News From Portland!

News From Portland!

Fred Astaire’s Portland dance studio is located in the Ventuno Strata building in downtown Portland’s historic and vibrant Nob Hill neighborhood. The Dance Studio is a bright, open, 3,500-square-foot space with professional lighting, city views and elegant hickory hardwood dance floors that transport guests to a time of top hats, tails, spats and elbow-length silk gloves. Owners Jan Lampe and Alex Aillon are pleased to be a part of the Fred Astaire family and are overwhelmed by Portland’s immediate response to the opening of Oregon’s only Fred Astaire Dance Studio.

On April 29, Fred Astaire hosted Portland Uncorked, a social club for wine enthusiasts to meet new friends & network with others who love wine. It was an unusual twist on the usual Thursday night guest party. The evening was filled with gourmet Mexican fare, wine pairings and hot dance lessons at the studio. Over 200 guests enjoyed a night of delicious wine, salsa and even hotter salsa on the dance floor!

Fred Astaire’s Portland location has also been featured on two popular TV programs. Drew Carney, KGW News Channel 8’s “Out and About” reporter, broadcasted live from the studio for two hours Monday, May 10. Drew learned the Rumba in a short time and in his final segment performed his new found dance skills with Fred Astaire instructor, Jessi Reynolds. On Thursday, May 13, two instructors visited the KOIN TV Studio 6 set and performed the Tango and Swing for viewers. FADS Portland is one of the sponsors of “Weddings Portland Style.” The NW Examiner and The Oregonian have both featured articles about the opening of the new dance studio.

Portland’s Fred Astaire location was featured as a daily deal on the ever-popular Groupon site. The studio received such an outpouring of interest, management had to contact Groupon to end the deal once 1500 Groupons had been purchased! The studio has been extremely busy as these new customers visit for their lessons!

Thursday, May 20 is the official Grand Opening celebration for the studio. An evening of champagne, hors d'œuvres and dance exhibition will entertain local celebrities, press, students and friends of the studio. The studio will be offering a $20.00 grand opening special during the festivities, with all proceeds benefiting Young Audiences of Portland and SW Washington. Young Audiences connects classroom teachers with over 200 skilled residency and performing artists who provide programs in multiple artistic disciplines and cultures. Together they use the arts to make learning come alive for their students. Through Young Audiences' Run For The Arts, schools raise the funds to bring artists into their classrooms, pay for field trips to see performances and exhibitions and purchase art supplies. The studio is expecting over 200 people to this fabulous event and will present the donation at The Governor Hotel’s Heritage Ballroom during Young Audiences annual variety show, Mad Hot Anything Goes on Saturday, May 22.

The Dance Studio has been a flurry of activity since it’s soft opening on April 6. Information and news clips covering Fred Astaire’s Portland location are frequently updated on Facebook at Fred Astaire Dance Studio – Portland.