Welcome to Step Up Dance Co.
“Life is like dancing. When you dance your purpose is not to get to a certain spot on the floor, it’s to enjoy each step along the way.”
Our Studio
Sarasota's newest and most exciting dance studio! Opening in February of 2020, Step Up Dance Co. has become one of the top dance studios in south central Florida. Owned by a professional ballroom and Latin dancer, Carlos Fanning, and with an experienced staff of professional dances, Step Up is the studio to join to get the best and most fun instruction and dance training. Step Up offers weekly group classes of guaranteed fun and learning, private lessons with your instructors to improve your technique and personal skills, and is the host of Latin Dance Socials where you can dance for hours with skilled Latin dancers and music provided by a DJ! Step Up Dance Co offers the best Latin Socials in SRQ!
Studio Owner and Instructor
Carlos Fanning
Carlos Fanning boasts over a decade's worth of national and international ballroom dance experience. He has won multiple regional and state championships, pioneering new moves and styles of dance he has learned from his extensive foreign travels to Colombia, Dominican Republic, Italy and his native country Peru.
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While living in Peru, Carlos competed in national folk dance competitions featuring well-known dances such as the Marinera. At the age of 6, he moved to the United States to pursue his dream of becoming a professional dance and instructor.
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At the age of 17, Carlos fully immersed himself in the world of dance and began his instructor journey at Fred Astaire. Since then, Carlos has worked with other franchised studios around the state of Florida, Arthur Murray and Wilson's Dance Club International. He has coached his students to the top step of the podium for Bronze and Silver-Gold Dance levels.
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Carlos then became an independent instructor and finally realized his dream of opening his own dance studio, Step Up Dance Co, in February of 2020. In just a short time, his studio has become well known throughout southern and central Florida for Latin and Ballroom dancing. Having choreographed numerous dances for Sweet 15's, Weddings, shows and competitions. Carlos will have you dancing and performing with sheer grace and elegance in no time!