New dance studio slated to open in Marquette Township

Marquette County is home to a new dance studio that has a little international flare.

Studio Dance Arts is a franchise based in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.  The studio is located on U.S. 41 in Marquette Township near Commerce Drive.

Studio Dance Arts is considered an international dance studio, so it can bring different programs and choreographers for its dancers.

“With that label (as an international dance studio) and with those resources in Canada we can definitely bring different resources and open a lot of doors for students, by guest choreographers coming in, doing choreography and doing conventions,” Studio Dance Arts director Ashley Carlstom said, a Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan native who graduated from NMU.

“Every school has a different energy and fill a different niche, which is really important,” Studio Dance Arts executive director Richard Kim said.  “For us, we try to be all encompassing with different levels of dancers, all different ages.  Not only do we want to promote a really strong technical foundation, but we want to promote the fun and fitness of dance as well.”

Studio Dance Arts will also offer Zumba and other group fitness classes.

The studio also plans on separating its dance divisions, allowing students the opportunity to commit to intense dancing.

“We have a competitive program that is quite comprehensive, and we do separate those dancers as far as their training goes,” Kim said.  “So we run like a professional company.  We have company classes just for those students.”

“We do a lot of workshops and master classes.  We bring in a lot guest artists, a lot of guest teachers and choreographers to work with the students, and they do a lot of competitive events regionally and nationally.”

Registration is now open for classes, and those will start the first week of June.  More information on class schedules can be found by visiting the studio’s website, Facebook page, or by calling (906) 379-0525.