B. Elite Dance Academy Interview with Tonya Reed-Simon

Elite Dance Academy, aka Belleville Elite Dance Academy, is family-owned and operated right here in Belleville and Ofallon, Illinois. According to Tonya Reed-Simon, B. Elite has treated every customer like they were a part of their family from the day the opened their studio in 2005. Other companies may offer similar services, but B. Elite believes their services are the best and come with a personal touch.

Tonya was moved to open a studio because there was a need for someone to step up and help the kids in the community acquire their dance goals. She was asked if she could be that someone and she accepted the challenge. Their rates are competitive, with no hidden fees. Their employees are friendly and will be there to help you every step of the way.

Tonya Reed-Simon uses discipline, fun, humor, counseling, bonding in teaching her students. B. Elite is a family and Tonya makes sure all the kids that dance for her treat each other like family. Their students are performance based and pre-professional taught. She teaches her students to be employable dancers.

Elite Dance Academy is a well-established and well-respected dance school located in southern St. Clair County. For more than ten years, B. Elite has offered a wide variety of dance genres and private lessons (classical ballet (Cecchetti Method), pointe, hip hop, jazz, lyrical, modern, tumbling, ballroom and tap) to all levels of dancers from ages 3 through 103. Their classes consist of Twinkle Toes and Twinkle Babies, Flexibility/Turns/Leaps, Hip Hop, Tap, Ballet, Jazz/Lyrical Combo, Tumbling, Flexibility and Conditioning; Contemporary/Jazz Combo, Open Tumbling, Turns and Leaps, Dan-Cize Workout, Go-Pro Hip Hop, Pointe

The dance school prides itself on having an experienced teaching staff – all of whom are both great instructors and performers. B. Elite’s teachers are encouraged to focus on providing quality instruction and supportive reinforcement in a caring, fun and loving atmosphere within which their child can learn and excel.

As dance school instructors, they recognize and leverage the fact that dance can promote: a sense of achievement, assurance and self-esteem; physical health including flexibility, mobility strength and coordination; a passion of music and performing; rhythm, musicality and creativity; a positive feeling and character with unity and passion; the importance of teamwork, responsibility and respect; and self-discipline, responsibility and time management. Tonya is very proud when she sees her past dancers working in the dance industry. That means she has done her job.

In Tonya’s opinion, the biggest mistakes dancers make is being concerned about being the next star and striving to make sure every trick is perfect. She believes that her dancers are all students, so that means they are learning. So they should learn. They put too much pressure they put on themselves. She also believes that more Dance history needs to be taught.

For students who want to pursue dance at a competitive level, B. Elite offers the opportunity to join the Competition Team – a company of nationally recognized and award-winning groups under the direction of Tonya Reed-Simon, Chrissy Lake, Lori Rogers and Mandy Johnson-Bennet.

The Competition team provides company members with a chance to hone their performing skills while learning cooperation and responsibility as they work with teammates and choreographers to bring well-rehearsed and entertaining dance numbers to the stage in St. Louis, as well as at regional and national competitions.

Her goal for this year is to focus on the Joy of dance this year. She believes there needs to be less focus on the having to be number one. She also wants to provide more community performances.

If you’re looking for high quality and personal service, you’ve come to the right place. At Belleville Elite Dance Academy they’ll give you the attention and personal service you’ll come to expect and enjoy.

If you would like more information about B. Elite Dance Academy, visit their website at www.belitedanceacademy.com, call them at 314-255-7514 or email them at dancingtonya@gmail.com. You can also “Like” them on Facebook.

Please post a comment if you have had any experience with Tonya Reed-Simon of B. Elite Dance Academy.

Written By Cyndi Marziani
Owner
BDancewear.com