Resident Seeks To Open Children's Dance Studio In Greenwich

GREENWICH, CT — A local resident is seeking to open a children's dance studio in town, filling what she says is a deep need in the community.

Cos Cob resident Julia Maggiola, the wife of International School at Dundee Assistant Principal Dr. Kevin Thompson, operates Petite Ballet Dance Studio, an early childhood dance studio inside Beam & Barre, a dancewear and gymnastics boutique at 241 E. Putnam Ave. in Cos Cob.

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Maggiola is seeking to convert approximately 2,598 square feet of second-floor office space at Cos Cob Commons, 122-140 E. Putnam Ave., into a studio offering dance and related instruction primarily for children ages 1.5 to 8, according to pre-application documents submitted to the Greenwich Planning & Zoning Commission.

The business would be known as The Petite Dance Studio.

The three-story building features several tenants, including CVS, Cos Cob Wine & Spirit, Sobol, Island Fin Poke, Hot Phitt, Mumbai Times, and Domino's Pizza on the first floor, and various medical offices and practices on the second floor. The third floor has nine residential apartments.

"The Applicant is well suited for this Property. It is a true local business," the project narrative from Maggiola states.

"Ms. Maggiola has been teaching dance classes in and around the Greenwich area for almost 20 years at both Greenwich Dance Studio and local daycares and preschools," Maggiola said. "This studio is fulfilling a deep need in the community, as there are no studios offering classes for early childhood-aged students in the Cos Cob area."

Maggiola has completed dance pedagogy coursework at New York University and The Ailey School, and has trained with dance professionals in New York City, Los Angeles, Calif., and Connecticut.

Maggiola said the location of the proposed studio is "a perfect complement" to nearby businesses, restaurants and shops where parents and their children could shop or dine before or after dance classes and events.

The Petite Dance Studio would feature weekly classes organized by age and developmental stage, with each level following a dedicated syllabus, according to submitted documents.

Typical class sizes would average six to 10 students, with three staff members at the most on-site at any given time.

Students would be escorted by a parent or guardian into the studio for classes, and there would be a designated area for parents or guardians to watch classes in session.

Hours of operation would run generally from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with occasional use on Sunday. Class schedules would vary throughout the year based on the school calendar and seasonal programming.

There would be summer camps, workshops and other events, the proposal says.

"Our differentiator within the children's dance market is our primary focus on early childhood and early elementary ages, combining foundational dance instruction with imaginative movement, storytelling, music, props, and play," Maggiola said.

"Rather than adapting a traditional curriculum of technique for very young children, The Petite Dance Studio creates age-specific programming around the developmental, emotional, social, and physical needs of each age group."

The studio would welcome first-time dancers as well as children who have previous experience.

There are 150 parking spaces at the property and 11 street parking spaces in front of the building.

Parents and guardians would have ample parking, particularly on the lower level, where an elevator provides direct access to the second floor for classes with their children, Maggiola said.

A pre-application review allows commissioners to provide initial feedback before a formal application is submitted. No vote on the project is expected during the discussion.

The application is expected to go before the Greenwich Planning & Zoning Commission in the coming weeks.