Dina Innominato firmly believes that "everybody knows how to dance, even if they think they can't." To prove this assertion, she opened up a neighborhood dance haven with her friend and fellow dance enthusiast Barb Duff in 2003. Over the course of eight years, the passionate duo has taught more than 4,700 classes and seen more than 75,000 students aged 7 to 70 walk through their intimate, mirror-lined studio, previously named Nia Underground. Since opening, they've acquired a team of instructors to help broaden the spread of classes, which now includes hoop sculpting and strength-training courses. Whether they're teaching students in the studio's signature More than Dance class—created and trademarked by both Innominato and Duff—or in the globally-inspired Zumba class, they work to cultivate a supportive and noncompetitive space where people with and without previous dance experience can let loose, shed pounds, and learn new ways to ceremoniously lacerate rugs.

After descending the stairs to the subterranean dance space bathed in soft, red LED lights, students leave their differences at the door. According to a glowing feature in the Capitol Hill Times, all participants, regardless of age, build, or experience level, "move together…hooting and hollering" as they joyously shake, rattle, and electric-slide across the hardwood floor.