"One Song Glory"
Mission Statement
Here at the Downtown Dance Academy we’ve chosen to spotlight community rather than competition.
Adopting a noncompetitive studio atmosphere gives the students and teachers the ability to focus on a creative and well-rounded dance education. Through inspiration and dedication, we encourage each of our dancers to find his/her own unique creative voice.
Dancers of every shape and size are welcome here! In addition, it is important to us our dancers be healthy mind, body, and soul. This is a safe place to create and dream.
We are not only a studio or a team; we are a dance family.
To help instill a strong love for the artistry of dance, we are building and maintaining a program that promotes safety, self-confidence, and strength. Our dancers tell our studio’s story with each piece they present. With dedication and hard work we aim to help each dancer follow his/her dreams. Whether that includes dancing at the collegiate level, performing at the professional level, or simply dancing to enjoy it.
We would love for you to come join our family and dance with us!
Check out our "home"!
The Downtown Dance Academy offers a wonderful lobby with plenty of seating for parents and dancers alike. Both Studio A (our sunshine yellow studio) & Studio B (calming mint green) have beautiful wood flooring and the original tin ceilings complete with chandeliers!
Our Beginnings
Miss Amber opening day 2012
From the age of 12 Miss Amber knew that she wanted to be a dance teacher and open her own studio. During a school assembly in 7th grade she rustled up enough courage to do a solo in front of the entire school (grades 7 - 12!!) to Bon Jovi's "It's My Life". The song that started it all. After the performance a wonderful math teacher came up to her and said "You should get a group of your friends together to dance!"
So she did! That is how the Downtown Dancers began. They lasted all 6 years of high school; dancing at school and community events. When looking for a space to rehearse... Pete Pellinen directed them to the Range Academy of Dance. This is where Miss Amber met Miss Erveen Serra. She then ended up teaching for Miss Erveen for 8 years. One day Miss Erveen called up Miss Amber and said, "I'm going to retire this year." Well she had been saying that for a while, but after 60 wonderful years at age 82 Miss Erveen did retire.
However, this meant that there was a whole studio full of kids that needed somewhere to dance! At age 21, Miss Amber moved back home and with the help of her amazing parents they bought the old Kap N Kork liquor store, and in one summer transformed it into a studio. The following summer a second studio space was added.
When people ask what Miss Amber's dream job is, she has only one reply, "I already have it!" Seeing this dream from such a young age and being able to accomplish it is a very rare thing. How very blessed and lucky we are here at the Downtown Dance Academy (DTDA). We wouldn't trade a single tear or drop of sweat for anything!
After 5 wonderful years we had to take a break. We thought that was the end of the DTDA. Thankfully we are able to once again reboot and work around some health issues to be able to keep going! We are so excited to be starting our 11th year and looking forward to MANY more years to come!