Learn to dance like the stars and get fit
0 Comments | Roanoke Times & World News, Jul 16, 2010 | by Emily Flora
With shows like “So You Think You Can Dance” and “Dancing with the Star” it’s no surprise that dancing is the new craze amongst Americans these days ? not to mention an amazing workout. What you may not have known is that American Dance Centers on Brandon Avenue can teach you just how to dance like the stars on television.
Family owned, American Dance Centers was established in the Roanoke Valley in 1992, but owner Kenneth Kinchen didn’t exactly plan on teaching ballroom dance as a career. In fact, he was in the remodeling business and was remodeling a dance studio and that’s how he was introduced to it.
“That’s how I got into the dance business for about three years,” Kinchen said. “I got into training classes and then eventually started instructing.”
For a few years Kinchen worked at a different dance studio and then opened American Dance Centers, originally located in the Food Lion Shopping Center on Apperson. The location at 4002 Brandon Avenue opened in 2005.
Kinchen and Jeff Nolan, another instructor at American Dance Centers, have 46 years of combined experience.
“It was a big chance when I started this business. I was 29 years old and am probably one of the oldest in the business now. What intrigued me was being around people who were taking lessons before I got into the business.”
Kinchen said his favorite part about teaching people how to dance is people having fun, losing weigh, and trimming up.
“I just saw how these people were having such a good time. It wasn’t really the teaching, it was the people and I’m a people person,” he said. “The reward is when someone comes in and they are struggling and six months later they are developing into good dancers.”
Classes at American Dance Centers range from elementary level, junior high, high school, and then college level. With each class technique teaching increases. They are taught privately or in group sessions.
Students are taught to Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Quick Step, Rumba, Cha-Cha, Mambo, Samba, Bolero, Merengue, East and West Coast Swing and much more.
And the good news is, you don’t have to have a partner.
“I’d rather teach someone that hasn’t had lessons before. Sometimes it’s better to have someone who has never dances before and you don’t have to break old habits,” Kinchen said. “Our bottom line, we teach people how to dance, to the best of their ability. We don’t teach them a dance.”
Classes range from four to 12 people and an introductory class is just $10. Dance parties are also available for students to practice their newly learned moves at with other. And Guest Parties are also available and give students the opportunity to introduce their friends to the studio environment.
According to American Dance students, Jeanette and Mike Divers, who have been dancing at American Dance for four years, “It gave us something to do together and it is great exercise. We are fortunate that we get to spend time together dancing because we are very passionate about it and have grown to love ballroom dancing.”
For Yoshiko Ramirez, also a student, dancing couldn’t have come at a better time
learn to ballroom dance
