Hello Dancers,

As you may have seen in the article “Two arts providers to shut down near Overture Center” in the Local section of the Wisconsin State Journal from Thursday, 06 September 2007, I am not renewing the lease at the present studio’s location.

However, I will not cease business operations, as implied by the article. Sarah and I will both continue teaching in and around Madison. Independent ballroom dance teachers frequently rent space from other desirable facilities - health clubs and other dance spaces in particular - for running their group classes and private lessons.

Over the four years of operating the studio and teaching dance, I have cultivated my joy of dancing into an overwhelming passion. I cross-train in other forms of dance and movement, including Jazz Dance, Modern Dance, and Ice Skating. Sarah and I spend many hours each week with our Coach and in other dance classes taught by other fabulous instructors. We devote many more hours to practicing dance, to developing strength, and to enhancing body awareness, styling, connection, and flexibility.

The decision to stop running my own studio space has been difficult. I enjoy the ease of running group classes and private lessons out of my own facility. Operating out of the State Street area is attractive and central to everywhere in the city, but it comes with the high rent and parking hassles of any desirable urban environment.

A “perfect storm” of factors has brought me to the decision to not renew the lease, including the vacancies in my building (limiting foot traffic and exposure), the ongoing construction projects (also limiting foot traffic / exposure), parking complaints from numerous clients, and my own desire to devote more energy to professional competitions. Since my lease will expire at the end of September, I weighed these factors and decided not to renew.

The studio itself is more active and more popular than it ever has been. More people are enrolled in group classes. More people are taking private lessons and refining their skills as dancers. More people are interested in attending and participating in Competitions.

I genuinely enjoy teaching dance and seeing confidence, courage, skill, pride, and self-respect develop in so many people. I appreciate all the support and encouragement so many people have provided both recently and in the last four years.

Sarah and I will both continue teaching! The Art of Dance will continue to operate, just not out of its own studio. It will operate as a ballroom dance school without one specific physical location.

I have space committed for two Salsa classes (New Dancer Salsa and Intermediate LA-Style Salsa) beginning in October at the MAC Sports Center in Verona. (See the links for details and to commit to attending.)

We are finalizing plans regarding the use of other facilities as well. Potential locations include Downtown, the Near East Side, the North Side, Fitchburg, and or course in Verona.

Sarah will be teaching group classes, too. A “Swing Sampler” class - including East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, and Lindy - is on the horizon! Contact Sarah to express your interest.

The Art of Dance website will continue to exist. Please keep the site bookmarked and use the Calendar to find our classes and events as well as other dance events in and around Madison.

Finally, I encourage everyone to Post a Comment (below) regarding your experiences at the studio in the past or regarding the kinds of classes, events, and workshops you would like to see in the future.

Thank you,

Darrell