All ages are welcome at dance center

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MaryAnn and Nanci Grasso’s business danced into the heart of Lynbrook.

MaryAnn Grasso founded Dance Workshop in 1979. She later took on her daughter, Nanci Grasso, as a partner in the business. The business was on Merrick Road for decades until the two decided to move to 16 Atlantic Ave. about a year ago.

“We loved our previous location, but it was time for a lease renewal,” Nanci Grasso said. “And we were in the middle of Covid so we thought it would be a good time to double down on our business.” She decided to expand the store to a much larger space on the second floor of 16 Atlantic Ave.

“I think it was meant to be,” Nanci said about moving her store. “It was the only space that we looked at and as soon as we laid eyes on it, we knew it was meant to be ours.” Since the move, the community has welcomed them with open arms.

“Our families and our community have been so supportive,” Nanci said. “Especially the other businesses on Atlantic Ave. like Vincent’s and Lynbrook Bagels. They’ve really welcomed us and hopefully we’re stimulating the local economy.”

Nanci pointed out the parents can drop their children off at the Dance Workshop and then go grab a bagel or run some errands. She said business has been great since moving, but business was successful before the move.

The primary focus of the Dance Workshop is to offer dance classes for children and adults. “We offer tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, lyrical, competitive dance,” Grasso said. “We’re also dancing at Brooklyn Nets games during halftime at the Barclays and put on performances at Hofstra University as well.”

Dance Workshop also puts on performances for the Christmas and Menorah lightings. “We try to be involved in the community as much as we can,” Nanci said. “We love Lynbrook and we also have a studio in New York City.”

The two opened up a Dance Workshop location in the Upper East Side of Manhattan in 2016. “Our second location in Manhattan, set in a brownstone on 64th Street and Lexington Avenue, will make you feel right at home,” stated on DanceWorkshopNY.com. “Our studio is a safe environment where children can develop friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.”

The original studio location was in Lynbrook and Nanci calls it a “labor of love.” She says that the Lynbrook location has a “New York City loft kind of feeling.” She described this modern feel as “elegant and really different.”

Dance Workshop’s mission is to “preserve the art of dance, teaching our dancers the value of marrying technique, and passion.” One patron of Dance Workshop, Nazia DeFrank, agrees with this mission statement.

“Many of my friends in the community have children who have used the Dance Workshop,” DeFrank said. “They rave about the owners who are a mother and daughter team that have years of experience. It’s a very different feel at the Dance Workshop because the classes vary from hip hop, ballet, jazz, and even musical theatre.”

DeFrank attended the grand opening of the new store location last April and was impressed by the look of the studio. “In the evening, there was a grand opening gala and that was nice because the studio upstairs has the feel and look of a Manhattan loft and it was amazing,” she said. “From the food to the drinks and the ambiance, this was one of the best grand openings I attended in the village of Lynbrook.

“I think the Dance Workshop is one of many robust businesses in the village and it is necessary because it not only teaches a lifelong skill, but it teaches confidence and how to work with a team. The younger classes are filled with amazing dancers and the children were motivated to learn more.”

Another patron, Val Schwartz, had a similar sentiment about the business. “The team there is so professional, talented, and caring,” Schwartz said. “Miss MaryAnn was my dance teacher as a young girl so clearly this is an environment with a strong history of teaching dance. The studio is clean and beautiful.

“It’s great to have a family-owned business in the area. It helps to feel so much trust and familiarity when you’re choosing a learning environment for your child.”

To learn more about Dance Workshop, visit their website, which is https://www.bestprosintown.com/ny/lynbrook/dance-workshop-/