FREE complimentary 30min private lesson for new students!
FREE complimentary 30min private lesson for new students!
Whether you are a looking for a new hobby or to take your dancing to the next level, our personalized approach to each student will ensure that your dancing goals are met! We specialize in Argentine Tango, International Latin, American Rhythm, International Standard, American Smooth and Wedding Dance Instruction.
We offer Private Lessons to people of all ages and abilities as well as host workshops, showcases and social dancing events. For our competitive students, we will guide you each step of the way in achieving your goals at various competitions.
Come and join our warm and friendly community and start dancing today to feed your mind, body and soul!
Contact us today to schedule your FREE intro today!
what students are saying about Alexey & Aki…
“Aki and Alexey are great dancers and outstanding dance instructors. I learned a lot from them and they were always patient and kind with me. Learning to dance later in life is challenging and I could not have asked for more friendly and understanding instructors. I highly recommend them.”
“You cannot ask for more talented, beautiful dancers than Aki and Alexey. They are United States Vice Champions in Show Tango and generously share their knowledge of Dance with all their students. They are one of the kindest couples in Dance that I have the honor to study with. I dance and compete in Rhythm and Smooth with Alexey. My husband and I dance Argentine Tango with Alexey and we are looking forward to dancing in their Tango classes and training with Aki. ”
“Aki and Alexey’s Argentine Tango Class is an awesome place to learn tango in a warm, friendly, and fun atmosphere. Aki and Alexey are amazing instructors who are passionate about tango and about teaching. They have a personalized approach to every student. I highly recommend this class to anyone who wants to learn tango, brush up on their skills, or just have more positive experience in their life! The class is a blast every week!”
“This is a highly professional team of dance teachers. I stay with them for the last six years - it’s all pure pleasure, never a disappointment. With them I am able to enjoy a variety of dance and keep my body in shape. Highly recommended!”
“Aki and Alexey are such great teachers! They’re passionate about their craft and are intuitive to my needs. I always leave with a smile and joy in my heart!”
“I started taking Argentine tango lessons with Aki a few months ago. She is warm and welcoming with a very positive presence that creates an encouraging environment, making it easy and comfortable to learn. Aki is an accomplished dancer and teacher who I have found to be highly skilled in guiding and developing my dance technique. Best of all, lessons with Aki are fun!”
“I’m a ballroom instructor and I go to master instructor, Alexey, to refine my ballroom technique. Alexey and Aki also specializes in Argentine Tango - they are the go-to Argentine Tango teachers in lower CT.”
“Amazing dancers and such good instructors. Poetry in motion. Highly recommended.”
“Alexey is very patient and kind. Excellent teacher. I am very new to dancing and was very shy when first came in. Alexey and all the students made me feel welcome and comfortable. Great place to release stress and tension after long day at work and learn something new and wonderful in friendly family like atmosphere.”
“Aki and Alexey are fantastic Argentine tango teachers, giving each student the attention they need, in the learning style of each student. We learned so much from them!”
“I started lessons with Alexey shortly after having somewhat major surgery. To say that I lacked confidence was an understatement. Alexey was kind and supportive but also expected my very best. I’d leave the studio feeling stronger than when I arrived. Thank you for helping this woman get back on her feet. ”
“I was a former student of Alexey. About a year after I lost my husband, I wanted to do something that was very different for me. So I signed up for dance lessons. I was so scared I didn’t know how I would be able to do this. I remember meeting my new dance instructor, Alexey for the first time. He was kind and patient with me. He had a way of calming my nerves. To make a long story short, I took a few years of lessons with Alexey. I was beginning to come out of my shell when Alexey announced he was leaving to follow his dream. His heart was working with children with special needs. I remember crying through the whole lesson. But I knew these kids needed his talents more than me. I stayed on with my lessons after he left but I was never as comfortable with another instructor as I was with Alexey. He has a heart of gold. Best to you always.”
“I have recommended A&A dance to several friends. Some were stuck in a rut, not learning much from their instructors. After the switch, it was like a spotlight had been turned on. Everything was clear, and amazing improvements ensued. I have taken several series of lessons with Alexey and have enjoyed his calm demeanor, his vast dance knowledge, and his diagnostic skills. He has changed my posture dramatically. I enjoy his coaching and will be taking lessons from them both for a long time in the future. I have about 7 years of dance experience, but they are equally welcoming to rank beginners. Alexey has a Masters degree in Dance Instruction. Aki, is knowledgeable, but also pure fun!”
“Aki and Alexey are wonderful teachers. They provide expert guidance to their students with lot’s of encouragement and attention to detail. Classes are always informative and fun.”
