"Quick! Quick! Slow!" Kristen Prall called out while dancing in front of the mirrored wall inside Dance Workshop, as her class of men and women followed her lead. Prall, who owns the dance company, Art In Motion, taught ballroom and salsa dancing in this session.
The 2004 Masuk alumna, studied dance at Vassar and went on to dance competitively before starting her own company in Monroe this year.
"I'm just starting here and am very excited," said Prall, who still dances competitively.
She has floor space rights at Dance Workshop, 500 Monroe Turnpike, and is close to coming to terms at a second location.
Art In Motion offers lessons in basic and beginner levels with basic techniques in step patterns for men and women of all ages. The current class ranges from a 10-year-old girl to a 70-year-old, according to Prall.
"I also do private classes for couples who want to dance socially and father and daughter dances for weddings," she said. "It's really nice to help someone on one of the most special days of their life. And it's also great to give people a hobby. It's something people can do together."
Aside from fun and exercise, Prall said there are other benefits to dancing, including retention of mental faculties. Dance makes you use another part of the brain, reducing the risk of alzheimer's and dementia, according to Prall.
Dancing to Win
Prall used to teach for the Fred Astair Dance Studio, as well as dance competitively. There, she and her partner always finished at the top of their category.
"It's not just who's better," Prall said of dancing with a partner. "You have to have a good working relationship."
Prall hopes to establish a good relationship with a new partner when they compete in a DanceSport competition in October.
She has competed for cash prizes in Puerto Rico, Stamford and New York City.
The next wave of group classes offered by Art In Motion will be in September and there is a $30 introductory lesson to see if it's right for you. For information, call Prall at 203-816-7789.
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