(YAKIMA) – There’s a new ballroom studio in Yakima.

Haute Ballroom Dance Studio was founded by two Yakima natives who loved to dance but also wanted to share their love of ballroom dancing with the community. So they created Haute Ballroom, and the studio teaches

“We teach couples dancing in waltz, tango, foxtrot, salsa, bachata, swing and many other dances. Our mission was essentially to teach really great dance techniques so that people can have a great time not only with the people they love or in their own bodies, but also in the community and at different events so they can dance as often as they want,” said Aaron Siebol, teacher and co-owner of Haute Ballroom.

And although they enjoy dancing, Aaron and Michelle Hotchko, also a teacher and co-owner of the studio, have certain favorites that they enjoy teaching.

“For me, the dance I love teaching the most is one that really resonates and connects because each style has different music associated with it. So when someone is excited about something and you see a light bulb go off in them and they understand how to do something with their body or their partner, it’s extremely inspiring and moving. Sometimes it’s a salsa, sometimes it’s a waltz, sometimes it’s a tango, like the Argentine tango,” Aaron said.

I agree, it depends on who you work with and what they enjoy most,” said Michelle

Their classes are primarily for adults, but they plan to add a youth program soon, and they want the program to be …

“Kids are often very shy. This is a safe environment for them to kind of go out and appropriately reach out and touch someone and move around the dance floor together. If we could have done that, it would have been overwhelming and beautiful. And it’s also about giving kids the opportunity to develop that as kids because it can really change their lives depending on what they choose to do. But couples dancing is something you can do your whole life, unlike other styles of dance that you might not do as an adult. So if we can spark their interest and teach them some of those skills as kids, they can continue to use them as adults. I think that’s a really beautiful skill that they can take with them into adulthood and then do forever,” Aaron and Michelle said.

Currently the studio is located in the old Donald house in downtown Yakima, but they will be moving soon. Aaron and Michelle will be teaching and dancing ballroom dancing for many years to come.