New Dance 101 Opening in Alpharetta

By Kelly Skinner 

Go ahead and call it the year of Ofelia de La Valette. Her successful dance studio, Dance 101, recently attracted the attention of actress, activist and New York Times bestselling author, Marlo Thomas, who chose to profile de La Valette in the forthcoming book, It Ain't Over....Till It's Over (Simon & Schuster, April 2014). And, following the popularity of her Briarcliff Road studio, de La Valette is readying to open a second location in Alpharetta this January.

Like its predecessor, this locale will focus primarily on beginning dance and dance fitness classes for adults, offering a slew of its popular “discover” classes, as well as a host of advanced and professional-level classes.

The edgy new venue brings the outdoors in, with interior brick walls and strands of exposed bulbs framing the dance floor. Designed by architect William Rossoto of Rossoto Art, LLC, this new locale will be significantly cozier at 2,800 square feet—with one sprawling studio and a serene check-in space. Conveniently located near Windward Parkway and GA 400 at 735 N. Main St., Alpharetta, Dance 101's approachable new location will be a welcome addition to the neighborhood, and will serve as the first dance space of its kind in the area.

The non-traditional studio will feature more than 60 different classes each week, including stand-out offerings like Dancer's Stretch and Conditioning, MaddX Dance Fitness, Caribbean Calypso, Bollywood, Salsaholic and Rockette Boot Camp. The Alpharetta location will be open seven days a week with classes running from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday, and 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Though primarily aimed toward adults—no kids allowed!—the Alpharetta location will offer teen programming with classes that include Ballet for Athletes, Ballet Barre, Hip Hop and Dance Team. With Alpharetta High School located just down the road, de La Valette hopes these classes will offer an “exercise outlet to students who are not participating in a team sport,” as well as an opportunity to “enhance student performance in cheerleading, dance and team sports.”

In conjunction with the opening, discounted class options will be offered for a limited time.

About Dance 101

Dance 101 is Atlanta's premier adults-only dance studio tailored to beginners. The brainchild of Ofelia de La Valette, the studio has grown to include a clientele of over 20,000 students since its inception in 2004. Offering a wide range of dance styles and techniques suitable for both the true beginner and the seasoned professional, Dance 101 is unlike any other dance studio in the country.

For more information, visit www.dance101.org