Dance With Me studio to open at Metropica development in Sunrise

SUNRISE — Dance With Me — a growing chain of studios that is home to performers from the popular “Dancing with the Stars” TV show — intends to set up shop at the sprawling Metropica development in Sunrise.

Metropica said the New Yorkbased company has signed a lease to occupy about 2,500 square feet of a planned 18,000-square-foot fitness and beauty court at the residential and commercial complex. It will be integrated into a “wellness” cluster that will include a yoga area, 4-acre park, private beach club with pool, soccer fields and tennis and basketball courts.

“I love South Florida … we also used to dance here every year at the U.S. Open and also hosted our show SWAY here in 2016,” said Maksim Chmerkovskiy, a Dance With Me co-founder and “Dancing with the Stars” veteran, in a statement. “It feels good to come back here.”

The Metropica studio will be the company’s second Florida location and is scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2019. The company currently operates a studio in Boca Raton. Other U.S. locations are in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Nevada and Texas.

Sandie Witmer, vice president of retail real estate at Metropica, said one of her agents identified Dance With Me as a potential fit for the development.

“We really make an effort to find special uses we think will enhance the lifestyle we’re creating at Metropica,” she said on Friday. “We’ve gone around the country and out of the country. One of our leasing agents saw the concept. I’m a huge fan because I love to dance.”

The company offers lessons in International Latin, American Rhythm, International Standard, American Smooth, Social Dancing, Hip-Hop, Contemporary, Jazz and Lyrical.

Other tenants that have signed at Metropica thus far include: iPic Theaters, Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Fogo de Chao, City Works Eatery & Pour House, Genuine Pizza (formerly Harry’s Pizzeria), Sugarboo & Co., Cru Wine Bar, and Kendra Scott Jewelry.

Earlier this year, Metropica topped off its first condo tower, which has 28 floors and 263 units. The developer intends to build seven more residential towers.

The first phase of the retail component is scheduled to break ground this summer. Located at 1800 NW 136th Ave., the development will cover 4 million square feet and contain 2,250 residential condominiums.

DANCE WITH ME/COURTESY Dance With Me founder Maksim Chmerkovskiy, second from left, and partners Val Chmerkovskiy and Tony Dovolani on stage with Peta Murgatroyd, of “Dancing With the Stars.”