Sophie Dance and Sophie Dance Atwater in Los Angeles, California, are magical, friendly recreational dance studios where children and teenagers learn to be the best they can be at ballet, tap and hip hop in a non-competitive nurturing environment. Sophie Dance is a “recreational” dance school that offers dance classes, camps, private lessons. They also offer parties for kids ages 4 to 17. Sophie Dance has two studio locations, Sophie Dance and Sophie Dance Atwater, each with their own schedule and availability. They offer classes in ballet, tap and hip hop for ages 18 months to 18 years at their Third Street location as well as Holiday and Summer Dance Camps. Their Atwater location offers classes for ages 18 months to 10 years. In addition to focusing on dance skills, their studios focus on original and creative movement while encouraging the joy of dance and age appropriate expectations.
The staff at both locations brings out the best in each dancer. In some cases, this is simply strengthening their self esteem and confidence in who they are in this world – not necessarily just in dance class. They do not pride themselves on having the best dancers in town. They pride themselves on being warm, accepting and encouraging. Their mile long waitlists prove what they are doing is effective and meaningful to children and their parents.
According to Sophie Pierce, the Owner and Director, the retention in their classes over the years is what makes her the proudest. There are exciting moments every day when a student accomplishes something they have been working on for a long time or a 2 year old FINALLY warms up to you and participates in your class with a smile. But she says having the studio for 9.5 years and watching the dancers who have been with her since the first week it opened is extraordinary. There is no better marker of time then watching the growth of a child and that in combination with their growing dance skills is really exciting for her.
Sophie doesn’t feel their little ones really make mistakes but the biggest mistake she sees their ‘tween and teen dancers make is bringing their personal “drama” in to the studio and on to the dance floor. She thinks the emotions of the dance can really propel them in to an inspired dance class. But she often sees what goes on for her students at school or at home negatively effect how they participate and feel in dance class. She reminds their teachers and students to leave those challenging moments from the day at the door and be as free as possible in class. Sophie thinks the more dancers can see class as a fresh start to their day, even if their class is 7 p.m. in the evening, the more they can expand in their training.
Her goals are always to have a productive and PEACEFUL year. Sophie and her staff work around the clock to keep their studio, students and recital as organized as possible so classes and performance run smoothly. This year, in particular, she is really focused on growing their brand new location in Atwater Village. She opened this second branch with her dear friend, Reyana Wright, and together she thinks they can introduce what they do so well to a whole new community.
Sophie knew she wanted to own a children’s dance studio from the time she was six years old. She grew up in a dance studio just like hers and idolized her dance teacher and everything about her life. As a child, she ran an imaginary studio out of her bedroom. Sophie says, “I believe life starts with our imagination and grows with the manifestation of our destiny.”
They offer classes in ballet, tap and hip hop for ages 18 months to 18 years at their Third Street location as well as Holiday and Summer Dance Camps. Their Atwater location offers classes for ages 18months to 10 years.
Because Sophie strives to secure the services of top-quality teachers who will commit to teaching classes a year in advance and who will make themselves available for the hours that fit the demanding schedules and the needs of their dancers, it is important that they carry out their multiple-class approach on a tuition payment basis. For that reason, they must require their parents to pay the tuition for a minimum of one trimester, approximately 11 weeks, in advance.
In the words of one of their clients, “Sophie Dance [at Third Street] just may be the happiest place in Los Angeles. It’s a place where parents go to smile and kids go to laugh and have so much fun! Sheer joy!” In Sophie’s opinion, their Summer Camp is the number one place for summer camp for both girls and boys, ages 4 through 10. Sophie Dance has created an extraordinary way to get away from the TV and have a blast. They create a special theme every week. It could be based on a TV show, a Broadway musical, a movie or even Michael Jackson. Campers spend the week creating a story and learning tons of dances – practicing, creating costumes and the set. All the things needed for the end-of-the-week show. Dancers who go to camp miserable and tired are guaranteed to come back smiling and excited – and most likely with a new friend. Some campers have so enjoyed their time at Sophie Dance that they enrolled their child for every week available for several years in a row. In additional to the campers, Sophie Dance offers the opportunity for boys and girls, ages 11 or older, to become a C.I.T. (counselor-in-training) and help the teachers during camp.
In Sophie’s words, “My soul is less interested in just teaching dance and really focused on how dance is this extraordinary engagement of energies and everything that goes into a dance experience for a child.”
If you would like more information about Sophie Dance or Sophie Dance Studio, visit their website at www.sophiedance.com, call them at (323) 395-3050 or email them at sophiedancestudio@yahoo.com. You can also “Like” them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter and connect with them on Instagram.
Please post a comment if you have had any experience with Sophie Pierce of Sophie Dance and Sophie Dance Atwater.
Written By Cyndi Marziani
Owner
BDancewear.com
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