Mary Beth Besler, right, works with young students at her Dance Lab studio on West Avenue in Saratoga Springs. Besler has been dancing since the age of 4.
BY JENNIFER FARNSWORTH
Mary Beth Besler began dancing at the age
of four. From the moment her toes touched a
dance floor until now, she has worked to turn
her passion into a career.
As the owner of the Dance Lab in Saratoga
Springs, Besler is in her element, being able to
teach and share what she loves.
The Dance Lab, located at 68 West Ave., is
a place that Besler says is unique from other
dance studios in and around the Spa City. Besler
said they not only offer classes for children, but
adults too.
“The theme of the studio is for everyone to
have fun and feel good about themselves. There
is a quote by an anonymous author that says
‘You do not stop dancing because you grow
old, you grow old because you stop dancing.’ I
want kids to learn about the positive benefits
of dance, how great it can make you feel, and
how it can be an outlet during frustrating
times,” she said.
“I want adults to be able to find a place where
they can check the stresses of life at the door to
either learn what a feel-great exercise dance can
be or experience a blast from their past if they
used to dance as a child,” said Besler.
Besler brings years of valuable experience. It
includes master classes under renowned dancers
and choreographers such as Gus Giordano
and Frank Hatchett. She has won numerous
awards at national dance competitions and has
even performed as a backup dancer in a Jessica
Simpson concert.
Besler attended Siena College where she was
a member of the Siena College dance team for
four years and served as captain of the team for
her junior and senior years. Her resume
includes ballet study at Skidmore College, the
Ultimate Dance Team in Albany, and working
as an instructor for the past 13 years.
Besler said she chose the Saratoga location
for her own studio for many reasons, one being
that her husband, Steve, is a teacher at Saratoga
High School. She said she and her husband both
fell in love with the area.
“We knew we wanted to start our lives together
in this incredible city. Ever since I took
my very first dance class, I have dreamed of one
day starting my own studio. So, combining my
love for both dance and Saratoga seemed like
a great idea,” said Besler.
Besler said she feels having a studio gives her
the opportunity to get to know each student and
work toward their goals and dreams.
“Should the business grow, I would certainly
be open to expanding the studio but keeping it
in Saratoga,” said Besler.
Besler also works as a CPA at a financial
counseling firm, which helps her with the financial
side of owning her own business.
“I’ve had a lot of experience in dance
throughout my life, so I thought knowing the
business side would be helpful for running a
studio. It is nice because the two are so opposite
that I believe it helps keep me well rounded.
Even while working as CPA, I have taught
dance throughout the Capital Region at various
studios. Each experience validated my desire
to make my lifelong dream of opening a dance
studio become a reality,” said Besler.
For more information on classes and schedules,
visit www.thedancelabsaratoga.com. The
phone number is 441-1358.