THE DANCE WITH ME STORY

Private lessons are all about you. We personalize each lesson based on your individual needs, desires, and goals. We adjust our teaching style to your ability, personality, and expectations. This ensures the most thorough and rapid learning process, while keeping it fun, easy, and comfortable.

Once Upon a Time...

The DWM founders shared a passion and a commitment to the world of social dance. These dynamic and entrepreneurial visionaries were determined to bring a different level of dance studios to the New York City Area. In 2005, Dance With Me studio doors opened in Ridgefield NJ. Today, the DWM studios are located in NJ (since 2005), Long Island (since 2007), SoHo (since 2009) and Stamford, CT (recently opened in May 2012).

But the DWM story really began long before the studio doors opened. It began with a story of a father and son: Sasha & Maksim Chmerkovskiy...

A Father's Dream...

Sasha Chmerkovskiy, like any proud father, knew his son was talented. He watched his son excel in anything he did athletically, whether swimming, soccer or any sport he played. So, he exposed his son to as many sports as he could at a young age. But Sasha saw something special in Maks while dancing onstage in preschool, it was a raw, natural talent. Maks was just 4 years old. Sasha knew then, that dance would be a huge factor in his son's life. Since that day, Sasha strove to ensure his son had access to the best he could provide.

Driven by a vision to watch his son excel, Maks was schooled daily in dance from that day forward. It may have seemed extreme to push his son, but Sasha had always known that his son was destined for something greater when it came to dance. Honestly, if you had asked Maks at 4 if it was his passion, like any 4-yr old, he would have said, "No." But he followed his father's desire and strove to excel. Ten years later, Maks began to value the fruits of his labor and appreciate his father's support and guidance.

A Son's Perseverance...

As the years went by, Maks' career started to become more critical than his father's. Maks began to tutor others at the young age of 16. In two years, Maks not only learned how to train others to dance, but also began to excel in it. Each year that he was successful at training others, Maks and his father started to share a vision. Sasha would have to save up to do it, as well as quit his own job, to ensure the future of his son.

So, at 17 years old, Maks and his father brought their dream to life. They created a place where kids of all ages could learn how to dance, as Maks did. They set out on a mission to provide a positive working environment, where every child would be treated with priority and would be guided with professionalism and commitment. The dream finally became a reality when the Chmerkovskiy father and son team established the Rising Stars Dance Academy in 1998.

During most of his competitive years, Maks juggled his commitment to the kids at RSDA with his own professional career. The road was vigorous, but with the help and support of his father, he was able to reach unprecedented heights in his own dance career, as well as train some of the best dancers in the world. Some of his students went on to be World Champions (first ever in US history), National Champions in every competitive category, and winners in competitions worldwide. One of his students who became a two-time World Champion was his own little brother, Val Chmerkovskiy.

A Mother's Inspiration...

With a dedicated father supporting his son and a son pursuing a dance career and a business, the father/son team would need some added support and direction to achieve the next level of their dream to get more young children exposed to the world of Ballroom Dance. The critical missing link walked right through the RSDA doors.

One day, a mother brought her kids to Rising Stars Dance Academy. Her name was Jhanna Volynets, and after seeing Maksim perform at an event in NYC she was so inspired that she inquired about Rising Stars and enrolled her two children. Traveling two hours each way from her home in Long Island to Rising Stars which is located in NJ, Jhanna quickly fell in love with the world of Ballroom Dance.

With vast experience in the corporate world, as well as her recognized entrepreneurial spirit, Jhanna approached Sasha and Maksim with an idea of expanding their vision. She inspired them to dream beyond their horizons. The combination proved to be successful immediately, as the three founded Dance Team USA, a non-profit organization for the promotion of youth dance programs and one of the biggest youth dance competitions in the country. In the first year, they gave over $30,000 in scholarships to young dancers and still continue the same efforts today. Despite the success, the team aspired to broaden and expose ballroom dancing to a wider audience.

The ultimate goal was to create a world, a brand synonymous with world-class service and a dance experience ahead of its time. At this point, Dance With Me was born. Founded in 2005, Dance With Me Social Dance Studios, a reflection of its founding fathers (and mother!), is a team of passionate individuals who figured out a way to transcend their love for dance into a place where anyone, no matter what shape, color, or size, can learn to dance. And more importantly, be able to indulge themselves in expression through music and movement. The best dancers/instructors and managerial staff in the industry were employed to provide all Dance With Me students a social dance studio environment with the best service and an experience they will never forget.

A Royal Family...

Today, the Dance With Me family is comprised of the best instructors from around the world, who have been awarded distinguished titles, such as: USA Dance National Amateur Champions, US National DanceSport Champions, Junior Latin World Champions, Youth Latin World Champions, Under 21 Blackpool Champions, and US National DanceSport Champions.

DWM Studios is also known as home to Tony Dovolani, Val Chmerkovskiy, together with Maksim Chmerkovskiy, who are not only award-winning dancers, world-renowned dance coaches and choreographers, but also series regulars as professional dance partners to celebrity contestants on ABC's hit TV show, "Dancing with the Stars."

A Never Ending Story...

Nearly seven years and four studios later, Dance With Me Studios made its way to the top of its industry. It has never been just about expansion, but also giving each individual a memorable experience, a healthy outlet, the best instruction, and a team, the DWM Family. They are proud to provide a unique service to all of their clients and students, and be known as one of the leading Latin and Ballroom dance studios.

EVERYBODY CAN DANCE.

No matter the age, shape or dance experience level, the DWM Family believes everybody just needs a comfortable, supportive environment to learn. Dance With Me has now been providing that opportunity to thousands of people at a level that no one has ever achieved before. At DWM, all ages are welcome and all levels, from beginner to advanced, can feel comfortable training within our doors.

The DWM dream has been realized, but our journey together continues...