By Katya Hughes
Owner/Instructor
Arizona School of Dance
Have you ever watched ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” and admired the great costumes, exciting music, and beautiful dancers? With the growing U.S. popularity of Ballroom dance, boys and girls can now experience the joy of this up-and-coming genre.
Born in Russia, I started dancing at the age of 5. Dance was my life – rehearsals, competitions, costumes, and soon the opportunity to teach my own students. My mother started a dance school simply so that I would have a place to dance, and now it is one of the most successful dance studios in Russia with over 250 students. I moved to the US on an academic scholarship and launched a very successful career at one of the largest corporate aerospace companies. The discipline, leadership and continuous strive for improvement I acquired during my dance years have helped me tremendously in every aspect of life. After my daughter was born, I returned to what I was meant to do – share my love for dance and passion for teaching with the residents of Arizona and their kids.
Dance and Kids
It is rewarding to watch my students, 3 to 9 year old boys and girls, make their first steps in dance, exploring the world of music, movement, creativity and self-expression. It is an exciting journey, which challenges their physical, emotional and social skills. Great for exercise and a wonderful way to spend hot summer days, dance prepares kids for any type of future activities by building focus, drive and self-confidence.
Ballroom Dance
There are two official programs of Ballroom Dance: Standard (Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot and Quickstep) and Latin (Samba, Cha-Cha-Cha, Rumba, Paso Doble and Jive). To get children prepared for these or any other dance styles, the initial goal is to develop their sense of rhythm, coordination, and ability to follow instructions through fun, simple and engaging Kid Dances. You can find pictures of the classes for children as well as professional dancers at www.azschoolofdance.com. I am excited that the home of Arizona School of Dance is Desert Ridge – a growing, family-friendly community, where I live and teach.
