May 15, 2017

Meet Ching Kao & Andre’ Strinadko of Firebeat Ballroom Studios in Winchester

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ching Kao & Andre’ Strinadko.

Firebeat was founded in March 2009 by Andre’ Strinadko and Ching Kao, through their love for ballroom dance and for each other. Their shared dream was to create a sanctuary where people would feel safe to explore their potential, discover self-acceptance, and embrace dance as a modality for healing body, mind, and spirit.

Firebeat found its first home in Boston, Massachusetts, on the top floor of a historic firehouse. The studio was encased by a large Plexiglass dome where the fire pole once hung, and this unique space became an inspiration for the philosophy and energy of the studio. Given the location of the space, and that Andre’ and Ching are both fire signs (Aries and Leo, respectively), the name Firebeat was born. Firebeat: where passion, dance, music, and heart come together and ignite!

The first sparks of Firebeat included one group class and private lessons with Andre’ as the sole instructor. But within just a few, short months, the dance floor was flooded with couples and Pro/Am students. During its five years in Allston, Firebeat experienced abundant success and growth, as the studio became known for elite training in International Latin. More importantly, the heart and energy of Firebeat created a strong community of students passionately committed to dancing together and supporting one another. During this period of growth, Andre’ also formed several successful professional dance partnerships and achieved significant competitive milestones.

Soon, it became clear that Firebeat was outgrowing its Allston home. Andre’ and Ching had always envisioned a larger space where people could move and dance freely, and in the summer of 2013, two clear signs pointed to a Firebeat expansion. First, Ching left her career in science to devote 100% of her time to Firebeat. Second, Andre’s professional partnership dissolved upon the retirement of his partner. Together, Andre’ and Ching decided to form a professional dance partnership and fully dedicate their lives to their greatest passion: their love for Firebeat and each other.

The moment they made this commitment, the perfect space revealed itself in the perfect location. In Winchester, Andre’ and Ching built their dream studio from the ground up. Every decision was made with love. With 7000 SF of raw space to work with, they built a top-of-the-line dance studio with three ballrooms, including one with a competition-sized floor. They also wanted Firebeat to be a sanctuary where community was nurtured and intentional; where students would come not only to dance, but to nourish themselves and build lasting friendships. With this in mind, they added locker rooms, a retail shop, aromatherapy, and a healthy café to the studio. Firebeat’s home in Winchester is truly a refuge for all dance lovers.

Now in its eighth year, the blaze of Firebeat continues to grow, attracting top professional talent from around the world and a community of passionate students from all across the greater Boston area.

Has it been a smooth road?
One of our earliest challenges was one that all dance studios face: finding the right space. We loved our original Allston location, but quickly outgrew it. In the ballroom world, space is often at a premium, and therefore it’s customary to have private lessons and group classes in same space, on the same dance floor, at the same time. Although this approach is cost efficient, it is not an ideal educational environment. Moving to our current location in Winchester allowed us to expand into a 7000 square ft. space, and we are now one of very few ballroom studios to have three separate dance spaces under one roof.

Another challenge we face is the idea that you have to have experience or a partner to begin ballroom dancing. Nothing could be further from the truth! Ballroom dancing is for everyone, whether you’ve been dancing your entire life, or have never stepped onto a dance floor. We cater to adults only, and are proud to offer a unique and peaceful environment designed to make learning fun and stress-free.

Finally, the world of ballroom dancing is always evolving, and we invest heavily in professional development for our entire team in order to keep our finger on the pulse of the industry. We make it a point to instill a culture at our studio that dance is a constant education — not only for our students, but for our instructors, as well. Technique evolves, ideals of beauty evolve — we want to ensure that we are offering the most advanced information from the people who are leading and creating the trends, and that we’re doing it in a way that even beginning dancers can benefit.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Firebeat Ballroom Studios story. Tell us more about the business.
Firebeat is known for our mission of inclusivity, kindness, passion, and professionalism. What sets us apart, and what we are most proud of, is that Firebeat is the perfect balance of art and science as a husband and wife team, we are joined together by our passion for our craft; however, we bring different and complimentary approaches. Andre’ elevates the studio with his artistic vision and direction, whereas Ching’s Ph.D. in individual differences in memory ensures that every student receives tailored instruction that brings out their greatest potential.

We warmly welcomes dancers of all levels, from those taking their very first lesson to the most seasoned of competitors. No matter your reason for wanting to learn to dance — social, competitive, fitness, or wedding/event prep — there is a place for you at Firebeat!

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Although popular shows such as Dancing with the Stars have brought ballroom dancing back to mainstream culture, there is still a misconception that the glamour and glitz of ballroom dancing is for the limited few.

In fact, ballroom dancing is a fun and healthy hobby for people of all ages. In the next 5-10 years, we hope that ballroom dancing becomes as mainstream of an activity as tennis and golf.

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