PASSION DANCE STUDIO LLC

Passion Dance Studio is a multicultural dance studio in Hartford, Connecticut, founded by Victoria O'Connor. With cultural roots in Jamaica and Puerto Rico, Victoria brings a deep commitment to diverse dance styles and community-building. She is a former elementary school dance teacher who has performed with dance teams from high school through college and trained in hip-hop, Latin, Caribbean, Bhangra, and collegiate-style step. Victoria also serves in liturgical dance ministry.

The studio offers classes for ages 4 through adults across multiple styles. Youth classes include Beginner Step (ages 4–8, Saturdays 9am), AfroKidz (ages 7–12, exploring African and Caribbean dance, Mondays 5:00pm), KidzHop (ages 7–12, hip-hop with Ms. Angela and Ms. Victoria, Thursdays 5:45pm), and Teen Afro-Caribbean classes (ages 13–18, Mondays 6pm, beginning September 14th). For adults, the studio runs Line Dance classes twice a month at 7:30pm, Dance Fitness (Zumba, Mondays 6pm), and Argentine Tango classes hosted through Tango Sueno Academy with Gem Duras (Saturdays at 11:00am beginner and 12:00pm intermediate/advanced). The studio also offers Step It Up, a step team class for ages 4–14 with Ms. Victoria.

The teaching team includes Ms. Victoria (owner), Ms. Angela (a 15-year-old liturgical dancer at Divine Inspiration of Rehoboth Church of God who has trained in ballet, tap, and jazz), Ms. Abigail Palache (age 15, trained with NIA ARTS in traditional African dance and a member of the Caribbean American Dance Company), and Ms. Savana Jones (a Hartford native who graduated from The Hartford Conservatory in 2009 with a degree in Dance Pedagogy and Performance, with seventeen years of teaching experience in the Greater Hartford area and training in ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, modern, ballroom, and aerial arts).

Youth classes are priced individually or in packages: single youth class $21.23, or 2 classes for $37.00 (sale price, regular $42.00) or 3 classes for $52.00 (sale price, regular $62.00). Line dance single classes are $12.95. The studio offers private lessons at $78.00, including bridal choreography. Special services include Parents' Night Out (2-hour session, $26.95) and line dance instruction for events ($65.00). The studio provides performance opportunities throughout the year for youth students in the studio and at community events, designed to help them showcase progress and build confidence.

Classes are led by passionate instructors who teach specific styles in a welcoming, supportive environment. You'll find a mix of ages and skill levels depending on which class you choose. The studio emphasizes community-building alongside skill development.

Victoria O'Connor (owner) leads step and teen afro-Caribbean classes. Ms. Angela and Ms. Victoria co-teach KidzHop. Ms. Abigail Palache teaches AfroKidz and has trained in traditional African dance and Caribbean dance. Ms. Savana Jones, who graduated from The Hartford Conservatory in 2009 and has seventeen years of teaching experience, brings expertise in ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, modern, ballroom, and aerial arts. Zumba is taught by Alexa, and Argentine Tango is offered through Tango Sueno Academy with Gem Duras.

The studio welcomes beginners across all ages; Argentine Tango and line dance classes are explicitly offered at beginner level.