Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Simone Assboeck. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Simone , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

One risk I took that changed my life started with a university program requirement: an internship. This meant spending six weeks of my precious student vacation interning instead of relaxing or traveling. What a bummer! Hahaha! My creative mind, however, immediately began searching for ways to make this situation more enjoyable.

Before I continue, you should know that I’ve been a Latin and Ballroom competition dancer since I was seven years old. Later, I transitioned into being a professional dance coach and instructor. Following my parents’ advice, I decided to plan for the future and broaden my training. After all, you never know what might happen in a dance career. That’s why I applied to the “Physical Education for Rehabilitation and People with Special Needs” program at the Sports University of Cologne in Germany. I’ve always dreamed of helping people heal through alternative methods, but that’s a story for another time.

Back to the internship. My creative thinking led me to a brilliant idea: what if I combined work with travel? Even better, what if I did my internship abroad? I’d always dreamed of spending time in the U.S. as an exchange student in high school, but my dance career meant putting that dream on hold. Now, with no current dance partner and a summer break ahead, this was my chance to get a taste of life in the U.S., even if it was just for two months.

There was one major hurdle: preparing for an internship abroad typically requires a year of planning, and I had only six months. Everyone around me was discouraging, pointing out the tight timeline. Their negativity, however, had the opposite effect. It fueled my determination to prove them wrong.

Guess what? By the end of six months, I had completed all the paperwork and secured an internship position—the only one available due to my last-minute planning—in NYC! At the time, I didn’t fully grasp the significance of being in New York City compared to other U.S. locations.

Then came the curveball. The night before my flight, I received a message from the rehab facility: they could only accommodate me for two weeks instead of the agreed-upon two months. TWO WEEKS?! I couldn’t tell my parents; they were already worried about me going to the “dangerous” NYC. I decided to figure it out once I got there.

Off I went into uncertainty. After settling into my tiny sublet in NYC, I discovered the two weeks of work had actually dwindled to just two days—and the first day was a disaster. Looking back, I realize I should have secured a signed agreement, but my optimism made me trust a verbal commitment. Lesson learned.

With my internship seemingly over, my best friend consoled me over the phone, expecting me to return home. But I was resolute: I hadn’t worked this hard just to give up.

On the third day, lying on my mattress and staring at the ceiling, a memory surfaced. One of my first dance clients had a son who had moved to NYC years ago and owned a dance studio. If my internship had fallen apart, maybe I could work at a dance studio instead. Energized, I grabbed the Yellow Pages and noted the addresses of five major ballroom dance studios in Manhattan.

The next day, I retrieved my resume from the rehab facility and headed to my first studio. As luck would have it, the first studio I entered had my client’s son listed as an instructor. Unbelievably, as I inquired about him at the front desk, the elevator doors opened, and there he was, arriving ten minutes earlier than usual. We clicked instantly, and during our conversation, I casually mentioned I was looking for a job. To my amazement, he offered to speak to the studio owner on my behalf.

Two days later, I began assisting in various dance classes, including Salsa, Hustle, Merengue, and the classic ballroom styles I knew well, such as Waltz, Tango, and Samba to mention only a few. Meanwhile, he also helped me explore new internship opportunities. I interviewed with another rehab facility and nailed it.

How did it all turn out? Fabulously! By the end of my two months in NYC, I had completed my internship during the day, worked at the dance studio in the evenings, made incredible connections, and returned home with two job offers in my pocket.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

When I was seven years old, my parents offered me the chance to participate in my first Latin and Ballroom dance class. As I learned later, they had decided to take a dance class as a date night opportunity and discovered the kids’ program during their search. At the time, I was already involved in track and field but was eager to expand my horizons. After just one trial class, I was hooked, and my journey as a dancer began.

As my dance career progressed, my dance partner and I considered becoming professional dancers, which naturally included a career as dance coaches—an essential path for professional ballroom dancers to sustain themselves financially. Initially, I hadn’t thought about teaching, but coaching provided a way to support our dance journey and pave the way for our professional future. When I took on my first teaching job at a dance studio, leading group classes, I discovered an unexpected love for teaching.

What truly ignites my passion is working with clients who claim they “can’t dance,” have “no rhythm,” or “two left feet”—a description I still hear regularly. It became my mission to prove that anyone can learn to dance with the right guidance. I delight in breaking down steps and movements, presenting them in various ways to suit each individual’s learning style. If a client struggles to grasp a concept, I see it as a challenge for me to adapt my teaching method. This individualized approach brings immense satisfaction when I see the spark of understanding and joy in my clients’ eyes.

