92ND STREET Y
New York’s global center for
culture, connection and enrichment
The 92nd Street Y, New York History
For nearly 150 years, the 92nd Street Y, New York (92NY) has been serving its communities and the larger world by bringing people together and providing exceptional, groundbreaking programs in the performing and visual arts; literature and culture; adult and children’s education; talks on a huge range of topics; health and fitness; and Jewish life. To learn more about 92NY, click HERE.
Harkness Dance Center History
Founded in 1935, the Harkness Dance Center (part of the 92NY School of the Arts) has been dedicated to promoting the art of dance through a two-fold commitment: to facilitate the creation, rehearsal, and performance of new choreography, and provide dance classes taught by dedicated, experienced professionals for people of all levels of experience. The original faculty included Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey, Charles Weidman, Anna Sokolow, and Hanya Holm. The center was named the Harkness Dance Center in 1994 with a generous gift from the Harkness Foundation for Dance. To learn more about the Harkness Dance Center, click HERE.
Dance Education at 92NY
92NY has always been a leading institution for pioneers in dance education. In 1952, Doris Humphrey, Bonnie Bird, and Fred Berk founded the Merry-Go-Rounders, a company whose mission was to educate people about dance and to create a future audience for the performing arts. Children learned about the various elements of dance in an engaging and joyful way that involved active participation. Over the years, the 92NY has continued to be a major innovator in the field of children’s dance education. In the 1950s, Ann Hutchinson Guest used Laban motif symbols in her work with children. Lucile Brahms Nathanson created the division of Teacher Training in Children’s Dance, designed to prepare dance educators to teach dance to children. DEL is honored to continue this legacy and commitment to dance education.