LOS ANGELES, Nov. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Over the last two years, North Hollywood-based Millennium Dance Complex, the go-to studio for celebrities such as Britney Spears, Pink, and Justin Timberlake, has quietly been expanding it's reach well past the Los Angeles area through franchises in seven US cities, and as far a field as Tokyo.
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But Millennium isn't stopping there- not by a long shot. Takes are taking place in order to bring Millennium's unique hip-hop dance instruction to Malaysia, South Korea, Brazil, Singapore, France, Canada, the UK, Germany to several locations in China and at least ten more US cities.
By combining the universality of dance and the global desire for all things American, Millennium is bringing dance instruction into the 21st Century through online and multi-media interactivity, available to anyone with an internet connection.
Mass popular dance instruction hasn't changed in the last sixty years, when Fred Astaire and Arthur Murray opened up their ball room dancing instruction chain all over the United States, yet popular dance styles have evolved well past the Cha-Cha and Merengue.
Sure, brides want to have a traditional waltz with their fathers at their wedding reception, but they also want to be able to bust out the latest moves for their guests in increasing intricate hip hop spectaculars. This is where Millennium comes in.
By learning step by step instruction from some of the best choreographers the entertainment industry has to offer, a couple in Pittsburgh can now show off YouTube viral-worthy moves simply by dropping by their local Millennium Studio. Of course instruction from Millennium Dance Complex isn't limited to engaged couples- anyone can take classes, from beginner classes through to professional level instruction.
What differentiates Millennium from small dance studios is the celebrity factor. Since 1992, stars such as Britney Spears, Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Usher, Jennifer Lopez, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Selena Gomez, Pink, Christina Aguilera, Kenny Ortega, P. Diddy, and Beyonce have enjoyed the relative obscurity of the original North Hollywood location.
The seemingly low-key frontage allows these mega-stars to hone their shows in private. Sometimes celebrities will drop in on classes unannounced, and sometimes even hire class attendees as back up dancers. The stars keep returning because of the cutting edge level of instruction, which now can be available to all, rather than the lucky few who can afford to relocate to Los Angeles.
Dance as a form of personal and mass entertainment is experiencing a Renaissance of sorts. From exercise (Zumba, Dance Tutor, Beachboy) to television (So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing With the Stars, Magic Mike) to retail (Capezio, LuluLemon, Under Armor, Nike) to of course dance studios, any commercial venture that associates itself with dance is almost guaranteed to succeed, as evidenced by the $150B (yes, that's billion with a B) that dance-related businesses generate.
Just as with the gym business in the 1980s, the dance studio business is ripe for consolidation. Instead of concentrating on small, local markets, Millennium has plans to streamline, standardize and bring under one roof hip-hop and popular dance instruction through franchising.
A first of its kind in modern dance instruction, growth has understandably been fast. "We had hoped that there was a strong need for hip-hop dance instruction in cities other than Los Angeles, but we had no idea how quickly the idea would catch on. Millennium's growth has been faster than we ever thought possible, especially in the foreign markets" said Millennium Dance Complex Co-Owner Robert Baker.
"But then we realized, no matter what language you speak, or what religion you follow, every culture has a form of dance. Dance is the universal language of humanity; as a species we are always looking for ways to expand our movement vocabularies. Now anyone can learn to dance through Millennium with the latest moves from some of the best choreographers in the world."
As a company, Millennium plans an initial public offering of stock in the coming year, but only once an intellectual property dispute is settled within the company between co-founder Robert Baker and one of his more recent business partners.
About
Millennium Dance Complex has been open since 1992, offering jazz dance, hip-hop, ballet, tap, and contemporary dance instruction. The original Complex is located at 5113 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, California, 91601. "Unity Through Diversity."
Contact:
Susan Jack
Phone: 314-497-4251
[email protected]
SOURCE Millennium Dance Complex
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