Progressive Dance and Creative Arts School Opens in SoHo

On February 6, 2012, performer and educator Rosie Lanziero will open doors for the first semester of Soul Arts Academy, NYC's only progressive dance academy and creative arts school in a new space in the heart of SoHo. The space at 552 Broadway will mark the expansion of a well-loved performing arts program called Sweet Soul Movement, and will offer dance and performing arts classes for students ages 2 and up.

The new 5,500 square foot location designed by studio l.ark architect Jennifer Logun, whose son currently attends Soul Arts Academy's "Boy's Club" classes, was secured by CORE Realty, and is one of the only community spaces in the neighborhood. The space pays homage to Lanziero's deep ties to the downtown neighborhood and its once thriving arts community.

The space boasts high ceilings, 3 large, sun-lit dance studios and an intimate rehearsal room. The academy programming is semester-based and also includes a popular full-day "Summer Arts Workshop," featuring celebrity New York guest performers, dance and performance classes, field trips, and an instructional swim program.

After being inspired in 2004 by the birth of her own daughter, Lanziero sought to find an immersive creative arts program that involved children in the learning process. Not finding one, Lanziero was moved to begin her own program, a single dance class that she taught at the Houston Street Center. Since then, Lanziero has grown the program in a rented space on Lafayette Street to over 200 students in 20 classes, and a full staff of top-tier instructors.

"It has always been my dream to create a unique learning environment centered around mind-body literacy, where children are taught to be good people, using their bodies in creative and empowering ways which they can take with them for the rest of their lives," said Lanziero. "My style of teaching children is to honor them as people and to never dumb things down for them - to have them be co-creators in the learning process."

Class sizes at Soul Arts Academy range from 6 to 12 students, ensuring individualized attention to students and instruction tailor-made to the unique qualities of each student. In 2012 Lanziero aims to accommodate some 300 students and will expand the Soul Arts Academy curriculum to include Circus Acrobatics, Bharata Natyam (Classical Indian Dance), African, Salsa and Social Dance. The expanded program will also feature a teen and adult dance division.

Soul Art's Spring Semester begins on February 6, 2012.

An Open House event will take place for enrolled and perspective families on January 22, 2012 from 1pm to 4pm at 552 Broadway, between Prince and Spring Streets in SoHo.
Soul Arts Academy, New York's only progressive dance and creative arts school, combines exceptional artistic instruction with the development of the whole student, (SoulArtsAcademy.com).

Soul Art's core curriculum includes Ballet, Modern and Hip-Hop, as well as unique electives such as Bharata Natyam, African, Tap and Circus Arts. At Soul Arts, students are encouraged to discover their artistic potential individually and communally in a supportive, non-competitive environment.