What you are looking at
Young ballet dancers in white tutus wait, stretch and fidget around a rehearsal room while an old ballet master leans on his stick to watch one of them dance.
Why it is famous
Degas painted many scenes of the Paris Opéra ballet, showing the work and boredom behind the performance. This version is dated 1874; another Dance Class is at the Musée d'Orsay.
How big is The Dance Class?
The Dance Class measures 83.5 × 77.2 cm (32.9 × 30.4 in), without its frame. Its surface is about one and a half times the area of the Mona Lisa.
Compare it with other paintings
Where to see it
It is at the Met in New York.
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Also at The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Frequently asked questions
Who painted The Dance Class?
Edgar Degas painted The Dance Class in 1874.
Where is The Dance Class?
The Dance Class is in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, United States. (Gallery 815.)
How big is The Dance Class?
83.5 × 77.2 cm (32.9 × 30.4 in). Its surface is about one and a half times the area of the Mona Lisa.
What is The Dance Class made with?
Oil on canvas.
Sources: The Met, "The Dance Class" (1987.47.1); Wikidata Q18758802; Wikipedia, "The Dance Class". Checked October 17, 2026. How we check.