Business Profile: Epic Dance Center, Mahopac
DAVID PROPPER PHOTO
Raising three children that enjoy dancing—one son and two daughters—Sue Solazzo used to shuttle the trio to dance studios going back to pre-school.
But last September, Solazzo decided when she drove them to dance she was actually driving to her new business, Epic Dance Center in Mahopac along Route 6. Knowing how much her children have benefitted from dance, Solazzo wants to spread how much an advantage it is to others in the community.
“I opened to work in a really fun environment and to enhance my children’s lives as well as their friends and other kids their age,” she said. “To bring something different to dance education.”
Epic Dance Center is built on being more than just your run of the mill dance studio. While students of all ages get top-notch dance lessons from professional instructors, Solazzo, a Somers resident, really believes that dance goes farther than just a classroom. Community service is a critical part of Epic Dance, she stressed.
The studio is part of More Than Just Great Dancing, which is meant to give back to the community. Only 200 other studios are part of the organization. Epic Dance fundraises for worthy causes, performs in public venues and nursing homes, and participates in other volunteerism.
“With dance, we really encourage there to be more than just coming in, taking dance classes and leaving,” Solazzo said. “We want the kids to feel a lot of pride in that they work hard and perform as much as possible, but that they’re doing something for others.”
As Solazzo ensures dancers at the studio give back to the community, she is also mindful to make sure they are like a family within Epic Dance. Every kid has some friends from whatever they school they go to, but Solazzo points out they also form bonds with different boys and girls from all over Putnam and Northern Westchester. Students can also dance with different age groups that allow younger students to look up to older ones.
Epic Dance hosts birthday parties and other events. Because of how spacious the interior is, multiple classes can occur at once. Sometimes mothers that drop their kids off can even take a fitness class as they wait for their child’s session to end.
For those parents they can’t help watching their kids perform, the windows a big enough to see everything.
Solazzo has the unique aspect of being a “dance mom” and also business owner. She thinks it’s important to solely focus on the business side of the studio, and let instructors take control of the dance classes.
As focused only on the business, Solazzo said it allows the dance teachers to only think about instructing dance and students. She handles booking events, ordering costumes, advertising, paying bills, and other important details.
Solazzo, a hard worker, always knew she’d be interested in opening her own business. As long as it involved kids and education, she’d be happy, and to have her children share that with her is even better.
“They are super proud of their mom,” she said. “But they’re also really proud to part of a dance studio that really is doing a lot of good things and providing a lot of opportunities for the girls that are here.”
Epic Dance Center is located at 926 Route 6 in Mahopac and its phone number is 845-628-5678.
