Party Time With The Dance Doctor

By Laura Burdick Sherman

Anyone who has had to put together a party knows what a headache it can be. Well, relief is here in the form of John Cassese, The Dance Doctor. While not new to Santa Monica, his newly rennovated studio offers party prescriptions that were unavailable for the previous twenty-one years. While most of his clients begin by taking a few dance lessons, the atmosphere is so bright and alive, the idea of a party seems like a natural progression and that includes birth­days, weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, wrap parties or corporate func­tions.

For Cassese, who appears to be as flexible mentally as he is physically, any excuse to dance is therapeu­tic. "It takes down all the social bar­riers immediate­ly," said Cassese. "If you know how to dance, you become confident." The studio holds mixed-age classes and Casesse doesn't discriminate between having chil­dren and adults in the same classes. The same goes for parties. The only differences might be that kids' parties might feature the Hip Hop, Electric Slide, Freeze Dancing, Swing and Salsa, while the adults might prefer The East Coast Swing, Salsa, Tango and the Lindy Hop. Hip Hop, Electric Slide, Freeze dancing, Swing and Salsa, while the adults might prefer The East Coast Swing, Salsa, Tango and the Lindy Hop.

Cassese exudes a bright, cheery confidence conveys the impression that he can provide exact­ly what the customer wants. And he does. The Dance Doctor's prescription for a party is simple. "They can bring cake, pizza, food, decorations. Come fifteen minutes early," he says. "They're all learning and having fun," said Casesse, who conducts an interview as a kind of dance in itself, reporter in tow as he zips around the studio, chats to guests, nods at staff, and takes care of business. So involved in music is Cassese that when asked about his personal life, Cassese shows a CD on which he sings. This is his personal life. So interesting a guy is Casesse that a feature film based on his life was in development at Twentieth Century Fox

Sandy and Sherry Frey of Encino first came to Cassese after they had signed a nine piece orches­tra for a 70th birthday party for Sherry's mother. "We came here because we couldn't dance at all. After only three weeks of lessons, we shocked our mothers," said Sherry Frey. Disappointed they had not booked their party here, the Freys have continued to keep up with the excitement of dance. Every Saturday in the studio, the Freys can be seen trot­ting off in each -other's arms with classes going on in the back­ground.

However, no couple better exemplifies Cassese's party hosting than George and Cielo Falardeau. George, 70, married Cielo, 29, at the studio where they held their 100 person wedding party. "We had a full meal catered and used his office for the bar.

John (Cassese) was the disc jockey. It went great. There was a buddy of mine in really bad shape, 78, all bent over and even he got out there and danced. Even the oldest, most infirm ones there danced," said Falardeau. By the way, Cassese's CD's and cassettes can be purchased at-the studio or at his web site: http://www.dancedoctor.com.