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Business & Tech

Closed Saturday: Cheryl Burke Studio Hangs Up Its Dancing Shoes in Laguna Niguel

Representatives say an increase in rent at the location at The Center at Rancho Niguel is a primary factor in closing the studio after 3 years.

Editor's note: The following is taken from a press release issued by Cheryl Burke Dance.

 closed its 3,000-square-foot ballroom in The Center at Rancho Niguel on Saturday.

A primary factor in shutting down the studio is an anticipated 21 percent rent increase. The closure effectively ends the brand's three-year trial with a membership-based dance studio in Orange County.

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Located at 28221 Crown Valley Pkwy., the studio is one of two separate enterprises in California to carry the Cheryl Burke Dance studio brand.

A second studio in Northern California that incorporates the brand name, Cheryl Burke Dance Mountain View, ­will not be affected by the closure in Southern California. It is owned and managed by Cheryl Burke Dance SV, LLC.

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"Our main focus during this difficult transition in Laguna Niguel is the well-being and concerns of local dancers, studio staff, and business partners," said Cheryl Burke Dance "Studio manager Matthew Brown is making every effort to arrange space in a nearby facility to continue classes and coaching for students and their instructors."

About 40 dancers are Laguna Niguel studio members, taking private lessons and group classes as part of membership packages. In addition, around 30 non-members regularly participate in classes at higher admission charges. During peaks in event attendance, drop-in classes, parties and weekend workshops in Salsa or Tango have attracted as many as 100 dancers.

The studio currently operates with a staff of seven: five instructors; one manager, Brown (who also teaches); and one receptionist.

"Refunds will be issued to dancers for any unused Cheryl Burke Dance services that were part of their prepaid packages," Burke said. "Meanwhile, we expect to hold a much-anticipated showcase on July 14, as scheduled, at Segerstrom High School Theatre in Santa Ana."

Studio founder and Dancing with the Stars two-time champion Cheryl Burke will attend the July 14 event, cheering on the dancers and their teachers. CEO Sherri Burke plans to attend the performances as well.

Founded in 2009, the Laguna Niguel studio was established as one of three operating test models for Cheryl Burke Dance studios. The brand's San Francisco ballroom closed in 2010 due to high leasing costs and neighborhood changes that made planned uses of the venue impractical, according to the studio.

The Mountain View studio, which also serves as company headquarters, continues to serve the San Francisco Bay Area dance community seven days a week. It has 14,100 square feet and three separate dance floors.

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