The Graham technique is open to everyone.

No audition. No long-term commitment. Walk in, register, and begin.

Open classes at the Martha Graham School are offered year-round in Graham Technique, Ballet, Contemporary, and Wellness idioms: Pilates, Yoga, & Gyrokinesis. Graham technique classes are taught by faculty who are both current and former Martha Graham Dance Company members and our ballet, contemporary, and wellness offerings are led by certified faculty and professional performers.

ELIGIBILITY

18+ years
No prior Graham experience required

NO AUDITION

Walk-In Welcome
Register and begin

LOCATION

1501 Broadway
11th Floor · Times Square, NYC

STUDIOS

6 Studios
Newly opened Times Square facility

Classes for everybody.

Open classes at the Martha Graham School offer technical dance training for all levels and all adult students to benefit from. Classes are offered throughout the day, Monday to Friday year round. All are welcome at the Martha Graham School – no dance experience required. All classes are held in-person at the Martha Graham Studios.

*Students enrolled in full-time programs may also attend open classes for an additional fee OR to make up missed classes. Please review the Student Handbook for details.

The schedules below are the exact class times and current faculty assignments. Class offerings and faculty will not switch without advance notice. Check the Populi Campus Store page for the most up to date information.

Classes for everybody.

Open classes at the Martha Graham School offer technical dance training for all levels and all adult students to benefit from. Classes are offered throughout the day, Monday to Friday year round. All are welcome at the Martha Graham School – no dance experience required. All classes are held in-person at the Martha Graham Studios.

*Students enrolled in full-time programs may also attend open classes for an additional fee OR to make up missed classes. Please review the Student Handbook for details.

The schedules below are the exact class times and current faculty assignments. Class offerings and faculty will not switch without advance notice. Check the Populi Campus Store page for the most up to date information.

GRAHAM TECHNIQUE — Beginner through Advanced (click for description)

Open Graham classes are offered 6:00p – 7:30p Monday through Saturday with two weekly classes at each level (beginner, intermediate and advanced).

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MONDAY

Intermediate
with Firstname Lastname

TUESDAY

Advanced
with Firstname Lastname

WEDNESDAY

Intermediate
with Firstname Lastname

THURSDAY

Advanced
with Firstname Lastname

FRIDAY

Beginner
with Firstname Lastname

SATURDAY

Beginner
with Firstname Lastname

BALLET TECHNIQUE — Beginner through Advanced (click for description)

Open ballet classes are offered from 4:00p – 5:30p Monday through Saturday with two weekly classes at each level (beginner, intermediate, advanced).

Alt Text Placeholder Wide

MONDAY

Intermediate
with Firstname Lastname

TUESDAY

Advanced
with Firstname Lastname

WEDNESDAY

Intermediate
with Firstname Lastname

THURSDAY

Advanced
with Firstname Lastname

FRIDAY

Beginner
with Firstname Lastname

SATURDAY

Beginner
with Firstname Lastname

CONTEMPORARY DANCE (click for description)

Open contemporary dance classes are offered from 2:30p – 4:00p Monday through Saturday with two weekly classes at each level (beginner, intermediate, advanced).

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MONDAY

Intermediate
with Firstname Lastname

TUESDAY

Advanced
with Firstname Lastname

WEDNESDAY

Intermediate
with Firstname Lastname

THURSDAY

Advanced
with Firstname Lastname

FRIDAY

Beginner
with Firstname Lastname

SATURDAY

Beginner
with Firstname Lastname

BODY WELLNESS: Pilates, Yoga and Gyrokinesis (click for description)

Open Body Wellness classes are for participants of all levels and are offered each morning from 8:00a – 9:00a Monday through Saturday.

Alt Text Placeholder Wide

MONDAY

Intermediate
with Firstname Lastname

TUESDAY

Advanced
with Firstname Lastname

WEDNESDAY

Intermediate
with Firstname Lastname

THURSDAY

Advanced
with Firstname Lastname

FRIDAY

Beginner
with Firstname Lastname

SATURDAY

Beginner
with Firstname Lastname

Absolute Beginner Series

All levels welcome. No prerequisites. Periodically offered as a series of classes accessible to anyone, Absolute Beginner Class Series will be offered for 4 week sessions each month on Tuesdays 6:00p – 7:30p. Sometimes led by guest artists or current Martha Graham Dance Company members. Review below for the scheduled dates.

