Fulfill your yearning to shine on the dance floor
Care to dance? If you are looking to perfect moves on the dance floor or to just learn basic steps, head to Mason Road.
A Fred Astaire Franchised Dance Studio is at 1800 S. Mason Road, and Dance with the Stars Academy is at 829 S. Mason. Hunter Johnson is planning to open an Arthur Murray Dance Centers franchise this summer at 3750 S. Mason Road.
Roman Mocharsky, owner of the Fred Astaire franchise, has been dancing since he was 6 years old in his native Ukraine. He started working with the Fred Astaire company in New York, then opened his own studio in 2006 in Katy.
“I selected Katy because I saw great potential there,” he said. “I went to different areas around Houston and decided that Katy was the best.”
Mocharsky said it wasn’t long before couples came in wanting to learn country-and-western dance, Latin moves, waltz, polka, salsa and merengue, and his instructors covered all the bases.
“Everyone can find what they’re looking for here,” he said.
Katia Kuznetsova opened Dance with the Stars Academy in 2007, bringing a dedicated background in ballroom to her students. She has a master’s degree in dance from the Kiev University of National Culture and Art in Ukraine and is a professional performer and choreographer.
Dance with the Stars Academy specializes in youth and pre-teen competitive dance, but also has parent options. Social fun — and art
Kuznetsova said students of all ages are welcome. The youngest is 3 years old and others are in their 60s.
“We teach kids and adults a system that includes technical aspects, different elements and routines,” she said. “We teach competitive and social dance. It’s a sport and also an art form.”
Kuznetsova said ballroom dance is a fun way to exercise.
“You can go to a gym to run, lift weights and work your abs, or you can dance and have more joy,” she said.
Mocharsky said dance can instill poise, posture and confidence.
“It gives you a sense of achievement,” he said. “There are a lot of benefits. It’s physical therapy and emotional therapy. Some people come in to make new friends.”
Clients sign up for private and group lessons and enjoy regular dance parties.
“It’s a night-club atmosphere,” he said. “You learn how to dance and how not to bump into each other.”
Mocharsky said classes are filled with dancers of all abilities, ranging from semiprofessionals to beginners with two left feet.
“Everyone who comes in goes from zeros to heroes here,” he said. “If you don’t know anything at all that’s even better, because you don’t have any bad habits.”
For the professional types, the studio travels to a number of competitions and dance showcases.
“Some people don’t believe in themselves, and dance changes their lives,” he said. “You break through a wall and you see how joyful they are.”
Johnson said that popular television shows like “Dancing with the Stars” and “So You Think You Can Dance” have brought ballroom into the living rooms of homes across the country and encouraged more amateurs to step out onto the dance floor.
He and his wife Maria have helped choreograph both shows and were featured dancers on “America’s Ballroom Challenge.” Tackling Texas 2-step
The couple have been teaching all types of dance in their Cypress studio and wanted to expand the business to more locations.
“In Texas, you have to be able to two-step,” Johnson said. “We also follow the fads. You have to keep up with the trends.”
If a particular dance style becomes popular, it is quickly added to course offerings.
Johnson also plans to host parties in the new Katy studio.
“It’s a safe place to go out dancing,” he said. “Sometimes people don’t want to go out to the clubs. This gives them a place to practice and have fun.”
Most of his students’ ages are from 45 to 65.
“Couples take our dance lessons, and then they have something they can do together,” he said. “It’s good exercise for the mind and body. Knowing how to dance is just the icing on the cake.”