The instructors of Allongé Dance Academy and Pilates Studio in downtown Suffolk celebrated the academy’s grand re-opening at its newer, larger space at 152 S. Main St on Saturday. They were joined by dozens of parents, grandparents and potential students for games, refreshments, dance exhibitions and a fashion show.

The academy is named after the French ballet word meaning “to elongate” and offers private and group instruction in ballet, along with a variety of other dance classes in tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip-hop and other styles for all age groups. There is also a dedicated room for fitness classes such as Pilates, according to the press release.

“You’re providing a resource here for people looking for a space to gather, exercise and learn some type of dance discipline,” Councilman Donald Goldberg said at the ribbon cutting.

Owner and director Amanda Short has held her academy above Baron’s Pub in the heart of downtown Suffolk for the past four years and had taught classes for eight years prior at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts.

The new location on South Main Street is 5,000 square feet with three studio spaces, a sizable improvement compared to the 2,000 square feet and two studio spaces above the downtown restaurant.

“It was a combination of our growth and our desire to be more vested in the new vision for downtown,” Short said in reference to the overall rehabilitation of the area by the city and local businesses. “They’re creating a much more community friendly cityscape.”

The academy’s new address is the former building of the Morris and Piland print shop. According to the press release, the building was the recipient of a Suffolk Economic Development Authority façade incentive grant to help facilitate the extensive rehabilitation that was required to transform the rooms into bustling and polished dance studios.

“This is a great expansion,” Goldberg said. He said the building had seen better days and was due for a makeover. “It’s truly impressive.”

Short said it was actually an interesting experience to go through the building’s old rooms and discover all sorts of relics, like telegraphs from years past.

“It was really awesome to renovate a historic building,” she said.

Goldberg praised Short and her instructors for their commitment as a small Suffolk business over the years and for the work they put into this transition.

“Small business owners are the backbone of our community,” he said. “We appreciate that you’ve already operated a small business in town. You know what it takes. A whole lot of hard work, time and resources and energy.”

Short and company have high hopes for their new home. She’s planning for larger family events and workshops to help expand upon the students and parents that have helped her and her family become successful downtown.

“Without the commitment and the support of our families, this wouldn’t be here,” she said. “We love our studio families like they’re our family.”

Visit allongedanceacademy.com for more information.