Berest Dance Center

Berest Dance Center offers classes in ballet, pointe, lyrical, contemporary, jazz, musical theatre, Broadway dance, tap, hip-hop, modern, improvisation, creative movement, boys classes, gymnastics, and icedancing. The studio also offers ballet coaching for auditions, body conditioning, private adult ballet, Adult Beginner Ballet, Adult Beginner Tap, Intermediate Ballet, Intermediate Lyrical Jazz, Intermediate Tap, Advanced Hiphop, and Advanced Tap. Additional services include Dance Audition Preparation, creating an audition piece, dance reel, and college headshot.

• Ages: 2–18 years old
• Schedule: Studio hours Monday–Friday from 3:30–9:30PM (varying by day), Saturday from 8:30AM–6PM, and Sunday from 12–5:30PM.

Berest Dance Center is described as the area's premiere, family-operated dance studio, open 7 days a week with a multiple genre schedule of over 70 dance classes in a non-competitive, nurturing environment. The studio offers dance classes for ages 2 through adult, with a curriculum that takes students from their first introduction to movement through a full course of study, and includes specialty classes for child-adult participation and boys only. Programs include a Toddler Program for children ages 18 months–3 years old (with an adult), a Young Children Program for ages 3–6, a Boys Program with classes designed for the energy and creativity of boys, a Lower Level Division for ages 7–11 with combination genre classes, and an Upper Level & Pre-Professional program for teens and adult dancers interested in more advanced training. The Adult Program is described as simplifying the world to just the music, movement, and breath, and there are ongoing study opportunities for adults.

Berest Dance Center was founded by Olga Berest, is family-operated, and has been established since 1976, with references to being founded in 1979 and celebrating over four decades of teaching dance. The studio notes “CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE! 1976–2026,” and is directed by nationally acclaimed Olga Berest, with internationally renowned Heather Berest, of Paul Taylor Dance Company and Momix, as artistic director. The leadership team includes Alison Berest, Certified Mental Health Counselor; Dr. Francine Fabricant, Certified Career Counselor; Orion Duckstein, Associate Professor and Chair of Adelphi Dance Department; Heather Berest, Berest Dance Center Dance Professional; Jessica Wontropski, Dance and Media Professional; and Linda Nutter, Photographer.

The mission of Berest Dance Center is to make the joy of dancing accessible for enjoyment and professional training, offering an alternative to dance training in NYC. The Berest and Beyond program addresses college preparation and career planning in dance, including transition from high school to college, life skills from dance training, college applications, dance audition preparation, audition piece, dance reel, and college headshot. The studio describes itself as “A STUDIO A FAMILY A LEGACY,” “A Place to Call Home,” and states that dancers of all ages and levels of ability are invited to experience its training, with enrollment open.

Berest Dance Center runs the Berest “Dance for Joy” Outreach Program and has a partnership to support the dancers in this program. In a testimonial about Dance for Joy, Robin Hummel thanks the program for creating an opportunity for people to do good and expresses appreciation for two young women who contribute their time to the outreach program.

Last updated February 5, 2026.