A Dance Dream Come True
By .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
| Share
Del.icio.us
Debby Borges (left) advises Don Smith and his samba partner
Dream to Dance Studio owner Debby Borges sways her hips and moves her arms to the beat of the music as she teaches ballroom and Latin dancing.
Her favorite dance styles include the waltz, hustle and salsa.
“I know dancing made a big difference for me,” says Borges, who established her company in 1991.
You can learn just about any dance move at Dream to Dance because other dance teachers rent space at the studio for classes in hip-hop, hula, belly dance and Cuban-style dancing.
One of Borges’ most interesting dance experiences occurred one night when a man on crutches asked the woman standing in front of her to dance. She looked scared, so the man came around and asked Borges to dance.
“If he’s game, I’m game,” recalls Borges about the Latin night. “He led me with his body; he used to be a salsa dancer. He even did a turn on one leg. I sent him an e-mail to tell him that he wore me out.”
Borges, who is a second cousin to local entertainer Jimmy Borges, started dancing ballet when she was 6 years old. After graduating from the University of Hawaii, the Sacred Hearts grad took ballroom dancing, and excelled in the hustle. She taught with Arthur Murray for eight years, then she taught in Florida for three years.
It was in Florida that she tried to come up with a name for her company and a logo for merchandise.
“That was my dream,” says Borges of teaching dance. “I like being able to see people have confidence and enjoy themselves. It’s a good feeling.”
Her future goals include forming a dance team to present a showcase once a year or to plan a fun boat cruise together.
“The students are my real advertising,” she says. “They are always being my agent. When people ask them, ‘Where did you learn to dance?’ they spread the word about me. They even carry my cards with them.”
The Kaimuki resident rented space at Carmelo’s Dance on Kapiolani Boulevard near Keeaumoku Street before moving into her present studio. Dream to Dance is located at 661 Auahi St., Suite 201 between Keawe and Coral streets. The hours of operation are noon to 10 p.m. weekdays, and 8:30 a.m. to midnight Saturdays. For more information, call 734-0264 or 372-5574.
E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS Comments (0) |
Most Recent Comment(s):
