There’s a new business in town, a most welcome dance studio located conveniently in Beltway Plaza Mall – the Evolution Dance Studio. It’s located near the AMC movie theaters, next to Shaymar Higgs’ Free Art for All and across the hall from his Third Space Lounge. It’s a creative hub!

So far, classes are offered in: Ballet/Lyrical, Hip Hop, Jazz, Parent and Me, and Adult classes, and Summer Dance camp with Stem and Field Trips. The studio’s very first recital happened last weekend at the Stamp Student Union on U. Maryland campus, and the Grand Opening/Ribbon Cutting is coming up this weekend, Saturday, June 10 at noon .

I stopped by to meet the Founder and owner Linda Chaney, shown here at the entrance to the classroom. I learned that she’s a long-time organizer and choreographer of performances at elementary and junior high schools in the area (she’s a Bowie resident), now starting a second career as dance entrepreneur after working at the U.S. Capitol and then as the mother of three.

Dushaun Thompson, above left, is a dance instructor and assistant at the studio, and IO Chaney (right) is marketing director.

Evolution Dance Studio is more focused on fun and recreation than on winning competitions, so “For the love of dance” might be its motto. I know all Greenbelters welcome Linda and her team to the creative community we have here and wish the studio great success!