ABSOLUTE BEGINNER GRAHAM

Winter Series
January 5, 12, 19, 26

Spring Series
April 6, 13, 20, 27

ABSOLUTE BEGINNER BALLET

Fall Series
October 6, 13, 20, 27

Spring Series
February 2, 9, 16, 23

ABSOLUTE BEGINNER CONTEMPORARY

Fall Series
November 3, 10, 17, 24

Spring Series
March 9, 16, 23, 30

Not sure which level is right for you?

If you are new to the Graham technique, begin with Graham I. The faculty will evaluate your placement and guide you to the right level. No level change may be made during a session without prior approval from your instructor.

Faculty and Program Directors reserve the right to adjust a participants level to ensure safety, proper practice, and appropriate development. If you are unsure of your level, contact the school before registering.

Little or no experience in the Martha Graham Technique. Provides Foundational principles, basic exercises, movement skills, and self awareness. Open to all adult dancers regardless of prior training style.

Solid understanding of Level I material. Strong execution of seated contractions, deep stretches with spirals, and turns around the back. Building strength, stamina, and extended kinetic vocabulary.

Substantial Graham experience. Strong command of Level II material including turns around the back to the strike, sitting fall with spiral, and split falls. Extended phrase work and repertory study.

Advanced and professional experience required. Extended phrases, advanced Graham pedagogy, Graham inspired combinations/ repertory, and physical and artistic mastery.

Little to some experience in these genres. Medium to short phrases, coordination in movements, deepening physical and artistic exploration.

Solid understanding of Beginning ballet and contemporary vocabulary and material. Strong execution of ballet barre exercises and center contemporary practices. Aimed at building strength, stamina, and extended kinetic vocabulary.

Advanced and professional experience required. Appropriate for dancers that are working professionally or advanced students in the field.

Everything you need to get started.

Frequently asked questions…

No. It remains a point of pride at the Martha Graham School that someone with no dance experience can walk in, register, and begin to dance. Graham I (Elementary) is designed exactly for this — foundational principles, basic exercises, and a welcoming introduction to the Graham technique. The faculty will place you in the appropriate level.

If you’re new to Graham, start with Level I. If you have prior experience in Graham or a comparable modern technique, Level II may be appropriate. When in doubt, contact the school before your first class. Faculty evaluate dancers and may recommend a different level after your first class. You may not change levels without prior instructor approval.

No audition is required for open classes. Simply create a MindBody account, register for your chosen class, and arrive ready to dance. Open classes are separate from the full-time professional programs (Two-Year Certificate, ASC, Teacher Training), which do require an application and audition.

For Graham Technique and Contemporary: a colored unitard, leotard and tights, or other form-fitting attire. For Ballet: a leotard, tights, and ballet shoes. Bare feet or socks are acceptable for Graham and Contemporary.

All open class registration is through the Martha Graham School’s MindBody portal. Create an account, browse the current schedule, and register for your chosen class. Registration closes 30 minutes before class. If a class is full, join the waitlist — space often opens up.

Yes — and this is one of the most common paths. Many students begin with open classes and, after developing their Graham foundation, go on to apply to the Independent Program or Two-Year Certificate Program. Faculty who teach open classes are often the same faculty who teach in the full-time programs. If you’re interested in transitioning to a full-time program, speak with faculty or contact admissions.

Yes. International visitors may attend open classes without an F-1 student visa — enter the US as a visitor for business or tourist purposes. If you are interested in longer programs (semester or year round), review the International Students page for information about the F-1 visa process.

Cancellations made more than 2 hours before class will result in the class credit being returned to your account. Late cancellations (within 2 hours) and no-shows forfeit the class credit. Single-class drop-in fees are non-refundable. Monthly Unlimited memberships can be cancelled before the next billing date to stop renewal.
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Ready to start moving?

No audition. No long-term commitment. Just show up, register, and dance. Open classes at the Martha Graham School are available to all adult dancers 18 and older, year-round in the heart of New York City.