Dancing into the Mamaroneck Spotlight

Opposite the Mamaroneck train station—housed in a former synagogue—is a dance studio that has trained many a seasoned performer and which continues to train budding dancers. was given national exposure with a feature story in the August 2011 edition of Dance Magazine. It is a mention that Dance Cavise's founder, Joe Cavise, is proud of.

"The editor of Dance, Hanna Rubin, has known of our studio for awhile," he said in an interview at his studio in between classes. "It was a very nice and welcome surprise to be included in such a prestigious magazine."

Cavise, 53, established his teaching-oriented studio in 1989. It is spacious, with four studios that allow students to practice different forms of dance such as tap, ballet and jazz.

Dance Cavise offers a full range and roster of classes including ballet, jazz, modern, hip-hop, tap, ballroom and children's classes for ages 3-18. "We have over 100 classes a week," said Cavise.

Proving that dance is a sport that encourages participation that spans generations, Cavise said, "We have adults up to age 90 who come.”

Cavise's passion for the art of dance started when he was nine. "I quit [dancing] when I was 13 to concentrate on sports, and then started dancing again at 17." Cavise parlayed his dance training and experience into a career on Broadway with the original production of Cats, national tours and an appearance in the movie version of A Chorus Line.

His knowledge of dance has extensively infused his teaching methods. "I think our philosophy differs from other schools because we focus on technique and process rather than results," he said. "We perform recitals but we aren't recital-oriented."

Cavise hires teachers—95 percent of whom are dance professionals from New York City—who specialize in a particular dance genre that they teach. A ballet teacher, for example, will only teach ballet, a jazz teacher only jazz, and so on. Cavise himself teaches classic jazz, his specialty, at the studio. From September through
March the classes concentrate on pure technique and from April and May the studio 
presents several small productions.

Cavise has passed down his love of dance to his two daughters, ages 15 and 17, both of whom take classes at the studio. "My youngest takes tap, and my older daughter dances hip-hop," he said proudly.

One longtime student at Dance Cavise who sings the studio's praises is Camille Swersky, 17, of Pound Ridge. She has been a student of Cavise’s since she was five, and has attended the Mamaroneck studio's classes since she was 10.

"I take ballet, pointe and jazz," she said via a telephone interview. "I am also in the dance company. Initially, my parents put me in dance classes but, over time, I came to love ballet." Swersky said that she couldn't imagine not dancing, and that Dance Cavise has been a significant factor in fueling this passion.

"The studio has given me a great dance education," she continued. "We learn the culture of dance, and the classes are small so it's nice. It's not a pretentious atmosphere, and I've made many good friends." Swersky said that while she has plans to study to become a doctor, she is looking at schools with strong dance programs as well.

Camaraderie and giving back to the community are part of Dance Cavise's culture, in addition to giving students a sound and through dance education. Cavise and his wife, Lori, established the not-for-profit in 1991.

"We go to different organizations, such as the Ronald McDonald House and different area hospitals and perform for patients," he said. "It's not only uplifting for them but for us as well."

He said that his future plans for the studio include more outreach into schools—Dance Cavise has presented children's ballroom classes in White
 Plains’ city schools in the past—and to expose the world of dance to new audiences, particularly children.

Dance Cavise is located at 272 Halstead Ave., Mamaroneck. Call (914) 381-5222 or visit the website here for more information.