We're so excited to welcome you to swim lessons, dance classes, and more.
Winter Programming starts January 2!
Member registration opens Saturday, December 7 and community registration opens Saturday, December 14. Session availability varies by branch location. Explore your branch offerings today and Join the Y today for early access and discounts!
Instructional Sports & Dance
Please note: All classes are non-refundable. In the event of illness or injury, credit requests can be submitted to the Teen & Youth Sports Coordinator via email along with the doctor’s note. The Teen & Youth Sports Coordinator, Krystal Linton, can be reached at klinton@ymcanyc.org.
Ballet, Age 6-8
Introduction to classical ballet. This class can improve posture, flexibility, balance, motor skills and rhythm for your little ones. Ballet is also the foundation for other types of dance, such as hip hop, jazz and modern dance.
Musical Movement, Ages 3-5
This introductory level dance class provides a structured method of learning various hip hop movements in a fun-filled and vibrant class environment, and offers a new set of combinations and routines every time. All programs will be modified to allow for additional safety precautions including ensuring social distancing as appropriate.
Tennis, Ages 3-8
Young kids learn to play with kid-sized racquets, slower and lower-bouncing balls, and older students are taught fundamental and advanced techniques of groundstroke, volley, and overhead strokes.
Soccer, Ages 3-8
An energetic program that emphasizes teamwork and positivity through exercises designed to familiarize young players to the game of soccer with age-appropriate teaching tools and drills.
Basketball, Ages 3-12
Young kids will learn and master the basics of passing, dribbling and shooting and practice your offense and defense in fun drills and games.
Swim Lessons, Preschool
Please note: All classes are non-refundable. In the event of illness or injury, makeup options can be provided for up to two missed classes. If makeups are not possible, credit requests can be submitted to the Aquatics Director via email along with doctor’s note. The Aquatics Director, Tetyana Napara, can be reached at tnapara@ymcanyc.org.
Stage A Water Discovery, Ages 18-36 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Stage 4 Stroke Introduction, Ages 3-5
- Class length: 30 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, preschoolers learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique.
Swim Lessons, School Age
Please note: All classes are non-refundable. In the event of illness or injury, makeup options can be provided for up to two missed classes. If makeups are not possible, credit requests can be submitted to the Aquatics Director via email along with doctor’s note. The Aquatics Director, Tetyana Napara, can be reached at tnapara@ymcanyc.org.
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
Kids 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.
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.
Stage 4: Swim Strokes, Ages 5-12
- Class length: 30 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.
Stage 5 Stroke Development, Ages 5-12
- Class length: 30 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.
Stage 6 Stroke Mechanics, Ages 5-12
- Class length: 30 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.
Swim Lessons, Teens & Adults
Please note: All classes are non-refundable. In the event of illness or injury, makeup options can be provided for up to two missed classes. If makeups are not possible, credit requests can be submitted to the Aquatics Director via email along with doctor’s note. The Aquatics Director, Tetyana Napara, can be reached at tnapara@ymcanyc.org.
Aqua Conditioning, Ages 12-17
Student must have successfully completed stage 6. The program focuses on continuing to build endurance and stroke technique on all major competitive strokes and encourages swimming as a part of a healthy lifestyle.
Stage 2 Water Movement, Ages 12+
- Class length: 45 minutes
- Qualification: Participants 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 - 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
Participants 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.
Stage 3 Water Stamina Teen/Adults, Ages 12+
Class Length: 45 minutes
Qualification: Teen/Adult 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 teens/adults 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
Stage 4: Stroke Introduction, Ages 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, preschoolers learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique.
Private Swim Lessons
Learn to swim at the Y! We offer a range of youth, teen, and adult private swim lesson packages tailored to the individual. Family & Friends packages are also available. Each lesson is 30 minutes in duration.
To purchase a package, schedule a lesson and for more information, contact Aquatics Director, Tetyana Napara at tnapara@ymcanyc.org.
Youth, Teen, Adult Private Lessons
1 Lesson | 4 Lessons | 8 Lessons | |
Member Rate | $95 | $351 | $664 |
Community Rate | $114 | $432 | $820 |
To purchase a package, schedule a lesson and for more information, contact Aquatics Director, Tetyana Napara at tnapara@ymcanyc.org.
Family & Friends Private Lessons
1 Lesson | 4 Lessons | 8 Lessons | |
Member Rate | $869 | $1,303 | $1,738 |
Community Rate | $1,038 | $1,556 | $2,075 |
To purchase a package, schedule a lesson and for more information, contact Aquatics Director, Tetyana Napara at tnapara@ymcanyc.org.
Community Arts Classes
Watercolor, 18+
This class is for playing with watercolor techniques with an emphasis on finding and developing your own personal style. Frequent subject materials include still life set-ups and photos for inspiration. Beginners and Intermediate levels welcome.
Instructor: Bonnie Steinsnyder