Few cities can call themselves a global crossroads like New York City can. The city has endless opportunities to meet new people and engage in a variety of activities and experiences. With a heart big enough for the whole planet, the city lives in a rhythm like no other, supporting various vibrating artistic scenes.
The owner of two Fred Astaire Dance Studios, Timofey Shalnev, stands at the dead center of the city’s vibrant activities: the ballroom dance scene. It’s been seventeen years since he came to the United States and introduced numerous people to the joy of dance.
“Some people learn how to dance for fun; some do it to improve their health or because they want to lose weight,” Timofey says. “I have students who want to have a positive influence in their life, who come in after divorce or some tragic moment in their life and want to find a new hobby that will help them feel achievement. Some people dance to have a good time; others start competing.”
Whatever their reason for picking up dancing, Timofey Shalnev and his teams at the Midtown and Chelsae Fred Astaire Dance Studios are there to show them the way. Knowing that New York is full of highly competent dance instructors and teachers, Timofey had to make extra efforts to ensure his locations stand out and get a place among the top-ranked dance studios in the country.
He has to take everything into account, starting with the location. “The new location is in a gorgeous building, with a doorman, an elevator, and a beautiful state-of-the-art facility,” Timofey explains the new opulent studio on Fifth Avenue.
The heart of the dance studio is the people who work there. Because of the abundance of great teachers who live and work in New York, Timofey has to ensure that the people on his team have something extra to offer. Apart from guaranteeing the instructors’ technical skill set, he ensured that his teachers come from various backgrounds and have the personality types and communication skills needed to make their clients comfortable.
“I go above and beyond to ensure students have a good experience. I pick every teacher, and if I bring someone in, they have to be stellar at dancing and communication skills,” says Timofey. “Some people that come in are shy. Some are self-conscious because they may be overweight or have other self-esteem issues. My staff has to be able to handle any situation.”
These instructors are a group of championship-winning competitors and championship-level ballroom dancers from around the world. Sharing the dance floor with someone famous is an attractive opportunity; it’s the acceptance and patience that does the trick for others.
It’s hard to say what that secret ingredient for creating a unique vibe at a place might be, but Timofey has nailed it and employed it to the maximum extent. While the flagship location has had more time to develop its gracious personality, the new location, at Chelsea, has been the talk of the town recently.
“We are a diverse company. I have teachers from around the world, and we are minority friendly,” explains Timofey. “Especially our Chelsea location, it has a strong LGBTQ+ clientele and lots of same-sex couples who have a fantastic experience in a safe environment and a level of acceptance and equality.”
The Midtown Studio and Timofey Shalnev were recognized for their contribution to the culture of dance in the United States. “People want to come back,” Timofey concludes. “And they also recommend us to their friends. It’s been a great success in creating places where people can learn how to dance despite any inhibitions they might otherwise have. Having repeating customers shows them that they’re doing something right.”
