Local Mom Opens Dance Studio In Lindenhurst

LINDENHURST, NY - Years ago, several people told a young Jessica Kubat that she'll never be a dancer because of her body type. Now, after 20 years of becoming a well-known dance teacher in the Town of Babylon community, she has opened her own dance studio.

Last month, the Lindenhurst resident, who has been dubbed Miss. J or MJ by her students, officially opened MJ's House of Dance on 145 E. Sunrise Highway.

Kubat, who was born in Deer Park, started dancing at just 2-years-old and knew she wanted to teach dance at a young age.

As she got older, she was bullied and told that she couldn't be a dancer due to how her body looked. But she didn't let her bring her down and instead made it her mission to prove people wrong.

Over the years, she taught at a variety of dance studios within the town and in the past two decades, has become well-known in the dance community.

While Kubat loved teaching, once she turned 40 she decided she needed to branch out and fulfill her dream of opening a studio.

"I always had in my head, this idea of having a live music based dance studio and people loved the idea because it's so different and it allows our dancers to not only hear the music but feel it while they're dancing," she told Patch.

She has passed by the empty space several times in the three years she has lived in Lindenhurst, until she finally decided to buy it and officially open the business last month.

The grand opening, held on June 1, drew over 200 people. Guests enjoyed live music and a visit from the local Apt. 84 "skoolie" bus.

"I love the community of Lindenhurst," she said. "As a mother of three I wanted my children to be raised in a community where there's a lot of families like mine. There's a lot of small business owners with families that support each other and I wanted to be one of those business owners."

Kubat has already done well with registration thanks to the fact that she is well known in the dance community. Just days after open, 75 students have already sign up to take classes.

She says she hopes to have a total of 250 students enrolled by September. By next June she plans to hold her first student performance, which will feel more like a Broadway show than a dance recital.

"This is breaking boundaries because there's not a lot of studios that even have anyone come in to play music to play piano for ballet class or acoustic guitar for a lyrical class," she said. "There's so many options and so many ways you can do this."

There are a wide range of classes starting with Mommy and Me classes for children from 9 months to 2 years old. The adults can take barre workout classes, an 80's music fitness class, adult tap and more.

The live music dance classes aren't the only thing that makes Kubat's business unique. She also adopted a special "no judgment" philosophy at her studio, even implementing a "kindness program" to encourage her students to make friends and be kind to one another.

"Confidence and kindness, that's what this studio is about," she said.

MJ's House of Dance is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

All photos: Patch/Priscila Korb