Dance Lessons in South River

Jon Tariq's passion for body movement and balance began with four years of martial-arts training before being drawn toward different styles of dance. In his early 20s, he had fallen hardest for tango, and began to pursue a career that led to instructing dancers internationally and performing in Lincoln Center and the Waldorf-Astoria. His specialty is the traditional Argentine tango, and he imparts his knowledge and passion to students of all experience levels through a philosophy that likens the dance to an unspoken language between dancers.

The spirit of Russian Imperial Ballet–legend Olga Preobrajenska jetés over the New York Conservatory of Dance. Founder Vladimir Dokoudovsky—a Monaco-born dancer who worked extensively in Paris before arriving in New York—picked up Preobrajenska's philosophy of pure lines and elegant movements through close study with her at the École des Beaux-Arts. Though Dokoudovsky passed away in 1998, the conservatory is now overseen by his widow Patricia Heyes Dokoudovsky, who focuses especially on bringing classical ballet to adult beginners.

The Conservatory's studio is as stately as its lineage. Dark wood embraces its double-decker space beneath pendant lamps hanging from 28-foot ceilings, with a mezzanine for watching the dancers below and getting a look at the complicated system of pins and pulleys that hold each bun in place.:m]]

School directors Diego Di Falco and Carolina Zokalski spent years dancing in Buenos Aires before they launched their professional dancing careers at the age of 20 by landing roles in the touring production of Forever Tango. When the show made its way to the U.S., the two became two of the youngest tango dancers in history to make it to Broadway. Like a puppy at show-and-tell, they earned enthusiastic acclaim, eventually picking up a Tony nomination for their choreography. These achievements were only the beginning of careers that graced the stages of Carnegie Hall, the Marquis Theatre, the Hollywood Bowl, and other esteemed venues.

Their reputations secured, Carolina and Diego turned to sharing the art of Argentinian dance with students, which they do today at Summit's Twin Maples mansion, a neoclassical home listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Inside, the hardwood dance floor is lit by chandeliers and accented by classical touches such as crown molding and bronze curtain rods, giving one the sense of dancing at a presidential ball or in a really, really fancy broom closet. There, the pair strives to make each step as authentic as possible by importing traditional music and guest artists directly from Argentina for the classes, workshops, and performances they helm.

Students arrive at Ballroom Dance of NJ seeking to learn the elegant art of social dancing, a tradition carried on by Russia natives Sergei and Olga Bezrodnov. The husband-and-wife team has taken home numerous Russian and U.S. championship titles, and the two are committed to sharing their passion for dance with the community.

Having experienced how ballroom dancing can promote both physical and mental well-being, the Bezrodnovs teach adults, children, and entire families how to gracefully navigate the dance floor. They coordinate events where couples can demonstrate their skills in styles such as the foxtrot, waltz, tango, cha-cha, and swing, preparing soon-to-be-wedded couples for their big day and singles to pass the time in malfunctioning elevators.

From the gleaming wood staircase, trimmed with an ornate, wrought-iron railing, you can peek into both of Studio 43’s bright dance studios. The first story’s mirror-lined walls reflect dancers as they shake hips and follow expert instructors through merengue or salsa steps. Upstairs, lavender walls dotted with sun-snagging windows surround a small group of yogis as they stretch through 60-minute classes. When they aren’t leading dance seminars, teachers coach participants in fitness-geared sessions such as Zumba and hip-hop that torch calories and two-left-footedness to the high-energy beats of Latin-inspired music.

As a child in Argentina, Nancy Gerardi soaked up the Spanish and Italian songs of her grandmother—many of them filtered through her father’s spirited accordion playing. Naturally, this musical upbringing led her to discover her talent for dance at a young age. It wasn’t until she arrived in the United States, however, that she decided to combine this talent with her skills as a businesswoman to open her own dance studio.

Today, at My Passion Dance Studio & Entertainment, Nancy translates the music of her youth into fun and fluid dance steps. Whether in private classes or small groups, her students strut and stomp on helpless piñatas as they learn spirited Latin dance styles such as merengue, bachata, tango, and flamenco. Nancy’s studio doesn’t limit its offerings to the styles she grew up with, though. Students can also learn the graceful moves of ballet, jazz, or hip-hop, or take lessons in piano and guitar.