Welcome to the Dance Center!

We value all members of our community and are committed to providing an accessible and inclusive culture and environment for learning and creating. We aim to reduce barriers for participation by providing  resources, accommodations, and support to ensure a positive experience. Find more information about accessibility at the Dance Center here.

Mark Morris Dance Center

Founded in 2001, the Mark Morris Dance Center serves as the home of the Mark Morris Dance Group and a cultural hub for the Brooklyn community. It offers nine fully equipped, column-free dance studios, two locker rooms with lockers and restrooms (one with showers), a Wellness Center with space and equipment for work with partnering health practitioners, Pilates instructors and personal trainers. All studios and ancillary spaces are available to rent for a wide range of uses, including rehearsals and events.

The Dance Center offers a diverse range of dance and fitness classes for adults, novice to professional; as well as culturally responsive, inclusive, and non-gendered Youth & Family programs for students of all levels, with and without disabilities, ages 18 months to 18 years that include The School and work with community-based partners. The Dance Center is the flagship site for the internationally-acclaimed, research-backed dance classes for people with Parkinson’s, Dance for PD.

Accessing the Dance Center

Located in the heart of the Brooklyn Cultural District, the Dance Center can easily be reached by public transportation and private vehicles. See the Directions tab at the top of the page for additional details.

The main entrance to the Dance Center is at 3 Lafayette Ave.

Bike racks are located on the sidewalk directly in front of the Dance Center.

Guest Expectations

At the Mark Morris Dance Center, visitors of all ages, with and without disabilities, share space and resources.  To ensure all staff and guests have a positive and safe experience, we expect everyone to use shared resources and equipment respectfully and safely and to be considerate of each other as we share this space. Our community plays an important role in our ability to maintain this commitment. We will all work together to activate the following expectations in our space.

Pre-registration is recommended for all on-site activities.

The use of lockers for day-of personal item storage is encouraged. Lockers are available on the 1st and 4th floors. Visitors should bring their own lock to use the lockers. Overnight locker storage is prohibited.

Children ages 10 and under must be accompanied by a caregiver/guardian within the Dance Center.

The lobby is a shared space with a limited capacity; therefore it should not be used as a space for play dates or meetings. To allow us to manage crowding, we generally ask guests to arrive no more than 15 minutes before the beginning of a program/activity and to exit the Dance Center within 15 minutes of the end of a program/activity.

Noise level should be kept to a respectable volume. If music played within a studio can be heard outside of that studio, the occupant may be asked to reduce their volume.

Please keep pathways clear. Hallways, doorways and access points must remain clear of obstruction at all times.

Personal items left unclaimed will be discarded or placed in Lost & Found at the end of each day. Visit the Front Desk to inquire about lost items. Items left for more than 30 days will be donated.

The following are prohibited within the Dance Center:

• Smoking and vaping.
• Firearms or weapons of any kind. The Mark Morris Dance Center is a gun free establishment.
• Certified Service Animals are welcome.
• Bike, e-bike and e-scooter parking. There are several bike racks on the sidewalk in front of the Dance Center for outdoor parking. Unmonitored scooter and stroller parking is permitted in a designated area within the ground floor lobby.

The following are prohibited within the studios:

• Food and drink (other than water)
• Stiletto heels and shoes that are worn outside
• Most types of tape, including masking and duct tape (only spike tape is permitted)
• Glitter and rosin
• Open flame, such as candles or incense

The information shared on this page is non-exhaustive. Guests are required to adhere to these expectations in addition to program-specific policies laid out by the School, Adult Programs, Dance for PD, and Rentals.

Community Agreement
Guided by our core values of Community, Excellence, Creativity, and Access, we are committed to creating an equitable and accessible environment that reflects and respects all members of our community. By participating in activities and programming at the Mark Morris Dance Center and online, you also agree to uphold these values.

We will not tolerate any activity that inhibits dance center operations, disrupts the ability to provide a safe, welcoming environment, or is illegal under city, state and/or federal law. Behaviors, including but not limited to verbal abuse, hate speech, physical assault, disrespect, intimidation, and any form of discrimination based on race, color, creed, ethnic or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, age, weight, body type, religion, medical condition, marital status, socio-economic status, citizenship/immigration status, veteran status, or any other identity will not be permitted. We reserve the right to refuse service, restrict access and/or remove any person or group whose actions threaten the safety and wellbeing of members in our community or jeopardize the inclusive culture we aim to foster.

Health and Safety

To ensure a safe environment, surveillance cameras and lights are located at both our front entrance on Lafayette Avenue and our side exit on Rockwell Place. Access to the Dance Center is controlled by unlocking the interior doors only after an individual has checked in. Front facing staff trained in fire safety and emergency procedures are available to field questions and assist with an emergency during all operating hours.

MMDG continues to closely monitor applicable health and safety directives and guidance. Please check our Health & Safety Updates page for updates before your visit. Requirements vary by activity. The Mark Morris Dance Group (MMDG) health and safety policies are subject to change at any time.

Dance Center Accessibility

We are committed to accessible practice at the Dance Center and know this list is in no way comprehensive. If you require a specific accommodation, please email dancecenter@mmdg.org or call the Dance Center at 718-624-8400 ext 200 for assistance. Please allow two business days to respond so we can adequately prepare for your visit.

The facility includes ramps, an elevator, and bathrooms on all floors.

• The Dance Center is wheelchair accessible with all-gender, single-stall restrooms equipped with changing tables available on the 1st and 4th floors.
• Both sets of front doors to the Dance Center are automated.
• Braille is included on the buttons within the elevator and on each floor.
• There are private all-gender changing rooms in the back of the ground floor.
• The 4th floor terrace is not wheelchair accessible.
• Certified Service Animals are welcome. Pets are not permitted at the Dance Center.
• The Dance Center provides access to a Wi-Fi network for Dance Center occupants.

Studio accessibility

• Visitors can access all studios by elevator. All studios have ramps to the entrance of the studio.
• Studio F (basement level studio) is accessible by stairs or elevator, but elevator access requires an escort via a private section of the basement.
• There are dimmable LED lights in Studios E and F. All other studios use metal halide gas bulb lighting.
• The door to Studio E is automated.