“One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight,” the instructor shouts. “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.”
A woman follows along to the beat, trying to mimic the movements of the dancers around her.
“Only a few minutes left, girls! Let’s finish this choreo strong,” she calls out again.
Before she knew it, her classmates and she lined up and whirled through the choreography they just learned an hour ago. The music stops. Exhausted, she notices something new: a small confidence. She just completed her first dance lesson.
At 435 5th Ave., The Femmily, a women-only dance studio, is on a mission to empower women to feel confident, connected and comfortable in their own bodies. For founder Valeriia Timoshova, that mission has been years in the making.
Born and raised in Russia, Timoshova grew up dancing as a hobby. When she moved to the U.S. at the ripe age of 20, she quickly realized that New York’s dance scene often catered to professional dancers rather than beginners.
“When I came to America…I tried a lot of classes…and 90% of them, even if a class was for beginner level, were really difficult,” Timoshova said. “I was thinking, if I were a grown woman…who just decided to start, I’m going to get trauma, it’s so hard, it’s so competitive, and I [said], I need to create something dedicated to women, without this pressure, without this judgmental vibe.”
Timoshova began planning immediately, first building a client base and teaching classes at different locations. In 2022, she founded The Femmily, opening the first physical studio in 2023.
Since opening, The Femmily has grown from approximately 1,000 clients to over 5,000. The Femmily now offers online classes to reach a broader audience and has plans to expand to additional locations in the future.
“The most important thing for me is to create something valuable…and my second goal is numbers and expanding,” Timoshova said. “I’m thinking about how I feel about this, how my clients feel, how my team feels. I’m not in a rush.”
The studio offers first-time clients a free class, along with access to a student group chat, where women can view tutorials for upcoming classes. Class offerings range from Girly Hip Hop to Pilates to High Heels and more, ensuring there’s a style for every woman.
“I have been coming to The Femmily consistently every week for five months now, and I have no dance experience,” Su Thandar, a client at The Femmily, said. “I have been recording my progress…I have improved tremendously, I feel more confident and happy.”
Beyond choreography, the studio offers a space for women to reconnect with themselves.
“If you were coming to my class for the first time, you didn’t know how to dance, my advice for you would be just to have fun,” Dulce Crespo, an instructor at The Femmily, said. “This space is for you to learn about yourself.”
In addition to being a dance studio, The Femmily aims to foster a sense of community.
“We really love everyone here,” Maryma Simelmikova, a manager at The Femmily, said. “We have a very supportive, kind atmosphere…We’re like family.”
“I worked at some other places…and noticed that here is not like there…The teachers and staff make girls feel very comfortable around them…It’s very open and intimate,” added Sasha Melikhova, another manager.
According to staff members, it’s that welcoming environment and body empowerment that keep clients coming back.
“It helps open your feminine side, [you feel] sensual, sexy, more confident after these classes,” Naya Mamazova, an administrator at The Femmily, said. “You’re leaving the studio ready to conquer the world. That’s the feeling that The Femmily gives you.”
For more information, visit thefemmily.com.
