Dance Asylum’s name takes on a different meaning in each class—though the smooth, graceful movements of a foxtrot or a waltz can act as a sort of refuge from the outside world, the pulsating beats that fuel salsa and rumba classes can just as easily send dancers into fits of frenzy. With more than a dozen styles to choose from, students will have their hands full and their feet darting in all directions as they navigate a schedule that includes classes in the hustle, samba, two-step, and other dances gathered from ballrooms and nightclubs around the world.

Though classes may change according to contemporary trends—jazz, express pole dancing, and even aerial arts are some of the current offerings—the studio’s one constant is a staff comprised of professionally trained dancers with certifications and years of experience. These instructors rely on positive reinforcement during private and group lessons, boosting self-esteem by teaming up dancers of similar levels and forcing students to kiss their own reflections in the studio’s wall-length mirror. Once students' confidence reaches its peak, they can glide next door to the dancewear boutique and suit up in a brand-new tutu or feathery skirt.