Studio Nine22 Dance & Beyond, located at 922 Carson St., is looking to bring new and exciting opportunities to expand the arts in Greeneville.

Owner and artistic director Connie Black is excited to re-open the studio that previously housed the Beverly Serral School of Dance as her own outlet for the arts, with many different programs to be offered.

Studio Nine22 is a member of the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO), and Black brings with her 30-plus years of dance and teaching experience in Tennessee, Virginia, and Florida.

She holds an associate degree in Dance Theater and Entertainment Technology from the Florida School of Arts, and is currently working on her bachelor's degree through the University of Florida distance learning program.

An open house will be held Aug. 4 at 10 a.m., and classes will start Aug. 20.

Many genres of classes will be offered, including Ballet, HipJazz, Acrobatics, Lyrical, Modern, Creative Movement, and Adult Ballet.

The studio will not just be teaching dance, Black said, but also the history of dance, how dance can help a person mentally and physically, and other approaches to really "teach dancing as a whole."

Also planned are Parents Night Out and Mommies Morning Out, where the studio will entertain children with Creative Movement lessons and games while parents get much-deserved time away.

Host-themed parties for children's birthdays or other occasions will also be offered.

The studio wants to "bring more art into the area," especially to underprivileged children who want to take dance classes but are not financially able," Black said.

She said she hopes to gain resources from the community to obtain grants to start programs that will allow such children to take classes.

A dance company for the studio will be started, and membership will be decided by audition.

The studio so far has two instructors.

All instructors are required to follow the standards of NDEO; these standards help both teacher and students understand the learning embedded in dance and movement, Black said.

Cost of classes is by the hour, with monthly tuition ranging from $35 to $55.

Studio Nine22 represents a place for the arts that is "not just a dance class" but allows both young people and adults a chance to express themselves and learn more about a subject, Black said.

For more information about registration, classes, and more, call 329-3581 or visit the studio at its website: http://www.studionine22.com or on Facebook.