Education & Classes in Madison

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In 1947, on New York City's Park Avenue, the first Fred Astaire Dance Studio—cofounded by the eponymous toe tapper himself—opened its doors to the public. More than six decades later, now boasting schools across North America, the dancing institution still adheres to the legendary Mr. Astaire's curriculum and instruction techniques.

Specializing in social ballroom and competitive dances, the schools' current consortium of professional instructors shepherds students of all ages and skill levels through dance lessons that span from classic ballroom and foxtrot romps to the modern steps of salsa, swing, or mambo. In addition to classes, the studio hosts social practice parties where up to 40 students hone newly acquired rug-cutting capabilities. As foot-charming music blares from the speakers, instructors work to cultivate a lively social setting where each guest can dance, mingle, and surgically correct their second left foot without fear of embarrassment.

At The Right Step, instructors Dakota Windancer and Gwen Engel school steppers of all levels during private and group dance lessons. Combined, Dakota and Gwen boast nearly a half-century's worth of dancing and training experience, and over that time, they've developed their own unique curriculum for teaching others how to move. The pair does so atop The Right Step's 3,000-square-foot dance floor, where they guide students during beginner through intermediate sessions, as well as specialty styles including ballroom and Latin.

Dedicated to celebrating family rituals, traditions, and customs in life, White Jasmine dedicates itself to the most popular ritual of all: food. Beyond offering a variety of spices, teas, and flavored gouda cheese in the store, the staff conducts cooking classes in which they impart skills in everything from handling traditional Pakistani woks to converting staples such as rice and bigger rice—also known as potatoes—into gourmet meals. The store's president, Huma Siddiqui, also produces a half-hour cooking show, Everyday Cooking, seen on Madison TVW every Sunday morning.

Director Tom Choudoir, a competitive dancer and University of Wisconsin-Madison mini-course instructor, draws students into both the stately and fiery sides of the ballroom tradition at Dancesport of Madison. During beginner classes, students learn how to move with a partner and distinguish a song’s beat from the sound of a truck backing up, and feet gain the confidence to waltz, tango, and perform more advanced moves in intermediate classes. Zumba fitness parties add cardio to dance steps, melting calories with Latin-inspired shimmies and lively international music.

Tatyana Seamans opened Academy of Advanced Esthetic to share her prodigious aesthetic and cosmetology expertise with dedicated students. Seamans acquired her first license as a medical aesthetician while in the former U.S.S.R., sparking a quest for knowledge that led to seven more licenses and certifications, as well as the undying love of an enchanted princess. Seamans' 600- and 750-hour aesthetician's licensing programs exceed state requirements so her students develop skincare mastery with more hands-on, clinical experience. A menu of pampering treatments for face and body reveals her certification as a PCA Skin product specialist. Continuing-education classes highlight Seamans' proficiency with high-tech treatments such as light therapy and microdermabrasion, which promote cellular rejuvenation and hair reduction for spa clientele.