September 2, 2005

Leave your two left feet at Dance Masters door

By Carol Rosen
Editor

There are quite a few of us out there who believe that we have two left feet and no sense of rhythm. Well, if you’re interested in correcting that misconception, join Dance Masters for a few lessons.

Owners Cecilia Giovacchini and Patrick Ellison are competitive dancers who decided it would be fun to have their own studio and to teach people how to dance. So in May, they began looking around for a place and found it in Willow Glen. It’s the only ballroom dance studio in Willow Glen, Giovacchini said.

The two put the studio, located at 1275 Lincoln Ave. in Suite 13, together in about seven days. That included taking out all the carpeting, painting, laying down a wood floor. They held their grand opening on June 13, and many of their students followed them to Lincoln Avenue. They teach both competitive and social ballroom dancing.

“This is an entirely new business for us. We both are totally inexperienced in running a business. But we’re happy to be here in Willow Glen,” said Giovacchini. In addition, she noted that “we’ve been very lucky to have a substantial number of clients follow us.”

Between them, the two dancers have about 12 years of experience. Both are competitive dancers, but have different partners. Ellison competes in International Latin dances while Giovacchini does International Latin and American Rhythm. They also attend local competitions to get their studio’s name out to the world and to meet with coaches and judges.

“We have coaches and judges that come into our studio on a regular basis and coach our students. It’s amazing to have professional champions work with students on their own dancing,” said Giovacchini.

Traveling to competitions and bringing coaches and judges into the studio allows their students to get to know these people and helps them get other perspectives on dancing.

Ellison and Giovacchini teach a number of dances including the rhumba, cha cha, swing, salsa, waltz, fox trot, tango, hustle and nightclub two-step. In addition, Ellison and Giovacchini plan to add a cardio dance class this month, probably on Saturday afternoons.

Dance Masters, which is also known as Studio 13, offers both private and group classes for social dance. The two take these students out to nightclubs once or twice a month. In addition, Ellison and Giovacchini are affiliated with the Monte Carlo nightclub in Sunnyvale where they also teach group classes on Thursday nights.

As for those of us who complain of two left feet or a lack of rhythm, there’s really no such thing, said Giovacchini. “I have to give a lesson first to determine what’s wrong, but there’s only been one or two people in six years that I’ve met who have been unable to go as far as they want.

“Rhythm can be taught. Obviously, it’s easier to teach someone who knows they have rhythm, but you can always teach someone to dance.”

As far as Giovacchini is concerned, a good dance teacher is like a chameleon. “You mold yourself to the student. Each person responds differently and each learns in a different way. But you can always pull out the dancer, you just have to find the key to bring the dancer out.”

Currently, Dance Masters offers individual private lessons at $78 per lesson with packages lowering the fee. For example, if a student buys a package of five or more lessons, the price drops to $68 per lesson. For package plans, there’s also a 10-12 percent discount depending on which package is chosen.

The studio, at 1275 Lincoln Ave., is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Ellison teaches on Thursday nights at the Monte Carlo nightclub in Sunnyvale from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. and often there is social dancing for the remainder of the evening.

For more information, or to set up an appointment, call (408) 294-1313.