To complement my coaching certification, I pursued a degree in Physical Education for Rehabilitation and People with Special Needs. This training deepened my understanding of movement analysis and the creation of impactful lesson plans. My clients often praise my analytical approach, which allows me to tailor sessions uniquely for them. The university program also emphasized using sports as a platform for personal transformation, which aligns perfectly with my philosophy. Through dancing, I help clients step outside their comfort zones, challenge long-held beliefs, and strengthen connections with their romantic partners.

What sets me apart is my diverse movement background. In addition to dancing, I’ve participated in basketball, volleyball, swimming, gymnastics, track and field, judo, and sailing. This holistic approach enables me to adapt quickly to different fields and integrate varied perspectives into my teaching. For me, dance is a powerful tool for self-development. My journey eventually led me to a transformational coaching program, which inspired me to add transformational coaching to my credentials. I believe in balancing the body and mind, and my clients benefit from this integrated approach.

Today, my services range from one-on-one dance lessons and group classes to transformational coaching and my Accelerator program, which combines dance and coaching. I help clients overcome shyness on the dance floor, build confidence, become better team players, feel at home in their bodies, connect with others, shift limiting mindsets, and expand their comfort zones.

There are many moments in my career that I’m proud of. From coaching Patrick Dempsey for his dance scene in the Walt Disney movie Enchanted to seeing countless clients embrace dance in their daily lives, every success is meaningful. One of my favorite experiences is working with couples preparing for their wedding dance. Often, one partner is hesitant to attend, but within the first 15 minutes, their eyes light up as they realize dancing can be enjoyable and accessible.

My ultimate goal is to create a safe, fun, and non-judgmental environment where everyone can explore new skills and discover that EVERYBODY CAN DANCE AND HAS RHYTHM!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I danced with my first partner for seven years. When I turned 14, we decided to part ways. At first glance, it might not seem like a big deal, but in the ballroom world, finding boys interested in this type of dance—especially teenagers—is incredibly challenging. For about a year, I attended all my group classes and practice sessions alone while searching for a suitable new partner.

During that time, my coach and I discovered a 14-year-old boy in a beginner class who showed great potential. However, he had a long way to go to match my dance skill level. Despite this, I was determined to make it work. Friends and members of the dance community later shared how amazed they were by my endurance—attending training sessions solo for an entire year—and my patience in building up my new partner to a competitive level.

At the time, I didn’t fully grasp the significance of my actions or what they revealed about my character. My immense love for dancing made it a no-brainer; giving up simply wasn’t an option. Looking back now, I recognize the determination and resilience I exhibited at such a young age in pursuit of something I truly wanted.

Have you ever had to pivot?

One of the most significant times I had to pivot in my life and business was during the COVID-19 pandemic. Overnight, my dance businesses came to a halt, and for the first time in my life, I found myself out of work. It was a surreal experience. At first, the sudden pause felt like an unexpected vacation; a chance to relax and catch up on things. But soon, the reality hit: not working meant no income.
Thankfully, my clients eager to continue their dance lessons encouraged me to explore teaching through platforms like FaceTime and Zoom. Initially, I was hesitant and unsure how to translate the in-person dance experience into a virtual one. However, the moment I started teaching online, I felt a renewed sense of purpose.
I realized that my entire life as an artist had prepared me for this ultimate challenge. Skills like adaptability, outside-the-box thinking, flexibility, and improvisation all came together to help me transition seamlessly from the dance floor to the virtual space. I developed new exercises and techniques to replicate the in-person experience for my clients, ensuring they could continue learning and growing despite the distance.
What started as a necessity turned into an exciting opportunity. I discovered I was no longer geographically bound to one location. Suddenly, I had clients from different states across the U.S. and even from other countries. Some of these clients worked with me consistently for over three years, learning the same material as my in-person students and achieving remarkable progress all without ever meeting me face-to-face.
This pivot not only kept my business alive but also expanded its reach in ways I never imagined. It taught me the value of resilience, innovation, and staying open to new possibilities, even in the face of uncertainty.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dancetogethernyc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancetogethernyc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancetogethernyc/
• Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/simoneassboeck
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/dance-together-nyc-new-york