauren was also very friendly and upbeat, and made everyone feel welcome. And the best part? I only paid $ 5! You don’t even need to have tried dance before, just bring an open mind and a donation.
Will be back to try the ballet classes!

Liberated movement is beyond great. They offer donation-​based dance classes to all skill levels. I am not much of a dancer myself so I really like that I can go and be a part of the class without feeling silly for being so uncoordinated. It also really helps that the suggested donation is only $ 5. I am a student and having to pay for dance classes where I feel out of place is not something I want to do. Liberated Movement really helped make me feel comfortable trying dance classes without a long term (and expensive) commitment.
Of the various classes offered, I like Masala Bhangra the best. Cardio jazz is also a really good one. They both make me sweat like crazy and its a wonderful workout. They recently added Zumba which is I guess a hip thing these days. There is a wide variety of other classes that I have yet to try, but I have every intention of checking them all out at some point.

Liberated Movement is a a genius idea executed by some of the most ambitious and dance loving people in the industry. Dance classes in New York are already expensive as it is, but here at Liberated Movement, to be a part of any dance session is just a donation of just $ 5 (or whatever you can give) per visit. «Donation based» dance classes allows for affordable and accessible dance to all who are interested.
Students from all backgrounds and levels are welcome. If my two left feet could be part of the fun, then surely you and your friends will do just fine here. The classes offered vary from Hip Hop to Bhangra to Ballet to Cardio Jazz. My friends have been active participants in the LM scene and can’t stop raving about the classes. Not bad for an optional $ 5 classes.
The instructors are all incredible friendly and experts in their fields. In terms of appeal, I think the Hip Hop classes look like a lot of fun and the Masala Bhangra sessions with Laura seem like an amazing work out. Check her out in action here:
In the end, this is one of the worthy programs out there that deserve a look from folks who want to get down in a whole new way. Being part of the dance movement shouldn’t require money, but being liberated of high costs is one way to entice folks to getting down and getting in shape. Bring a great attitude, a few bucks, your happy feet, and be prepared to learn something new.

I love Liberated Movement and the friendly teachers there. I take their ballet, cardio jazz, hip hop and marsala banghra. First off, the classes are donation based so you can give as much as you like or can afford. The general suggested amount is $ 5. This is a steal considering the collegial atmosphere and the dance classes you are getting in NYC. I would say majority of the people here are beginners with ballet classes being more advanced and technical. They also have basic ballet which tends to be crowded for people who have never done ballet or for people looking for a refresher course. No one judges you even as I stumbled across the floor doing the spins and leaps. You tend to see the same people at certain classes and new people all the time. The classes are taught so that you can come to anyone of the classes without being lost. The atmosphere is very supportive for new dancers, especially when dances can be so intimidating to learn.

Randomly found out about these donation only classes and I was not sure what to expect. I went for a Masala Bhangra class to try something new. It was so much fun! It is definitely somewhere that I love going back to when the classes I like fit my schedule!
All their classes are a lot of fun, I bring all my friends here! I definitely recommend trying out a class!