Jennifer Kliegel, owner of the Dance Studio of Park Slope, lives to teach dance. So when she found out that she was being pushed out of her space at 808 Union Street by rising rents she knew what she had to do.
She began looking for a new space in earnest. And that’s not the easiest thing to do in overpriced Park Slope. Seventh Avenue was out of the question. So was Sixth and Fifth Avenues…
Organizations that need large spaces are really screwed when it comes to Park Slope.
So she looked and looked and FINALLY found something on Sackett Street between Third and Fourth Avenues.
Okay, so it’s somewhat off the beaten track for convenience-oriented Park Sloper’s but it’s bigger and better than the old space which had clearly seen better days, was run down, and in need of all kind of modern conveniences like air conditioning, etc.
It’s also a better location to attract students from Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Boerum Hill, Ft. Greene and Brooklyn Heights.
Kliegel is a survivor and she runs a wonderful dancing school. She deserves the neighborhood’s support even if it means more of a schlep to your kid’s dance classes.
The kids, of course, ADORE Jennifer, who started dancing in high school and with academic and dance scholarships trained at Stephens College, MO.
A self-described "jazz, tap, musical-theater baby" she has even danced in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. "I have danced my way onto soap operas, commercials, “Saturday Night Live” and 1st company with “Dance Theatre Dayton," she writes on her web site.
Jennifer came to the Dance Studio in 1981, as a student and immediately started teaching. She became partner in 1989 and the sole owner in 1989. She was one of the Park Slope 100 even before the move. She will most certainly have to be there again.
My greatest joy in life comes from my family back home, my “kid in fur coat” Dyna (my boxer) and the smiles and hugs I get from your kids each day when I walk into the studio. What defines my life is teaching and I love it. I celebrated my 25th Anniversary at The Dance Studio, December 2006.
After a year of great change for both The Dance Studio and me, more than ever, I’m grateful and proud to be here."
What a gal. And what a survivor! Congrats to Jennifer and many more great years of dancing.
Bravo, Jen. We’re parents of Dance Studio alumnae and our kids’ experiences with the Studio and its teachers are firmly part of their memories growing up in the Slope. Jennifer’s smile, enthusiasm and dedication…plus her inspired performances as part of the faculty finales at recitals…are testimonies to her professionalism.
Oh, as for use of aliases, I think I’ll continue to use mine. I appreciate you observations on the issue, but most web-based commentaries use aliases and that’s just the way it is.
We are loyal Dance Studio fans and will be excited to see the new space – my daughter has been taking dance lessons with Jennifer for a few years now and the accounts here and elsewhere of her warm, enthusiastic manner towards her students, esp. the littlest ones, are no exaggeration.
Also, it bears pointing out that the Kidville vs. Dance Studio situation isn’t quite like that of Elementi/Snooky’s – beyond the white hat/black hat angle (Kidville represents the overpriced, soulless, Starbucks of kids’ play spaces, and Dance Studio the beloved local institution that helped create the Slope’s kid-friendly rep, the rep that Kidville and landlord Nick Kotsonis can now take advantage of), 808 Union’s landlord flat out refused to renew the lease and lied about the reason why. I have no affiliation with the Dance Studio other than being the parent of a dance student – I just know how hard Jennifer works and wish her success!