About Step by Step in Las Vegas
Step by Step Dance Studio has been owned and operated by Josie Lopez-Clark since 1989. Josie has danced competitively with various pro and pro-am partners, and has received national recognition throughout her career. In 1996 she received the top teacher award for the Challenge of Champions. In 2003, and again in 2004 and 2005, Josie was nominated for one of the top three female teachers in the United States. Along with her Pro-Am Partner and husband, Jim Clark, she has won 13 United States Dance Sport Championships, has represented her Region in the Dance Sport Championship Series five times, has been on the winning National Championship Team twice, and has won numerous local and national championship events with Jim and her other students. She has also competed at the professional level in American Smooth, American Rhythm and International Standard styles. Josie continues to teach and compete while managing Step by Step business.
During her career Josie has had the opportunity to learn from the best ballroom dancers in the business. Former national and world champions have all helped to develop her unique style of teaching that results in fun filled, quality dance lessons, and championship Pro-Am students. She has passed this style on to the staff at Step by Step. Our studio hires and trains our own staff to meet high standards of dancing excellence, ethical business practice and professional interpersonal skills. Step by Step offers instruction in all styles of Ballroom and social dancing. The entire staff is encouraged to use “The Golden Rule” when dealing with students.
Step by Step started out as a Fred Astaire dance studio owned by Joe & Hilda Lanza in 1989. The Lanza's also owned a successful school in California and Joe had become the master franchisor for Fred Astaire in Nevada, California and Hawaii. Hilda Lanza was born in Scotland and danced competitively in England, one time achieving a seventh place ranking in the world standard division. Still today she coaches competitive couples and is a competition judge. In late 1989, after an illness, Joe sold the business to Josie and Richard Eickhof. Richard got started in the dance business in 1979 with a school in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Arthur Murray Dance Studio's recruited Richard to their Columbus, Ohio School where he became one of their top three dance analysts in the world. In 1991 Richard and Josie changed the name of their school from Fred Astaire to Step By Step and it has remained that way ever since. In 2008 Josie acquired full ownership of Step by Step.
Step By Step uses no high pressure sales tactics, and does not offer dance lesson packages greater than 50 lessons. Our students come to Step by Step for the fun, knowledge, people and value that we provide through our staff and approach to teaching. Dance lessons can also be purchased in smaller packages (10 or 25), or bought one at a time.
Along with private lessons, Step by Step also conducts Group lessons five nights a week, and on Saturday’s. Social dance parties on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings offer students and amateur dancers the chance to have fun, meet new dancers, and practice their steps on our competition size ballroom floor. To give potential students a fair opportunity to check out the studio, we offer our introductory package (2 private lessons, 1 group and 1 party) at a very reasonable price. Step by Step supports many local charities year after year, and has been featured on all of the local television stations.
