Best Friends Open Cherry Hill Dance Studio Amid Pandemic

CHERRY HILL, NJ — Cherry Hill’s newest dance studio launched with outdoor classes before opening inside amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“We weren’t going to let COVID-19 stop our dream of opening a dance studio at a time when kids need our help now more than ever,” said Meredith Ziemba, who recently opened ZZ Dance with her best friend, Sammy Zweben. “Dance undeniably makes people happy. Whether it is used as a tool to build self-confidence, a fun social activity or an outlet to express one’s feelings, dance helps us grow.”

ZZ Dance offers fresh, dynamic in-person, private and virtual class offerings for kids and adults, the owners said. The studio focuses on the art of dance and puts Kindness in Motion by emphasizing philanthropy as part of its core curriculum through partnerships with local charities.

“The Cherry Hill community has embraced us with open arms, and we couldn’t be more grateful for their support,” Ziemba said.

The studio offers inclusive, gender-neutral classes for ages 18 months to adults and will include jazz, tap, hip-hop, ballet, contemporary, musical theater and more. Levels range from beginner and recreational to advanced and competitive.

ZZ Dance will also host a variety of donation drives and events to raise money and awareness for their nonprofit partners including Make-A-Wish NJ, Holton’s Heroes, Camp Cranium, the Food Bank of South Jersey and more.

“Giving back has always been an important part of our lives, and we knew from the beginning that it would be a main focus of our business,” Zweben said. “We have seen such a motivation in children to spread kindness, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to help foster that desire through dance.”

Zweben is a Make-A-Wish Ambassador and proud member of SAG-AFTRA and the Actors’ Equity Association. In addition, she is trained in teaching special-needs dance through Rhythm Works Integrative Dance, donates blood every 56 days and volunteers for numerous charities and organizations.

The friends have both been dancing since they were three years old. Ziemba was a member of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s nationally ranked dance team for five years, and a coach for three.

Ziemba earned her bachelor’s and master’s Degrees in Accounting and is a licensed CPA. She is married to her husband Justin and a has a son named Dylan.

Zweben graduated Cum Laude from Towson University and danced on the number one collegiate dance team in the country. After graduation, she spent time as a principal dancer in TV, film and commercials and enjoys work as a voiceover artist. She and her partner foster and adopt senior dogs who need a loving home.

ZZ Dance is located at 2091 Springdale Road, Unit #5 in Cherry Hill. The studio keeps the health and safety of dancers in mind by implementing precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, including reduced class sizes, mask-wearing and temperature checks.

Registration is currently open for the 2020-21 school year and the studio offers 1 week of free trial classes to every dancer at any time. To register for classes or for more information, visit www.zzdance.dance.