Dance studio to open in Annandale

International Dance anticipates opening in the former Treasure Trove spot in the Annandale Shopping Center in early October.

The dance studio will offer lessons in ballet, tap, lyrical dance, jazz, modern dance, and Broadway dance for children ages 3 and above, teens, and adults.

International Dance students will perform folk dances and ballet at the Taste of Annandale on Sept. 21.

International Dance has outgrown its former space at Pinecrest Plaza. Its new space, at 7010 Columbia Pike, will have three dance studios plus space for birthday parties and showers.  

Mimi’s Handmade, an ice cream shop, dropped plans to move into the dance studio’s former storefront.

Once International Dance gets settled in its new space, it plans to host community events and add workshops and new classes, such as a mommy and me class, dance fitness, and ballet for adults.

“We’re excited about getting involved in the Annandale community,” says owner Elizabeth Hawkins (known as Miss Elizabeth). “We really want to preserve the arts in Northern Virginia.”

Related story: Taste of Annandale features music and dance

Christina Heimlich, a former ballerina in Europe, founded International Dance in 1962 and was also one of the founders of the International Children’s Festival at Wolf Trap.

Miss Elizabeth was part of the Christina Heimlich Dancers, a troupe that performed at the White House, embassies, and the Kennedy Center.

“It’s a performance-oriented school,” she says. Dance students participate in twice-yearly performances at Northern Virginia Community College’s Alexandria campus and George Mason University.

“In addition to teaching technique, the classes build respectful, kind, hardworking young people. Dance is the extra part,” Miss Elizabeth says. “Younger students develop fine and gross motor skills and learn to work together as a team.”

Since International Dance was founded, “we’ve been bringing arts education to the lives of children and adults,” she says. “We’re excited about the new space. It’s not just for dance classes. It’s going to be a place where we can build an incredible community.”