The Dance House of Brooklyn (TDHB) in Brooklyn, New York, is a state of the art facility that offers classes in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, musical theatre, gymnastics and more. They offer both recreational and company level programs taught by professionals in the industry. The Dance House’s focus is fundamentally on technique; however, they also value and encourage artistry, teamwork and perseverance from their students. The faculty at The Dance House aims to create a warm, safe and versatile environment for children to grow and experience the art of dance and is committed to giving their students the best education possible. They offer the best of both worlds – teachers who grew up in a dance studio with a family atmosphere and teachers who have international performance experience in both theaters and films. Their teachers have taught students from preschool to professionals. Many of their faculty are recognized and honored with awards for their performances and choreography. TDHB is committed to giving their students every opportunity possible. If a parent gets the “bug” while watching their child dance, they can join The Dance House’s two adult classes – Kickboxing and Zumba classes!
It is the viewpoint of Nicole Ventura, TDHB’s Director and Owner, that what separates the Dance House of Brooklyn from other dance studios is their concentration on classical ballet. They feel it is imperative for their competition team to strengthen and hone their technique in each and every ballet class. Each year they attend a variety of competition venues to challenge their students. They value healthy competition and good sportsmanship at all venues. After all it is not about the trophy, the experience is what is most valuable.
A 1 ½ year old that dances when they hear music is the perfect child for The Dance House’s 
fun and interactive Mommy and Me classes where they have music, creative movement and interactive games. They will advance to Pre-Ballet at 2 ½ and at 4 years old, they will be able to take a class consisting of tap, ballet and energetic jazz movement. All classes starting with pre-ballet will be eligible to participate in their spectacle end of the year recital.
Nicole’s proudest moment coaching has been when she sees a student’s technique and artistry blend as one. It is one thing to teach a child how to dance but being able to feel their love through each and every movement takes you to a whole different place.
The biggest mistake Nicole has seen dancers make is giving up. Most students initially shy away from a challenge because they feel they are not good enough. She encourages those students to stand tall at that time and push even harder. No child is allowed to say they can’t at the Dance House of Brooklyn. Nicole feels this is not only important in the dance world but it is important in life. Creating this attitude promotes success and hard work, never give up!
Nicole’s goal for this year is to offer her students the most well rounded faculty she could provide. She believes it is important for children to learn all different styles of dance from a multitude of professionals in the industry. In her opinion, such versatility will prepare her students for a career on Broadway, in a company, or even television or film where they will encounter many different teaching styles and genres of dance.
Ever since Nicole was a young girl, she always dreamt of having a studio to call her own. Her mentor, Rachel Bascietto, taught her how to be the best dancer, teacher and studio director that she could be. Her priority was never monetary. What made her influential were her love, respect and devotion to the development of her students. She opened her studio in her mentor’s memory, in hopes of passing on her legacy.
Nicole has been dancing since she was two years old. From the beginning, she knew that dance was her passion. Her training continued in many different genres. In 1999 and 2000, Nicole travelled to Germany to represent the United States in the World Dance Finals. She has earned numerous accolades including several recognized and National awards. When she was only fourteen years old, she was asked to teach and she jumped at the opportunity. At that point, her love of choreography was born. She has since been asked to teach and choreograph for many studios. According to Nicole, “It is truly an honor to have these opportunities. I love to see my visions come to life.” She is very committed to her students and has enjoyed watching many of them win National titles. Nicole teaches recreational dance to her “kids” from 2 to 21 years old and also prepares those who desire a future career in the world of competition dance.
Something they value greatly at The Dance House is creating a family like atmosphere. It is important for the students to not only have a place to dance, but to also have a place to call their second home. Nicole thanks her father tremendously for his support. When constructing the studio, he made sure to create a space for the students to study, play and even grab a bite to eat before class. After all, their slogan “A Rae of Light,” in honor of Rachel Bascietto, illustrates a shining light always leading them towards greatness.
If you would like more information about The Dance House of Brooklyn, visit their website at http://thedancehouseofbrooklyn.info, call them at 718-531-3300 or 718-531-3301 or email them at dancehouseofbrooklyn@gmail.com. You can also “Like” them on Face book, connect with them on Integram and view them on YouTube.
Please post a comment if you have had any experience with Nichole Ventura of The Dance House of Brooklyn.
