Fred Astaire Dance Studios, Inc. is a

ballroom dance Ballroom dance is a set of partner dances, which are enjoyed both socially and competitively around the world, mostly because of its performance and entertainment aspects. Ballroom dancing is also widely enjoyed on stage, film, and television. ...

franchise Franchise may refer to: Business and law * Franchising, a business method that involves licensing of trademarks and methods of doing business to franchisees * Franchise, a privilege to operate a type of business such as a cable television p ...

chain of studios in the United States and Canada, named after and co-founded by famous dancer

Fred Astaire Fred Astaire (born Frederick Austerlitz; May 10, 1899 – June 22, 1987) was an American dancer, choreographer, actor, and singer. He is often called the greatest dancer in Hollywood film history. Astaire's career in stage, film, and tele ...

. It is headquartered in

Longmeadow, Massachusetts Longmeadow is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, in the United States. The population was 15,853 at the 2020 census. History Longmeadow was first settled in 1644, and officially incorporated October 17, 1783. The town was originally farm ...

, USA. The company was co-founded by Astaire along with Charles and Chester Casanave in 1947. Astaire divested his interest in the chain in 1966, while agreeing the continued use of his name by the franchise. The studios became franchised in 1950; currently there are no corporate owned studios. Each franchise is individually owned & operated. Currently there are 140 Fred Astaire studios in the United States alone. As of December 2010, Fred Astaire Dance Studios will now be franchising around the world and has studios opened in countries like Lebanon and South Africa.

Notable associates

The following dancers worked for and or started with Fred Astaire Dance Studios and won at least one United States Dance Championship. *

Tony Dovolani Driton Dovolani (born July 17, 1973), commonly known as Tony Dovolani is an Albanian-American professional ballroom dancer, instructor and judge. He is known for his involvement in the American version of ''Dancing with the Stars'' on ABC. Dovolan ...

(Rhythm) * Tony Dovolani &

Elena Grinenko Elena Grinenko is a professional ballroom dance champion, choreographer, and instructor. She is best known as one of the professional dancers on the American television series ''Dancing with the Stars''. Biography Grinenko was born in Moscow, Russ ...

(Rhythm) *

Jose DeCamps Jose Decamps (born in Santiago, Dominican Republic) is a professional ballroom dancer based in New York City. He is perhaps best known as the 2007 U.S. National Dancesport Champions (Professional Rhythm) with his partner, Joanna Zacharewicz. Deca ...

(Rhythm) * ruce and Mary Christopherson1982-1983 winners of United States Pre Champ, Rising Star, Hustle, and runner-up American Open in both American Smooth and Rhythm. Over 35 state and regional titles.

References

Dance schools in the United States Franchises Dance schools in Canada Ballroom dance American companies established in 1947 Companies based in Hampden County, Massachusetts 1947 establishments in the United States {{ballroom-dance-stub