Shall We Dance Studio Celebrates 10th Anniversary Tonight

When Dora A's granddaughter Ayrial's dance school closed suddenly in 2005, the child was devastated. She had loved her lessons, and looked forward to them every week. Dora, who had been an avid attendee of a Fred Astaire dance studio for many years, decided she had to do something quickly to assuage her granddaughter's disappointment. So she opened a dance studio of her own.

Dora modeled the look of her brand new Shall We Dance Studio on the 2004 Richard Gere/Jennifer Lopez film of the same name, with a second floor, French doors, and glass paneling. She started with three ballroom instructors - one specializing in East Coast Swing, another in West Coast swing, and the third in Argentine Tango - and just a few students.

Ten years later, Shall We Dance Studio serves over 200 students. It has expanded to second space in the same building, right next door to Dora's first studio, and she and her instructors offer classes in ballet, jazz, tap, and hip hop, not to mention East and West Coast swing, Salsa, Latin, and of course Argentine Tango. Zumba, and jazzercise sessions are also available. The studio is open every day.

"My life's passion is dancing," Dora says. "I had taken all those lessons at Fred Astaire, and I knew I could do this....although I also wanted to meet Richard Gere, but that hasn't happened... yet!

But Ayrial did become a competitive ballroom dancer in Argentine Tango!

The Shall We Dance Studio's 10th Anniversary Celebration will take place tonight, May 1st at Shall We Dance Studio, which is located at 600 South Federal Highway in Deerfield Square, in Deerfield Beach (33441).

The program will include a mix of ballroom and Latin dancing, along with Argentine Tango, and East and West Coast Swing. DJ Kevin will provide the music. There will be special performances by professional ballroom dancers Ellen Cullivan and Christopher Hemmer; Argentine Tango by Michael Vincitorio, Mad Westie's Dorie, and Hustler Vicki Pearson, with Rome Saladino and a "Grande Finale"!

Tickets to the Shall We Dance Studio's 10th Anniversary Celebration are $15. Coffee and cake will be served.

To post a comment, you must register and login.