“Aki and Alexey are great dancers and outstanding dance instructors. My daughter Kristin attended Cooke Academy and Aki and Alexey taught her to have the confidence in herself through movement and dance. The program they provided at Cooke built her self esteem. I am forever thankful. Also she still remembers all the dances she was taught.”
“Have really enjoyed both the group lessons (which are so much fun for both beginners and experienced dancers alike) and my private lessons - which are taught with a great deal of patience and perseverance and humor and the faith that I can do more than I think I can”
“For the past year I have taken lessons and competed with Alexey. As a teacher, I appreciate his professional approach to each lesson, attention to detail and using every minute of the lesson to help me achieve my goal to compete in International Latin Open. What resonates most for me is his patience and kindness. I started competing again after surgery in both shoulders; he understood my fear of re-injuring myself and demonstrated compassion and gentleness beyond my imagination. We have had success in the few competitions we have entered. I look forward to competing in major independent events with him in the next year. Did I mention Aki and Mr. Japan are an amazing part of Team Gavrilov! I without hesitation recommend him as a teacher for any level student. ”
“Excellent teaching instruction! I’ve been taking lessons with Alexey for over 3 years, initially with my dance partner, and since October 2020, individually. Alexey is highly professional, knowledgeable, and detail-oriented; dynamic dancer with a strong background in numerous dance styles. So happy to have such high quality dance instructors here in CT, as a trip to NYC would take so much time and also money on a regular basis. Look no further and contact a&a if you’re ready to either start dancing or take your skills to the next level!”
“Alexey and Aki are not only wonderful dancers but also splendid dedicated teachers. I’ve improved tango and ballroom dance so much within a short period. You feel a treat in their beautiful studio.”
“Alexey is the best teacher there is. He is patient, kind, and SO creative! He breaks down moves so I can understand them easily. His wife Aki is also so great when helping us with our routine. I couldn’t have asked for a better teacher and studio. Thank you for all that you do!!”
“Alexey and Aki are simply the best! Wonderful teachers, down to earth, fun and talented. The combination made my dance experience simply joyful.”
“I have been dancing for years now with a lot if different teachers at studios across the USA. I have never been as happy at a studio or with an instructor as I am dancing with Alexey Gavrilov. He has a Masters in Ballroom Dance Instruction from Russia, having studied dancing since he was very young. He was a top Latin Dancer inside of Russia, so he understands how to prepare his students for competition, if that’s their goal. But this is only a part of what makes him stand out. He is truly patient, kind, and caring. He is a true educator. When I come into class he has a lesson plan for that session and for every session.He gives each student his complete attention and, with his keen eye, draws the best out of each person’s potential. He and his wife, Aki are Vice Champions in Argentine Tango Showcase dancing. Aki is incredibly talented and is a passionate teacher of A. Tango. She is generous with her knowledge, clear and kind in her instruction. She brings a wealth of information for the ladies as well as her for her male students. I only wish that I could dance it as well well as she does. A&A Dance is a heartfelt creation of Aki’s and Alexey’s, whose love of dance runs through their DNA. Don’t hesitate! Call them for a lesson!!!”
“I have taken private lessons for a few years with Alexey and it has always been a welcoming environment to ask questions, make mistakes but also be challenged to grow as a dancer. After taking many dance classes with different instructors over the years, these qualities are not always easy to find but you will consistently find them with A&A dance. Lessons are always enjoyable, fun, and relaxed. The classes are taught with patience and expertise in guiding the student as an individual so that they are always improving. A&A dance is a great place to start or continue your journey with ballroom dancing.”
“Alexey and Aki are the best at what they do. They run a fantastic school teaching ordinary folks like us look great on the dance floor and they’re also passionate about teaching people with disabilities and special needs. Alexey and Aki were very patient and thorough in helping my wife and I prepare for our special wedding dance. They helped choose the music, choreographed the entire dance and fit us into their busy schedule to accommodate our 5 day preparation. We had no prior experience so they taught us the basics and came up with a dance which would be manageable for us to learn for our tight deadline. We couldn’t be happier with the results! Thank you Alexey and Aki! Your lessons made our special night extraordinary! ”
“I have taken tango lessons with Aki and Alexey and they are both excellent professionals who give their best in every class. Their students’ progress is a reflection of the student efforts and the instructors’ dedication. I recommend their classes to anyone willing to try their first dance steps or to the seasoned dancers who want to polish and improve their technique. ”
“My daughter attended Cooke Grammer School and now Cooke Center Academy. She enjoys Gavrilov Dance Program and enrolls in this program when ever it is available. She is a shy teenager but Gavrilov Dance brought out her confidence! So thankful to all their dancing instructors! They ROCK! ”
“I am very pleased to find my new tango teachers on Yelp whose studio happen to be so close to home. They’re both friendly, professional and amazing teachers. Everyone in class gets personalized attention from either of them, and they each give meaningful pointers that help you improve or polish on your steps or form. As dancers, they’re beautiful to watch together- one can’t help but be inspired to learn well and hopefully look good like them. They’re strict but never judgemental, always giving practical advises which makes learning tango so much easier and a lot of fun. ”
“A little over a year ago, I began studying with a&a’s Alexey to improve my ballroom, Dancesport, competition abilities with another partner. Alexey was so gracious, talented, and skilled that I recently switched to compete with him in the “Smooth” style. I have witnessed him working with students of all levels and styles, and heartily recommend him for both social and competitive dance. ”
“I took a few lessons with Alexey and Aki and I was pleasantly impressed with their professionalism and thoroughness. Their hands-on approach and individual attention really made it easy to understand the complicated moves I was trying to learn.
