Two Left Feet? Make That Four. We Took the Plunge Anyway.
Confession time: I have spent six decades successfully avoiding dance floors. Wedding receptions, beach band concerts, New Year’s Eve parties — you name it, I’ve perfected the art of the strategic bathroom break the moment the music starts. So, when Intracoastal Living account executive Becky Crager and I walked into Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Wilmington, we weren’t exactly brimming with confidence.
“Between us, we have four left feet,” I warned.
Alex Zyrianov, the studio’s owner, just smiled. He’s heard it all before.
Since 1947, Fred Astaire Dance Studios has built a reputation on one simple promise: anyone can learn to dance. The Wilmington studio, nestled on Oleander Drive a half-mile from Eastwood and Military Cutoff, carries on that tradition with a team of professional instructors who specialize in turning wallflowers into waltzers.
Whether you’re drawn to the elegance of International Ballroom styles or the flair of American Smooth and Rhythm, the studio offers instruction for complete beginners, social dancers, wedding couples, and even those with competitive ambitions.
But first, they had to deal with us.
With a broad sweep of his hand, Alex introduced us to instructor Alissa Joly — a warm, encouraging presence whose patience would soon be tested. What we didn’t immediately grasp was that our teacher is a nationally and internationally ranked dance champion.
“I got into dancing because my parents, Tatiana Kazakova and Clement Joly, opened a ballroom dance studio,” Alissa explains. “They’re both ballroom dancers who judge and teach, so it passed down to me. I’ve been dancing since I was 3.”
Dancing with partner Nickolas Bleykhman, Alissa captured Youth Latin Champions at the Grand Nationals, won the Junior Open Ballroom at the prestigious New York Dance Festival, and claimed first place in Under-21 Latin at the North American Imperial Star Ball — finishing first in every dance. Dance Beat Magazine described them as “the talented 10-dance team,” meaning Alissa mastered all 10 competitive ballroom dances across both International Standard and International Latin — a rare and demanding achievement.
“My partner and I became the first American couple in 50 years to win at Blackpool,” Alissa shares, referencing the world’s most prestigious international ballroom competition held annually in England. “I’ve represented the United States in competitions from Paris to Italy and all around the nation.”
And here she was, patiently correcting my posture. Again.
“Ballroom dancing has shaped me as a person,” she says. “It taught me discipline and respect and gave me opportunities to experience the world. I find it incredibly important to share the beauty of ballroom dancing — and the health benefits are wonderful, too!”
Over three 30-minute private lessons, something unexpected happened. Those four left feet found a rhythm. We learned the basic box step, attempted a respectable fox trot, sampled some swing, and even ventured into the tango. Competition-ready? Not remotely. But dancing? Genuinely dancing.
The Fred Astaire team extends well beyond Alissa. Professional instructors including Katusha Zyrianova, Natalya Krimmel, Vadym Lytvynenko, and Roman Verba bring competition-level expertise to every lesson. Many compete regionally and nationally, and that dedication shows in the studio’s welcoming atmosphere.
The studio offers private lessons, group classes, and practice parties throughout the week plus special introductory packages for newcomers ready to take the plunge. They also specialize in wedding dance preparation for couples wanting to make their first dance memorable.
As for Becky and me? We’re already eyeing the next beach band concert with considerably less dread.
Four left feet? Turns out, that’s just a starting point. We found our footing at Fred Astaire.
Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Wilmington is located at 5919 Oleander Drive, Suite105. For information about introductory lessons and classes, call 910-769-7086 or visit fredastaire.com/Wilmington.
