Step outside

1. Midsummer Night Swing at Damrosch Park
Swing, tango and samba to acts like the Spanish Harlem Orchestra and Balkan brass band Boban i Marko Markovic Orkestar at this beloved open-air fest. Damrosch Park, W 62nd St between Amsterdam and Columbus Aves (lincolncenter.org). Tue–Sat lesson 6:30pm, dancing 7:30pm; $15. Tue 8–July 26.

2. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Classes
The AAADT celebrates its 50th anniversary with a series of free events across the city. Each starts with a lesson and ends with a performance. Try West African dance, modern or jazz, then use your new moves at the AAADT street party on August 9. FREE Various locations. For information, visit alvinailey.org/free. Aug 5–12.

3. Dancing on the Plaza
Every Thursday in August, Central Park’s Harlem Meer is the setting for free dancing: swing on August 7, salsa on the 14th, Afropop on the 21st and disco on the 28th. Each night kicks off with a 6pm lesson, the dancing starts at 7pm. FREE Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, Central Park, enter at 110th St between Fifth Ave and Malcolm X Blvd (Lenox Ave) (centralparknyc.org). Aug 7–28.

4. Tango in Central Park
Channel Buenos Aires at a Saturday tango party with free lessons in Central Park. On Sundays dancers should sashay to Pier 16 at the South Street Seaport for Tango Porteño. FREE Central Park, by the Shakespeare statue, midpark at 66th St (newyorktango.com). Sat 6–9pm. Through Sept 27.

5. Skate Circle in Central Park
Welllll, this really is for the freaks: Show up at the Central Park Dance Skaters Association’s roller-rink sessions and work your wheels to old-school disco and R&B. FREE Central Park, midpark near the bandshell, 72nd St entrance (212-777-3232). Sat, Sun 2:30–6:30pm. Through Oct 26.

6. MoonDance at Hudson River Park
Spend a Sunday evening on the waterfront, moving to swing, tango and Cuban funk. There are beginners’ lessons before each event. FREE Hudson River Park, Pier 54 at 14th St (212-627-2020, hudsonriverpark.org/events). Sun 6:30pm. July 13–Aug 10.

7. Warm Up at P.S.1
Serious dancers pack into P.S.1’s summer sessions for steamy sets by international DJs. The tenth annual series kicks off this weekend with the funk-inflected electronica of the Nublu Orchestra. P.S.1, 22-25 Jackson Ave at 46th Ave, Long Island City, Queens (718-784-2084, ps1.org). Sat 3–9pm, $10. Through Sept 6.

8. Beach Party and Turntables on the Hudson at Water Taxi Beach
Friday’s Turntables on the Hudson shindig brings together DJs Nickodemus and Mariano, while Saturday’s Beach Parties feature a rotating list of spinners. Water Taxi Beach, 2-03 Borden Ave at 2nd St, Long Island City, Queens (watertaxibeach.com). Turntables on the Hudson: Fri 8pm–2am, $10. Beach Party: Sat 8pm–3am, $3. Both through Aug 30.

9. Salsa in Wagner Park
Live bands on the river make for a spicy midweek pick-me-up. Shimmy to acts like Jimmy Delgado y Orquesta featuring Renzo Padilla (August 13), La Excelencia (August 20) and the Latin Giants of Jazz (September 3). FREE Wagner Park, between Battery Pl and the Hudson River (212-417-2000, salsanewyork.com). Wed 7pm. Aug 13–Sept 3.

10. Dancing Under the Stars
Professionals from the American Ballroom Theater will lead you through salsa, merengue, waltz and the foxtrot, among others, in these free lessons for all ages. FREE Wallenberg Square, at the corner of Metropolitan Ave and Park Ln, Kew Gardens, Queens (718-235-4100). Mon 6–7:30pm. Through July 21.

11. Sunday Best at the Yard
Spend your day of rest shaking tail at this industrial-lot-turned-art-space on the water. The resident DJs spin house, techno and disco with guests Riton on Sunday 6 and Kevin Saunderson on July 13. The Yard, 400 Carroll St between Bond and Nevins Sts, Gowanus, Brooklyn (sundaybestnyc.com). Sun 3–9pm, $8. Through Aug 31.

12. Boogie Woogie Wednesdays at the Staten Island Children’s Museum
Each week this dancefest for families offers a new variety for little legs to try, like flamenco (July 16), Irish step (July 30) and Zumba (August 13). FREE Staten Island Children’s Museum, 1000 Richmond Terr at Snug Harbr Rd, Staten Island (718-273-2060, statenislandkids.org). Wed 7pm. Wed 9–Aug 27.

13. Brooklyn Museum First Saturdays
Every month, the museum stays up late for an art, music and dance party. On Saturday 5, the theme is “Viva Africa!” with soukous, quaito and other African music spun by Botswana’s DJ Stone. FREE Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Pkwy at Washington Ave, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn (718-638-5000, brooklynmuseum.org). Sat 5 at 9pm.

14. Coney Island Boardwalk Parties
Burn off that Nathan’s dog by jamming to a scorching lineup of house DJs at this Sunday party. FREE Boardwalk at 10th St, Coney Island, Brooklyn. Sun 3pm. July 13–27; Aug 10–24; Sept 14, 21.

15. Swing Under the Stars at Kingsborough Community College
Lindy, jive and shag to the Danny Repole Swing Band. They’ll be playing as part of the college’s “Hot Summer Nights” series. FREE KCC, 2001 Oriental Blvd between Decatur Ave and Quentin St, Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn (www.kbcc.cuny.edu/kcc_arts/hot_summer_nights). July 13 at 8pm.

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