Vendors I Love: DANCE TOGETHER NYC
photo by Shine by O Portraits
Through all of the networking I do, I get introduced to some great individuals. Special thanks to Dominique Padurano for connecting me with Simone back in March. After a lovely conversation, we realized that there are so many similarities in what we do even if the medium is different. I’m also looking forward to ways we can work together in the future. In the meantime, I am super excited to shine a light on dance teacher extraordinaire, SIMONE ASSBOECK of DANCE TOGETHER NYC.
What was the path that lead you to become a dance teacher/choreographer?
I was extremely lucky in that my parents introduced me to ballroom dance when I was just seven years old. I was immediately hooked after my very first class and dance just became a regular activity for me over the years. I ended up taking coaching lessons and doing competitions until it was almost a full-time hobby.
My last dance partner and I had contemplated becoming professional dancers and one of our first decisions together was to get our dance coaching licenses. Teaching others dance allowed us to support ourselves financially and have the flexibility we needed to rehearse and take lessons.
I realized how much I loved teaching during my first dance coaching job. I was especially passionate about teaching people who previously thought they couldn’t dance they could in fact dance…and do it well.
As a dancer and teacher, you either choreograph your own dance shows or for couples you're working with, be it for competition or those who want social dance recital experience.
During this process I had this opportunity to create my own dance company, Rhythm Locura, the premier LGBTQ performance group in New York City. I spent 15 years doing choreography for the group and we had the opportunity to perform at several events including the annual New York City Pride Parade.
What excites you about weddings?
What excites me most is how dance is an amazing opportunity for wedding couples. Many couples come to me for their wedding dance, but it often turns into much more than that because dance is an activity that they’ve never tried before together.
Dance allows couples to create a new hobby for themselves. I’ve worked with couples who have initially seen their first dance as simply a task that needs to be checked off when planning their wedding, but who soon realize that dancing is a great way to strengthen and build their relationship, and spend time with one another.
What also excites me is how I can help wedding couples relieve stress during the wedding planning process. Learning how to dance doesn’t have to be a stressful experience! I love making learning how to dance a fun and easy experience they’ll absolutely love.
What do you look for in a couple?
I look for trust when I’m working with a couple. I want to know they can trust me on the journey that we’re creating together. Sometimes people are a bit hesitant when they come to me and all I ask of them is to trust me for 60 minutes and then we’ll talk further.
I always have the couples’ best interest in mind and working together really is a collaborative process. I always ask couples what motivated them to take dance lessons, be it for their first dance, a date night activity, or a way to reenergize their relationship. Once we’ve discussed that, we take a look at the best plan of action for them, whether that’s group classes or the intimacy of private lessons, as well as which dance style would suit them best.
I especially enjoy working with people who might be initially resistant or hesitant to learning dance. It’s extremely rewarding to be able to show them that dancing is fun and enjoyable and that they can do it!
What is the greatest compliment you’ve ever received?
The greatest compliment I’ve ever received was from a difficult groom-to-be. The couple had arrived for their first wedding dance lesson and it was extremely obvious the man did not want to be there. We had a rough start, but fifteen minutes into the lesson, something changed. There was a spark in his eye and the energy in the room shifted.
At the end of the lesson, he came up to me and said, “Simone, I have something to confess to you. I really did not want to come to this lesson, but you showed me otherwise. This lesson was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed dancing." I was completely flattered that he was brave enough to confess his thoughts and feelings to me in front of his fiancée and pleased the experience was such an enjoyable one for him.
What do you desire for your business?
I desire to turn my business into a full-hybrid dance studio that operates with both live online dance classes and in-person classes in a physical dance studio. I love bringing dance couples together from all over the world during my live online classes.
I also love the flexibility that teaching online gives me: I can reach people who would have little to no opportunity to learn dance, perhaps there’s no local dance studio near them, or a particular dance style isn’t offered in their immediate area. I’m proud that I can reach so many people on so many different levels.
I want to spread the joy of dance and give people the opportunity to find new ways to communicate with each other. Experiencing the joy of moving together to the sound of music can be a really transformational force.
What are you grateful for?
I’m especially grateful my parents introduced me to dance. Dance opened up my horizons as a child in a way that other sports and activities previously hadn’t; dance gave me tremendous opportunity in terms of seeing and relating to the world.
Thanks to dance, I’ve had wonderful global experiences including working with others, traveling to a variety of countries, and learning about different cultures. I view life as a full circle. I love being able to be creative in my business as both a teacher and businessperson. I have been extremely fortunate to be able to follow my passions and make a living from it.
Any recent victory or cause for celebration?
I was able to successfully pivot my business from in-person dance instruction to live online dance instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic. My business literally shifted overnight from only teaching clients locally in the New York City area to clients all over the world.
I am also proud of my recent life and leadership coaching training which I will be using along with my extensive dance knowledge to create a unique training experience for my clients.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT Simone and DANCE TOGETHER NYC, PLEASE VISIT:
AND CHECK HER OUT ONLINE: