Education & Classes in Akron

Twenty-two years ago, Pam Burton counted herself as part of the population of people with two left feet. She struggled through every move during ballroom-dance classes and felt there must be another way to learn the moves. Not being the type of person to wait around for others to take the reins, she decided to reinvent ballroom-dance lessons so everyone—including that two-left-feet group—could easily understand how their feet were supposed to move.

The casual atmosphere inside 2 Left Feet Dance Studio finds students of all experience levels working through dance steps in a group, semi-private, or private setting. Once a month, people can test their newly acquired skills during a ballroom dance with pizza, pop, and a half-hour lesson.

For Adam Weslek, partying was the key to getting in shape. During his one-hour Zumba classes, he transforms the same Latin-inspired dance steps that helped him shed 120 pounds into a celebration of music, movement, and friendship. International music from Grammy-winning producers powers each class, helping students melt calories with arm waves, hip swivels, and air-marimba solos.

Helmed by Julie Buckeye, a globe trekker who has learned dozens of dances during her travels, the team of instructors at World of Dances teaches children and adults of all skill levels to shimmy with international flair and self-confidence. Julie approaches each of her classes with an enthusiasm for disparate cultures and a desire to help students feel great about their own lives, whether they're stretching toward the sun during yoga classes, undulating their hips during belly-dancing classes, or high-fiving themselves during hip-hop classes. Bouncing sun rays enter the World of Dances studio through floor-to-ceiling windows and join students in boogie routines, while the sprawling parking lot outside encourages cars to relax as they work on their suntans.