Four years ago my husband were discussing our dreams for the future. As the co-director of NEW ARTiculations, a non-profit modern dance performing company, I lamented the struggle to find affordable rehearsal space or a studio we could call "home". I told him that what I really wished was that a dance studio would make NEW ART its resident company--a place where we could teach and rehearse.  My husband said, "Why don't YOU just open a studio? How hard could it be?  You just schedule classes, right?" 

 

He had a large room above his nightclub Heart-Five which we could convert into a studio (rent-free!), so we only had to invest in the marley floor, mirrors and some paint.  I discussed it with the company members and they all pitched in to prepare the space and teach classes. One of the members recommended I hire Anton Smith, a fabulous hip hop teacher, since none of us were qualified to teach it. 

 

I designed the Loft after the professional adult studios I admire-- Dance Space in New York (now Dance New Amsterdam) and Velocity, in Seattle. That meant offering drop-in classes and flexible class passes, because busy adults and professional dancers don't want to be tied down to a particular class or a monthly tuition.

 

And so... within three months of conceiving the plan...The DanceLoft was born! 

 

For a while it was a struggle for me to juggle everything-- I kept my day job and I had a baby after the launch of the business. The DanceLoft was a very part-time venture for me.  Last year when my husband sold Heart-Five, I had to decide whether it was worth it to sustain the business if we had to pay rent somewhere.  After much soul-searching, I am happy to report that I am dedicated to sustaining the growth of the DanceLoft.  Hence, the birth of a new space, a new newsletter, and I hope, a continually growing client-base.

 

Thank YOU for being a part of the vision, energy and passion for dance that the DanceLoft is all about.  Without you, we wouldn't be here!