Welcome to Downtown Dance Factory!

We are New York City’s premier comprehensive dance studio for kids. Established in September 2009, Downtown Dance Factory offers programs for dancers from eighteen months to eighteen years in a wide range of popular dance styles including jazz, classical ballet, hip hop, tap, lyrical, theater dance and breaking.

A vibrant community founded on our shared love of dance, we aim to develop our students to their full dance potential, while nurturing their creativity and self-expression. We believe that the lessons learned through dance – artistry, effort, discipline, commitment and self-confidence – translate to a world beyond dance. We’re here to help dancers of all ages, genders and levels pursue their passion, wherever it may lead, from their very first joyful steps.

National Winner
Best Musical Theater Performance

National Finalist
Best Musical Theater Performance

National Finalist
Best Jazz Performance

“Best of New York”
NYC Dance Classes for Children

Featured
Best Birthday Parties for Kids, NYC

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Best Summer Camps for Kids, NYC

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Meet Our Founders

Hanne Larsen

Hanne established her first studio, The Jazz Factory, in Sydney at the age of 22, seeing it become one of the city’s premier studios.  She moved to New York in 2005, later establishing Downtown Dance Factory with fellow Tribeca mom and friend, Melanie Zrihen.  Under Hanne’s tutelage, her students have become State & National champions, have qualified for prestigious performing arts high schools and college dance courses, and have danced professionally all over the world for such companies as: The Sydney Dance Company, Australian Dance Theatre, Bondi Ballet, TasDance, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises and Compania Nacional de Danza in Madrid, Spain.

Hanne holds a BA (First Class Honors) with double majors in Theater & Music, as well as associate diplomas through the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (Cecchetti Ballet) and the Australian Teachers of Dancing (Jazz Dance), an Australian Government certification in Dance Teaching and Studio Management, and is also certified in both Acrobatic Arts and the Giordano Jazz Technique.

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Melanie Zrihen

Melanie has extensive experience in management, marketing and operations, having worked as a management consultant in NYC with global management consultancy, A.T. Kearney. Prior to this she worked in both advertising and investment banking. Before starting DDF, she also ran a consulting service company, focused on Internet marketing and operations. Melanie is a proud Canadian, and holds a B.Comm from McGill University in Finance & Entrepreneurship and an MBA from The University of Toronto.

In addition to her background in business, Melanie has long-term experience in the dance school environment, having studied ballet at the Mount Royal Ballet Company in Montreal for thirteen years. She has lived in Tribeca since 2000 with her family, and her three kids have grown up dancing at Downtown Dance Factory. She brings her business experience and love of dance to her role as Business Director of Downtown Dance Factory!

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Melanie Zrihen

BUSINESS DIRECTOR

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Melanie Zrihen

Melanie has extensive experience in management, marketing and operations, having worked as a management consultant in NYC with global management consultancy, A.T. Kearney. Prior to this she worked in both advertising and investment banking. Before starting DDF, she also ran a consulting service company, focused on Internet marketing and operations. Melanie is a proud Canadian, and holds a B.Comm from McGill University in Finance & Entrepreneurship and an MBA from The University of Toronto.

In addition to her background in business, Melanie has long-term experience in the dance school environment, having studied ballet at the Mount Royal Ballet Company in Montreal for thirteen years. She has lived in Tribeca since 2000 with her family, and her three kids have grown up dancing at Downtown Dance Factory. She brings her business experience and love of dance to her role as Business Director of Downtown Dance Factory!

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Hanne Larsen

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Learn More

Hanne Larsen

Hanne established her first studio, The Jazz Factory, in Sydney at the age of 22, seeing it become one of the city’s premier studios.  She moved to New York in 2005, later establishing Downtown Dance Factory with fellow Tribeca mom and friend, Melanie Zrihen.  Under Hanne’s tutelage, her students have become State & National champions, have qualified for prestigious performing arts high schools and college dance courses, and have danced professionally all over the world for such companies as: The Sydney Dance Company, Australian Dance Theatre, Bondi Ballet, TasDance, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises and Compania Nacional de Danza in Madrid, Spain.

Hanne holds a BA (First Class Honors) with double majors in Theater & Music, as well as associate diplomas through the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (Cecchetti Ballet) and the Australian Teachers of Dancing (Jazz Dance), an Australian Government certification in Dance Teaching and Studio Management, and is also certified in both Acrobatic Arts and the Giordano Jazz Technique.

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From First Steps To Center Stage

From our founding class forward, many talented DDF dancers have been recognized for their notable successes beyond our studio walls. Our dancers continue to be accepted into prestigious NYC performing arts public schools, elite summer programs, and top college dance programs:

Summer Programs

Juilliard Summer Intensive
Jacob’s Pillow
Miami City Ballet
Boston Ballet
Pacific Northwest Ballet
American Ballet Theatre
School of American Ballet
Orsolina 28
Arts Umbrella
The Ailey School
Hubbard Street
Verdon/Fosse Legacy
Alonzo King Lines Ballet
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
Camp Protégé
Generation IV Advanced/Professional Division

College Dance Programs

University of Southern California Glorya Kaufman School of Dance
The Juilliard School
Ailey/Fordham BFA Program
NYU Tisch School of the Arts
Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University
Boston Conservatory
Point Park University
Chapman University
SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance
University of Michigan
Ohio State University
University of the Arts
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Loyola Marymount University
University of South Florida
Florida State University

DDF’s Competitive Edge

A small but exceptional group of dancers, DDF’s highly selective competitive companies regularly participate and excel in regional competitions, and on the national stage. Each year, we garner accolades for our soloists, our groups and for the studio as a whole. At the Dance Awards in Las Vegas, our soloists have been placed in the Top 10 nationally, and our group pieces have not only won on this national stage, but have seen DDF recognized as a finalist for the Best Jazz Studio and the Best Musical Theater Studio in the nation. Additionally, we’re a consistent nominee and winner of the nationally recognized Industry Dance Awards.

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