Today we’d like to introduce you to Sanda Lungu.
Hi Sanda, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born in a small country in Eastern Europe with only one professional ballet academy, where I was selected and admitted. The ballet world is tough, painful, sometimes unfair, but once you are a dancer, that is all you know, all you do, all you live for, all you breathe for, and you love it; because it’s so rewarding being on stage. It’s so rewarding being an inspiration for someone that is watching and seeing only the beautiful, easy creation of the movement and music combined. Seeing the lights, the costumes, and most importantly, the freedom of the body and soul that worked so hard for that moment. After my graduation, I moved to the United States. There are so many professional ballet companies and so many opportunities but realized it did not pay enough to make a living; in turn, I was introduced to the teaching world at the age of 20. First, I taught ballet and contemporary; then I was introduced to the ballroom world.
With Ballroom style being so diverse and dynamic, it gave me even more freedom of the body and soul. It inspired me to get to the highest professional competitive level and qualify as a ballroom dance instructor. Working for two wonderful dance studios for over 5 years, I was able to gain great experience and come to a realization of how that environment can enrich and inspire people and most often times, change their life.
Experience: Sanda (owner of SouL Dance Studio) is a highly accomplished and experienced dancer with over 20 years of professional training and performance experience. She began her career in Eastern Europe, where she danced with the National Ballet Theatre in Moldova, Moscow Ballet Great Russian Nutcracker and State Ballet Theatre of Russia USA Touring Company, Crown of Russian Ballet, and St. Peterburg Festival Ballet Euro Touring Company. Sanda’s extensive background in classical ballet and contemporary dance has made her a versatile and dynamic performer.
Education: Sanda graduated the Professional Ballet Academy (Colegiul National de Coregrafie) in Chisinau, Moldova, and has also trained at several prominent dance schools and companies in Eastern Europe and United States.
Skills: Sanda is known for her strong technique, grace, and emotional expression. She is also a skilled choreographer and has created works for various dance studios.
Achievements: Sanda has received numerous awards and accolades for her dancing in several national Classical Ballet/Modern/Contemporary competitions in Eastern Europe. She has also been featured in multiple publications and has had the opportunity to work with some of the most renowned choreographers in the industry.
In 2015, Sanda moved to the USA and has since worked with Massachusetts Ballet Academy, Dimensional Dance Company, Fred Astaire Dance Studio, and Dynasty Dance Clubs. Her transition from Ballet to Ballroom was challenging.
“I needed to be willing to let go of my ballet training and embrace the unique characteristics of ballroom dance. I had to break old habits and develop new muscle memory, as well as adjust the way I used to move my body.”
With practice, patience, and dedication, Sanda became a professional competitive ballroom dancer and a finalist in multiple Ballroom dance competitions, specifically in Rising Star/Open Rhythm division. In parallel, Sanda got her qualification as a ballroom dance instructor in both American Rhythm and Smooth styles.
Sanda is excited to share her passion and expertise with others and recently opened her own studio-SouL Dance Studio.
“My personal goal as the owner of SouL Dance Studio is to provide a safe, inclusive, and nurturing environment where dancers of all ages and abilities can come together to explore their passion for dance.”
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting to write about personal struggles can be overwhelming, but I’ll try my best to articulate some of mine.
Like many others, I’ve faced several traumatic events, losses, and instabilities in my life. Some of the most challenging experiences I’ve encountered include:
Moving to the United States and starting anew. It meant leaving everything I knew, including family and friends, behind. This transition was difficult, and it took time to adjust to a new culture and way of life.
Transitioning from Ballet to ballroom was also a significant challenge. I had to learn a new dance style and immerse myself in a new culture. The training was intense, requiring 10 hours or more of practice a day.
Perhaps the most difficult experience was having to rebuild my career after the devastating loss of my son due to stillbirth. Finding the strength to start over again was a tough journey, but I am proud to have come this far.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
The studio is dedicated to providing high-quality dance instruction to students of all levels and ages, with a focus on classical ballet, contemporary dance, and ballroom dance. We believe that dance is for everyone, and our goal is to make it accessible to everyone by providing affordable prices and flexible schedules.
We offer a wide range of dance styles for adults, including Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz, Cha Cha, Rumba, E.C. Swing, Bolero, Mambo, W.C. Swing, Samba, Salsa, Bachata, Merengue and many more.
Ballet classes for kids provide the best foundation for any future dance style, as they offer structure, education, build physical strength, and instill discipline.
As the owner of SouL Dance Studio, dancing and teaching both ballet and ballroom for over 20 years, at all levels and different ages, I’ve learned some of the best ways to reach people souls, to guide them towards their goals, and to embrace the challenge and the joy along the way. My personal goal is to provide a safe, inclusive, and nurturing environment where dancers of all ages and abilities can come together to explore their passion for dance.
I want to help build artists, taking them from no experience to the highest level they can reach.
When contemplating a name for my studio, I reflected on my first thoughts about dance, which centered around new life, rebirth, and the soul – the very essence of life. To reflect this, I capitalized the initials of these concepts – S and L – which also happen to be my own initials.
What do you think about happiness?
Sharing my experience and the happiness that dance has brought me brings me pure joy and fulfillment. No matter what obstacles I have faced in my life, dance has always been my salvation. It is my home, my anchor, my roots. Regardless of where life takes me, dance will always bring me back to who I am and where I belong.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sl.dancestudio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sl.dancestudio1
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sl.dancestudio
- Other: https://g.co/kgs/S1PEq6
