Walking up the stairs that lead to the Fred Astaire Dance Studio feel like entering the home of a good friend. I've had this same feeling every time I've arrived for a dance lesson since I became a student two years ago.
Owners Ilya Ifraimov and Nadia Goulina, married dance partners for over nine years, first opened the studio at 2 Changebridge Road in January, 2008
"When we were building this place in the beautiful, family-oriented town of Montville, we wanted to create a New York City style atmosphere with a 'clubby' feel to the studio," Ifraimov said. "We wanted to offer a place where people can dress up, hang out and network in an extremely friendly environment, while learning how to dance."
Both Ifraimov and Goulina fell in love with dancing early in life. Ifraimov began dancing at 15, Goulina at eight.
Ifraimov describes his passion for dancing as "a wonderful, emotional thing that everyone, any age deserves to experience." The pair has toured the world as competitive dancers, taking home such prestigious titles as 2008 North American Professional Latin Champions, 2008 World Master Champions and 2006 World Cup Vice Champions, among many others.
"People come here to learn to dance, but in reality, they also come to develop confidence, lose weight, battle depression, and form friendships," said Ifraimov.
The physical benefits of dancing are well established, including improving the circulatory system, strengthening bones and muscles, and increasing flexibility. Reportedly, an average adult can burn between 200 to 500 calories during an hour of dance, an important fact for any health conscious person. A study in The New England Journal of Medicine shows that ballroom dancing is also good for the brain, because it requires a good amount of memorization in learning dance steps.
The Montville studio is very family-oriented, and offers classes for people of all ages, from children to seniors. A special introductory price of $20 for the first lesson enables anyone to try dancing before purchasing a program of lessons. A beginner program consists of five lessons that are a sampling of the most popular ballroom genres such as fox trot, cha cha, waltz, rumba, tango, hustle, swing and salsa.
This summer, the studio is offering a special Ballroom Kids Camp, an introduction to ballroom, ballet and hip-hop dancing, which the owners say is a great confidence building program, and enables kids to participate in competitions. The program runs for one week, with the next session starting August 23.
Fred Astaire of Montville hosts a weekly party for students, a 'dress-up' event which is a great way to further dancing capability, and form new friendships in a fun party atmosphere. These social events offer food, wine, desserts and an opportunity to dance with all the wonderful dance instructors.
Additionally, the studio offers several group lessons per week, and special events, which showcase students' talent onstage, such as the upcoming "Tribute to the Stars," being held at the Bergen Technical School in Hackensack, on October 9.
During my time at the studio, I discovered the confidence, beauty and wonderful connections that social dancing can bring into a person's life. Ifraimov said that he and Nadia realize that some people may want to begin training but may have some apprehension in trying something new.
"Every person has a window in their soul that enables them to do things they never thought they could, and to discover new things about themselves that touch their heart," he said.
Eileen Linehan, a senior citizen and dance student for ten years expressed this sentiment best when asked by Ifraimov if she would like to live to be 120, if she were in good health.
"Yes, on one condition, if I can still dance," Linehan said.
