ZoeDance

April 18, 2018

“No experience necessary,” Zoe Marshall-Rashid likes to say. “No expectations with new students. You come to learn.”

And learn to dance you will! ZoeDance can have you waltzing like Fred & Ginger, tapping like Gene Kelly, or throwing and dipping better than Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. Zoe is a home-grown product learning first at Crooked Tree Arts Center under the tutelage of Judy Adgate before studying abroad and becoming a social dance lover in Mexico, progressing to theater in Chicago, moving to San Francisco for three years of dance education, training and certification, then back to her hometown of Petoskey to provide ballroom lessons for Ballroom Dance of Northern Michigan as well as classes at Crooked Tree prior to opening ZoeDance at 455 East Mitchell Street, downtown.

“I decided there needed to be a spot for adult dancing so people could discover or rediscover dancing.”

Zoe does maintain a conceptual framework: Incorporate dance to improve quality of life.

“Even my kid’s classes are about having fun and being creative.”

With a background beginning in ballet and traversing through salsa and ballroom, Zoe has the ability to get you started as an individual or couple allowing for all levels of experience and desire. There is a forte for social dancing, meaning partner dance or being confident enough to attend social dance environments so you may trip the light fantastic. She also provides private “first dance” lessons and even choreography for wedding dances, such that parents and children may dance together in unison.

To review a schedule of classes and appointments, you may search at zoedance.net and sign up, or if necessary, call her at 231-487-2393. While she makes all attempts to be flexible, Zoe usually requires 24 hours to adjust her schedule. Anyone is welcome to walk-in when there is a beginner class in progress. Parking is available along the street or around the corner behind Crooked Tree Arts Center and the Carnegie Library building.

If I may add, being a former student of ZoeDance, come and enjoy her wonderful venue as a part of a total Downtown Petoskey experience; maybe a date night or a day planned with the kids. In either case, you will not be disappointed.