Body Language Dance Center students Louis Williams, Dean Meissner, Chloe Davis, Makayla Rodriguez, James Gummel, Alexis Boguslawski, Jasmine Bell, Kamari Zahir, Khiya Zahir, Rachel Corban, Ryan Rego, Chloe Miller, Esther Williams and Joi Johnson.
By Jacquelyn Pillsbury
Travis Breen and Eric McCotter are celebrating the grand opening of Body Language Dance Center’s newest dance studio.
The new 5,000 square foot facility, located at 1320 Parkway Avenue features three dance studios, a spacious waiting area, and ample parking.
Body Language Dance Center is located directly behind CVS on Scotch Rod in a stand-alone building, in the former General Motors Hall.
Breen and McCotter, co-founders of Body Language Dance Center, said they want to build the arts community in Mercer County, and located the studio in Ewing because it is centrally located between Philadelphia and New York.
Breen and McCotter are both accomplished dancers. They have performed and choreographed dances and shows all across the United States, Guam, and Europe. Each started dancing at a young age.
“We are particularly trying to get more boys to dance. Hip hop gets kids active again, and exercising. We want to see them becoming a lot more active,” Breen said.
The men founded Body Language Dance Center six years ago in a small facility off of Parkway Avenue with just two rooms. As their studio grew, both in numbers of students and types of classes being offered, they knew that it was time for a change.
That change came in September when Body Language Dance Center held a grand opening in its new location. When it opened its doors in 2008, it had 80 students.
The studio now has 210 students from Ewing, Hamilton, Lawrenceville, Milltown, Pennington, Hopewell, and Trenton, as well as Yardley, Levittown, and Morrisville, Pa.
Body Language offers classes Monday through Thursday afternoons, and all day Saturdays for beginner through advanced instruction in ballet, jazz, tap, pointe, lyrical, contemporary, modern, hip-hop, acro and musical theater. For younger students, they also provide Combo classes (Ballet/Tap) and Hip-Hop Bop.
In addition to Breen and McCotter, classes are taught by nine teachers. Each teacher has a passion for their particular class, McCotter said. “That passion comes across to the students in the class.”
Students are invited to perform in their annual recital to be held on June 22 at the Patriots Theater in the War Memorial in Trenton. The theater boasts a professional sound and lighting system. They will wear costumes. It is a very special evening for everyone, said Breen.
In addition to teaching school age students, Body Language Dance Center also has a wide variety of Adult Classes, including ballet, hip-hop, tap, Zumba and Pilates. These classes are a great way to stay active and get in shape.
Body Language Dance Center has a nationally recognized and award-winning competition team for students interested in a competitive and intensive dance education. All interested students must audition to participate in the competition team.
They also offer birthday parties at the studio. Themes range from hip hop to princess dance party to glow in the dark dance party — something for every age. “Our business is very kid-oriented. We start teaching kids as young as 2 ½,” Breen said.
I love this business. I love coming to work every day,” said McCotter.
Body Language Dance Center. (609) 882-3222. 1320 Parkway Ave. Suite: A, Ewing. BodyLanguageDanceCenter.com
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