It's the only museum in the country that is dedicated entirely to dance and it’s located right here in the spa city. The National Museum of Dance opened in 1986 and it features iconic members of the dance community in their Hall of Fame while also showcasing local dance stories and interactive exhibits. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- The National Museum of Dance combines history and music, with local arts and entertainment.

“There are so many types of dance and that’s what all were about,” said Mary Anne Fantauzzi, the spokesperson for the National Museum of Dance and one of the original volunteers of the museum. “From the very earliest times of Saratoga Springs when they celebrated any type of festival, dance was always part of those celebrations.”

The exhibits connect dance to people, places, and things around the spa city.

“From ballet to ballroom, Broadway, and we also include dance critics, we include costume designers, musicians, and composers,” Fantauzzi said. “There is a direct connection between horses and dancers. You see here some evidences of choreography over the years that use the theme of the jockey and race horses.”

Those connections are represented through interactive exhibits.

“We have evolved from being pretty much just photographs and costumes to being multi-modality and multimedia exhibits,” Fantauzzi said.

The museum also displays the history of the building, with an exhibit dedicated to its original use.

“This was originally the Washington Bathhouse in 1918. This is where people came to do what was called “take the baths.” They needed a doctor’s note to be able to take a bath here,” said Fantauzzi.

A tour will have you leaving with a new appreciation for dance and for the city.

“It’s not only what’s inside but it’s the very building and the grounds that this stands on that is part of the story here,” said Fantauzzi.