Soho welcomes a new dance studio

Dance With Me Soho, the third and newest dance studio owned by professional ballroom dancer and Dancing With the Stars cast member, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, opened in the New York neighborhood on Feb. 26.

A New York native, Chmerkovskiy returned home to embrace his new endeavor, a new twist on the typical dance studio. Located on Broome Street in the heart of Soho, the space is filled with history, a huge reason why Chmerkovskiy and his family selected it for the location of the studio.

"Soho is an important part of New York history, a lot has happened in the downtown area. But, still, over the years [it] has managed to preserve its architectural beauty," said Chmerkovskiy. The studio conveys this feeling immediately as patrons are blown away by the beautiful Corinthian columns that fill the center of the room.

Chmerkovskiy said that when he was searching for the studio's location, the Broome Street space stood out for its columns and its antique style, complete with lavish chandeliers hanging from the gold and red walls. The studio would fit perfectly into the sophisticated New York of the past.

Dance With Me Soho manager— and Baruch student — Alex Samusevich says that their goal when creating the space was to "give New York City what it deserved: a great dance studio [that] was intended to respect the culture of lower Manhattan."

While the studio has a classic look, it also has the vibe of a New York City hotspot. "This studio will bring what the other Dance With Me studios have, which is top-quality service in a fun a friendly way, where you will learn from the best, [while] it will take you away from your craziness of life. The studio itself gives you this warm feeling when you enter it, and it is very relaxing," Samsusevich noted.

Chmerkovskiy maintains that he has many future projects planned, including a new dance studio in Miami, which he said he is very excited about because it is a different state with a different lifestyle — but one that is still has nonstop energy.

Now that the new season of Dancing With the Stars is underway again, Chmerkovskiy will be focusing most of his efforts on the show, which he says will be "the best season yet." However, since he travels frequently to New York, he is expecting to continue to expand the studio in the upcoming months.

Dance With Me Soho offers a variety of classes, including ballroom dance, hip-hop, Zumba, and even yoga and Pilates. Samusevich said they will be bringing in world-renowned professionals and featuring dancers from Broadway shows and the Knicks' City Dancers. The studio is not only a great place to got to blow off steam after a long day of school or work, but also a great place to learn dance from some of the best in the business.

Call 212-840-Dance (3262) or visit www.dancewithmesoho.com for more information.

Dance With Me Soho is located at 466 Broome St.