Dec. 12. It looks like ballroom dancing has legs thanks to dance-inspired television shows and rising interest in dance as an alternative form of exercise. Indeed, classes are filling up at the new Dynamic Ballroom.
An official ribbon cutting was held at the glassed-in dance studio last week thanks to the Lake Norman Chamber. In a twist, owners Christine and JR Hipsky shagged first-class space on Bethel Church Road, building a new brick and glass facility just off West Catawba. They offer private lessons, group classes and open social dances whereyou can waltz in right from the street and you don’t have to have a partner.
Dance is a $3 billion industry with healthy annualized growth in excess of 3 percent a year. Studios nowadays offer everything from Latin-inspired lessons to rental space for parties—Dynamic will host a New Years Eve party Dec. 31.
JR began ballroom dancing in his hometown of Pittsburgh, PA. He tried a Jitterbug dance class at a church hall outside of the University of Pittsburgh campus just out of high school. That class quickly led to other classes and styles of dancing, which would eventually lead to a teaching position at a franchised ballroom studio in Pittsburgh.
His wife Christine began her ballroom dance career as a senior in high school where she learned just enough of the basics at a local ballroom studio to spark her interest in the dance style. She then joined the Ballroom Dance Team at Ohio State University, where she competed in International Latin and Standard as well as American Rhythm and Smooth for four years, taking home the title of National Collegiate Latin Champion during her junior year.
Newly installed Mayor Woody Washam as well as Lake Norman Chamber CEO Bill Russell attended the ribbon-cutting.
