House of Duende

See website for class schedule
What began as a grassroots dance school that emphasized performances for the community has since grown into a world-class institution, acclaimed for its facilities and programs. Ballet Hispanico was founded in 1970 by Tina Ramirez, a Venezuelan dancer with Puerto Rican and Mexican parentage. Her career … read more
I have been a dance enthusiast for most of my life. Like many, my first introduction to ballet was attending the Nutcracker at Lincoln Center with my mother. Fast forward some fifty-five years to December of 2015, I was thrilled to continued this tradition when I had the pleasure of not only taking my … read more
I have visited quite a few dance companies on the side streets of Manhattan, offering a variety of classes from ballet to modern; however, East Side Dance Company is the first studio where I found hip hop to be the primary focus. Meeting the inspirational founder, Trammell Logan – whose enthusiasm for … read more
Elfriede Merman’s history in the world of ballet is quite impressive. She grew up in Germany and studied dance from a very early age at the Munich National State Opera. After a successful run with the company, she moved to Paris and joined the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, which resulted in her traveling … read more
Olivia, a Manhattan Sideways team member, who sings and performs in New York, is no stranger to Ripley Grier. Even though she has spent countless hours rehearsing in the rental studios, she was surprised to recently discover the other organizations housed in the Ripley Grier building. Along with having … read more