About
Founded in 1985, Stepping Out Studios has been servicing the dancing community for 30 years and counting! Not only numerous A-list celebrities and world dance champions have been on our dance floor, but also thousands of everyday dancers who simply love to dance have enjoyed the studio as their second home.
Our ultimate goal is to continue providing not only the best dance studio to learn all styles of dance to fit your needs, but also as the most friendly dance studio in New York City.
The easiest way to get started is to take our special 1-hour private lessons with one of our instructors. You may simply call the studio at 646-742-9400.
Stepping Out Studios also provides quality studio space for rentals catering to dance rehearsals, socials, classes, schools, and fitness classes.
Thank you very much for visiting our website and hope to see you on our dance floors!
George Ciao, President and CEO
Stepping Out Studios
History
In 1985, Diane Lachtrupp started Stepping Out Dance Studios at 1845 Broadway in New York City. Diane had been a scholarship student at Bill Davies’ dance studio in Manhattan, and when he closed his doors, he gave his mailing list to teacher Stephen Stroud and Diane to help them start a studio. Bill Davies had been the United States Standard champion for a number of years, some of them with Sandra Cameron, and his help in starting a studio was a great honor and boost for a new business.
Stephen and Diane started out modestly, by having weekly Wednesday night parties. They rented space from exercise maverick Jon Devlin, who was also a ballroom dancer, and they ran their Wednesday night parties at his studio, Dancercise, located between 60th and 61st Street on Broadway. Stephen and Diane came up with the name Stepping Out, and it has not change since the studio’s existence.
Diane still feels a strong tie to Stepping Out:
“Although I am no longer at Stepping Out, it is in my heart and thoughts often.
I think of all the dedicated staff and students who helped it to become an entity larger than any of us; a dance energy that brought happiness to many and changed lives. It has been my life’s work thus far and shall be always something I am forever proud of and connected to.”
Diane continues her life as a dancer, instructor, choreographer and has added writing to her artistic endeavors. Check out her life and thoughts in her blog, No Compromises: Gluten Free and Tango Savvy, located on her website.
George Ciao, the CEO and President at Stepping Out Studios, originally came from China, attended an MBA program at University of Hawaii from 1986- 1989. After he arrived in NYC in 1994, George started his journey, taking ballroom dance lessons and classes. Through pro-am dance competitions and dance show performances, dancing has become George’s favorite hobby of all his good habits, like eating healthy, going to the gym, stay fit and always keeping in a happy spirit.
After many years of owning and operating successful businesses, George obtained Stepping Out Studios in 2005 when he heard the previous owner Diane Lachtrupp wanted to sell the studio, since he was a student at Stepping Out Studios anyway. Not only George has kept the studio's original visions and traditions, but he is also constantly accepting and adapting the changes in the dancing world. Through more diversifications, he has the studio, allowing it to stand on it's own solid ground.
George is very happy to share his favorite hobby with co-students and instructors on the beautiful dance floor at Stepping Out Studios. He is also very graceful to other fitness classes and events hosted at the space. Together, Stepping Out Studios is a big family for all dance lovers as well as fitness lovers. It is a place helping creating healthier and happier human beings! That is George’s ultimate life mission…helping human race live happier and longer one person of a time!
Location
617 West 46th Street, 6th Fl, New York, NY 10036
Studio Access
MON-FRI: 9:00 am – 9:00 pm Open Practice for Floor Fees and Private Lessons.
SAT: 11:00 am - 2:00 pm Tango Social, 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm Open Practice for Floor Fees and Private Lessons.
SUN: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Open Practice For Floor Fee’s and Private Lessons, 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm Tango Social, 6:00 pm -10:00 pm Salsa Social
our Clientelle
Stepping Out has taught, performed (for or with) OR rented rehearsal space to the following clients
Bernadette Peters
Beyonce Knowles
Britney Spears
Chelsea Clinton
Christina Aguilera
Don Omar
Gene Wilder
Greta Scacchi
Iced T & Coco
James Garfunkel
Jennifer Lopez
John Leguizamo
John Lithgow
John Tesch
Joshua Bell
Kate Hudson
Liam Neeson
Les Twins
Madonna
Mandy Patinkin
Marc Anthony
Mario
Mary J. Blige
Meryl Streep
Mira Sorvino
Mitzi Gaynor
P. Diddy
Patrick Swayze
Paula Abdul
Phil Collins
Robert Duvall
Tiki Barber
Toby Love
Usher
Vanessa Williams
Willie Ninja
Woody Allen
Stepping Out High Profile Projects
40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks
ABC
CBS
NBC
WNET - "America's Ballroom Challenge"
WPIX
FOX 5
2008 Academy Awards Show
The Acocella Group
"Aida"
Bernard Telsey Casting
Brooklyn Museum of Art
Columbia University
Crate&Barrel
Credit Suisse Bank - "Dancing With the Managing Directors"
Dancers Responding to AIDS
"Dancing With the Stars"
Dartmouth Alumni Club
David Chase "Not Fade Away"
"The Drowsy Chaperone"
Einstein School of Medicine
"El Cantante"
"Enchanted"
Estee Lauder Companies
Fordham University
Havana Caliente
"Havana Nights"
Irving Plaza
Janis Spindel Serious Matchmaking, Inc.
Joffrey Ballet School
Kids' Co-Motion
Kingsborough Community College
Latina Magazine
"Legally Blonde"
Lincoln Center - Midsummer Night's Swing
Martha Graham School
"Mary Poppins"
Met Life
MIT Alumni Club
MS Society
Mt. Olive High School
Mt. Sinai Medical Center
Music for Aardvarks
New York's First Night
Nick at Nite
Queer Eye For the Straight Guy
RCA
SAG, EQUITY, AFTRA
Social Circles
SONY
St. Alban's Catholic High School
Summer Stage at Central Park
Supper Club
Today Show
Tyra Banks Show
United Artists Theatre Circuit, Inc. (Union Square 14)
University of Vermont Alumni Club
Urban Outings
Wunderman