Sports in Rye

Hands-on learning and playtime in JW Tumbles’ interactive classes help children explore the far reaches of their cranial caverns. Parents with toddlers younger than 3 years old can enroll in parent-participation classes such as Squeakers Class, geared toward four- to 10-month-olds, Little Maestros is a musical adventure for kids four months to five years, or Wobblers Class, where baby bodybuilders 11 to 18 months old practice tumbling and balance to increase motor skills and decrease the need for sippy-cup creatine shakes. Ages 3 and older can fly solo—parents can watch from the sidelines if they wish—during age-appropriate and highly interactive independent classes. The Stompers Class prep 3- to 4.5-year-olds for kindergarten, while Specialty Classes introduces kids from 3 to 7 years old to specific forms of fun in a non-competitive environment. Each class meets once a week, leaving plenty of time for use of the playspace passes.

The Arthur Murray Grande Ballroom more than lives up to the splendor suggested by its name. When the new owner and management took over the downtown Greenwich ballroom, they completely redecorated it in the opulent style of the Regency period. Today, its expansive wooden floor hosts private lessons and group classes in dance styles such as salsa, foxtrot, rumba, and Argentine tango. Arthur Murray's renowned teaching system is designed to help students develop a strong foundation in two to four dances. Instructors emphasize the three most important elements of dancing—step patterns, timing, and leading or following—and make sure that their students are having fun at every twist and turn.

At Steve DeMasco's Shaolin Studios, Grandmaster DeMasco and his staff of instructors illuminate students of all ages in the nuances of Martial Arts. Himself a vastly experienced practitioner of Martial Arts, DeMasco specializes in kung fu and teaches his pupils not only the fundamentals of the sport, but also the importance of self-respect, discipline, and not just learning from old kung fu movies. Each instructor here also brings their own high level of cred to their classes. As practitioners of Shaolin martial arts—the ancient predecessor of all martial arts—they're all internationally certified by the Shaolin Temple in China.