West San Jose Resident

Cover Story

Dance, Dance Revolution

The Dance Zone hosts workshop taught by Taye Diggs

By Tiffany Carney

Westgate Mall offers a wide variety of shopping opportunities from Target to Burlington Coat Factory, but what most may not know is that the West San Jose shopping center is also home to a dance studio.

Downstairs, tucked between Hancock Fabrics and Orange Julius, is The Dance Zone, a 5,000-square-foot dance facility with three studios.

The Dance Zone is the creation of Christine Bettencourt, a mother of three daughters who each took an interest in dance. Bettencourt is the brains behind the business, but The Dance Zone could not function without the help of dance instructor and director Jenn Georgandas.

"We were working in another studio, and we were getting an idea of what worked and what didn't work," Bettencourt says.

Three years ago the two decided to start a company of their own to meet the expectations of parents and students alike.

"I am not a dancer; I am just a mom of three competitive dancers," says Bettencourt, who spent countless hours in dance studio lobbies.

Bettencourt enlisted the help of dance teacher Georgandas, who's been dancing since age 5 and teaching for five years at another studio.

The Dance Zone has come a long way from its original 12 students in Bettencourt's garage three years ago. It now boasts seven instructors, 75 active classes and 225 students.

Bettencourt's daughters still dance at the school and her oldest, Amy, 17, teaches at the facility.

A mall may not sound like an ideal place for the business, but it has proven to be a prime location. The three studios are downstairs, so they cannot be seen from the mall, but a poster and some fliers at the door have drawn interest.

Bettencourt has considered adding a fourth studio, but right now, the space allotted suits them just fine, she says.

Within the three studios, tap, jazz, ballet and lyrical dance and tumbling classes are offered for students as young as 18 months up to adults.

Instructors promote good sportsmanship and a positive dance environment by staying on top of behavioral issues, which can be a problem in some studios, Bettencourt says.

Dedication is also one of the main components of The Dance Zone, Bettencourt adds. "We want [students] to be able to get the technique and all the structure, but yet still have fun in a positive environment."

Georgandas, who was a child development major at San Jose State University, teaches 20 hours per week, mainly younger children.

"It keeps me going," she says, with a smile. "I have a good time with them, and it is fun to watch their progress."

Georgandas adds it's exciting to watch as they master a simple dance step.

"[Dance] is just my passion, and it is so fun to be able to give it to other people," she says.

Parents can also get involved through the half-hour, "Mommy and me" classes for those with children under 2.

Bettencourt always enjoyed spending time watching her daughters practice and perform, so she created a space for parents to watch as their children practice.

Younger children can be viewed in the studio though a window that doubles as a mirror; they cannot see their parents watching and are not distracted from their lesson.

Older children can also be viewed from outside the studio via a monitor in the parent waiting area.

Cathy Gomez's two children have been dancing since age 3. Her family was one of the first to sign up with the studio.

"We've been with The Dance Zone since the beginning," Gomez says with a laugh as she remembers her children dancing in Bettencourt's garage.

"The best thing about The Dance Zone is that my kids both feel really at home and comfortable here." Gomez adds that the facility is also child-oriented and family-friendly.

Gomez appreciates the small class sizes and believes her children are receiving top instruction.

Many students have even won awards, scholarships and cash prizes for their performances.

Gomez's children are members of The Performing Company, an advanced, competitive dance team within The Dance Zone.

The company practices long hours in preparation for competitions throughout the state under the direction of instructor Gina Marquez.

Prior to joining the team, each student must audition in addition to enrolling in a jazz and tap class. Company members put in a minimum of four hours of dance time at the studio each week.

These advanced students, age 9 to 18, have to find time to complete their homework and can do so in an on-site homework room.

Bettencourt wanted to provide an area for homework to accommodate dancers with hectic schedules.

Jessica Egbert, 14, utilizes the homework room. Jessica, who has been dancing since she was 2, is a part of the company and spends 10 hours per week at the studio.

"If we have a half-hour break between classes, we can get some of our homework done. Instead of sitting down and waiting, we can be productive," says Jessica, who takes six classes each week.

Students who cannot make such a commitment can also drop in for a $17 fee in any of their hour-long classes.

The studio is open year-round and offers special weeklong dance camps during the summer and winter.

School-wide performances take place in June. Last year more than 500 dancers and instructors performed at the McAfee Center at Saratoga High School.

Through the years Bettencourt has developed a passion for dance, but her favorite job perk is being with her family.

"My job is with my kids," she says. "I'm able to be involved in their activity and make a living from it at the same time."

Just outside the main office, Bettencourt is also in the process of starting a dance store on the premises.

"We've just started selling tap shoes, ballet shoes and a couple leotards," says Bettencourt, but a full store with dance apparel and accessories will soon be fully operational.

Between performances, both large and small, students at The Dance Zone always have something to look forward to--their latest event is an upcoming class taught by a guest instructor.

Taye Diggs, star of the ABC series Private Practice, is not only a well known actor but also a dancer. He and his business partner Andrew Palermo are set to host two, 1 1Ž2 hour dance workshops Feb. 24.

Diggs, whose credits include the Broadway production of Rent and the motion picture How Stella Got Her Groove Back, will teach one advanced hip-hop and one advanced jazz class to dancers who sign up.

The cost is $40 per class, $60 for both, or $20 to observe a class and meet Diggs. Due to a large interest, the classes will be held at the Campbell Community Center. Space is limited.

The Dance Zone is located at 1600 Saratoga Ave., Suite B1 in Westgate Mall. For a complete list of classes, visit dancethezone.com or call 408.871.9190.