I would recommend them to everyone from the novice level to the more experienced as they are well versed in teaching all levels. ”
“Absolutely LOVE Alexey and Aki! Fabulous, caring, and encouraging teachers! Amazing at breaking things down and never make me feel dumb when I need things repeated in a different way so I can learn. Thank you soooo much for al of your patience and encouragements!! Looking forward to many more years of dancing!! ”
“With Alexey and Aki’s wealth of professional dancing experiences, you will be guided to the joy of dancing and beauty. It is fun experience to take lessons at their studio which is new and beautiful.”
“I have taken lessons with Alexey for several years now. He is an excellent instructor; knowledgeable, kind, patient, a great sense of humor and a wonderful dancer. Had a guest coaching with Aki and she is just amazing! I’ve seen them both dance professionally with Tango for All in Blind; Strength In Vulnerability at BAM Fisher in Brooklyn and was blown away by the choreography and performance! You can’t go wrong with these two! ”
“I have taken many lessons with Alexey, and I can’t ask for anything more in an instructor. He is honest, dedicated, and invested in my progress as a dancer. What’s more, he listens and takes your opinions seriously. You can choose to learn to dance socially or competitively—either way, he is certainly skilled enough to accommodate. His lessons are fun and engaging, and I have never been to a boring class. I have also seen Aki give lessons, and she is very skilled and very patient as well. I highly recommend taking lessons from this couple, as you will leave feeling like you learned something of substance. ”
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Benefits of ballroom dancing
Posture/ Physical Awareness- Stamina, flexibility, and muscle development are just a few of the physical aspects that improve immediately. Ballroom dancing provides awareness of posture and body alignment and the effects of the digital age we live in can be seen everywhere in our frail bodies. Posture is a dynamic alignment, no one particular exercise can fix it if we are not aware of our bodies, and awareness is what ballroom dancing can teach us.
Social Benefits- Ballroom dance is a social activity. Students will learn to express themselves through dance. Many dancers also describe a feeling of being in their own world when they dance, which can help fear of public performance or speaking. In addition to all of these advantages, young ballroom dancers also learn trust, teamwork and co-operation.
Educational Benefits- Acquiring the skills to improve in dancing requires practice, discipline, and focus, all of which can be of great importance in academic studies.
Discipline- Discipline is one of the core benefits that Ballroom Dancing would provide. Regular ballroom dance lessons build discipline and respect.
Gain Greater Self Confidence- Ballroom dancing offers a lot of different stepping stones. Accomplishing a simple series of moves to music can provide immediate gratification and quickly build personal pride. Improved poise and athleticism, new friends, confidence– all boost the confidence of a ballroom dancer. Dance lessons are also known to foster a positive encouragement to self-expression.
For Boys, Ballroom Dancing is one of the only arenas of sport and art that incorporates physical strength with the importance of becoming a true gentleman in life. DanceSport, which is the term for competitive Ballroom Dancing, builds and combines the fundamental elements of the sport, including endurance, stamina, bodily strength, flexibility, power, and speed, with the essential teachings of graciousness and gentleness towards others, especially females. These teachings build the character that transforms young boys into young gentlemen who carry these traits of self-confidence and selflessness throughout the rest of their lives.
For Girls, Ballroom dancing is the discipline of dance that genuinely transforms each young girl into a genuine young lady of femininity, kindness, care, and beauty that radiates from the inside out. Aside from her growing up physically active and healthy in terms of sport preparation, she will also learn how to take care of herself in terms of physical appearance, how she speaks and moves, her gestures, and how she acts to others. This is where girls learn to genuinely and honestly respect themselves.
