According to Robin Smith, the Academy Director of Columbus DanceArts Academy (CDA) in Dublin, Ohio, they provide high-quality dance education programs to students age two to adult within a performance and technique based approach. They care about all of the students and promote a curriculum that is positive, family friendly and age-appropriate. CDA offers exciting performance opportunities to all students! CDA’s Mini – Kinder program provides age appropriate classes that develop the mind, body and imagination through dance for dancers from 2 to 6 years of age. CDA’s Academy program offers classes to students in the first grade through adult ages in ballet, jazz, tap and hip-hop in beginning through advanced levels.
Robin believes that Academy classes are fun and exciting for those who want to dance because they enjoy it and also for those who want to feed into their pre-professional program. CDA has a successful pre-professional Company Track program for serious and dedicated dancers. Many CDA alumni have gone on to top rated dance colleges and earned degrees in dance and presently pursue successful dance careers. At CDA, they believe that dance is for everyone. Their dance training provides a nurturing environment with experienced instructors, high-quality curriculum and a performance and technique based academy providing families with outstanding dance education and performing experiences.
In Robin’s opinion, CDA is separated from other dance studios by the three strong dance programs they provide – Mini-Kinder, Academy and Company Track. The three programs are designed to ensure age-appropriate and opportune curriculum for students in various age groups and with various training goals. They are a performance and technique based Academy where dancers perform in full productions and in professional theaters for an exposure to a true professional dance experience. The primary performing emphasis is Concert Dance where performances are held in professional theaters as well as at Community Events. Their top scale productions include original scripts written by myself (Robin Smith). These performances have auditioned solo roles involving skilled dancing as well as drama and theatrics, spectacular costumes for each and every dance class, and grand scenery for the multi-scene and themed productions. Let’s just say it is not your average recital!
In addition to their performances, their Company Track has a long list of Alumni in top dance programs and professional companies across the U.S! The product of their dance program and their 
professional productions set us apart from several other studios in the area.
Robin is proud of so many things that it is tough to choose just one moment where she is the proudest! She is very proud of Company dancers who are accepted into strong dance programs and move onto work professionally in both the concert and commercial dance world. She is filled with pride when students overcome illnesses, injuries or other struggles in life to prevail and shine on and off the stage. However, the most rewarding moments are when she sees dancers, who were not naturally gifted, dedicate themselves to dance and CDA programs and develop into amazing company dancers and artists. Even more important than any individual dancer’s dance performance is how they develop and present themselves as young people and what life skills they take away from their dance experiences.
Each year the professional crew of the theater they perform at tells CDA that their dancers have professional ethics and behavior comparable to any professional dance troupe they have worked with. They compliment CDA on what a well oiled machine they are and that they are one of their favorite performing companies with which to work. This is a reflection of every aspect of CDA’s programs, staff and students and makes Robin very proud to know that all of their dancers are thought of highly in the professional dance community.
According to Robin, the classroom is a place to learn, take risks, and grow and a part of that process is making mistakes. There are three common mistakes she sees dancers make. First, is what she calls peripheral vision dancing when dancers rely on the more confident dancers and watch them out of the corner of their eye or in the mirror reflection in class. Most of the time, they do not even realize they are doing this. When they do this, they never really develop how to pick up combinations on their own. Picking up combinations develops the mind and also then frees the mind to apply corrections and artistry rather than having to depend on someone else’s memory. To assist students with learning to pick up combinations on their own, CDA points out this habit, turns dancers away from the mirror and has them work in small groups to encourage them to learn without the habit of peripheral vision dancing. They see a lot of development in dancers once they recognize this habit and they begin to dance more independently.
Second, outside of class, many dancers sit and stand in a slouched position and/or stand sinking their pelvis into their hips and do not think about core muscles while they are not dancing. Robin asks students to be aware of how they sit and stand at school and home all day long and challenge them to do so like a dancer at all times. If they do this, they begin to develop better core muscles and alignment in class.
The third problem she sees is when dancers do not pick up and retain combinations easily. When they struggle with classroom material week after week, CDA asks them to bring their phones or tablets to the end of class and video the material. This is a wonderful tool and dancers who do their homework and review the combinations between classes also show very nice improvements and technique because they can move past learning the steps and focus on applying corrections and technique.
Robin’s main goals for this year include integrating their already established studio with the technological era. She has appointed a Marketing Coordinator to develop more of a presence in social media and digital marketing. Redesigning and updating their 
website is also a goal to accomplish this year as many people do their dance studio research online. Up until about a year ago, they had been at the same location for twelve years. Due to a big developer buying their former building, they had no choice but to move and rebuild! The transition was scary at times but very successful in the end. They love their new location and adore all of the families who stuck with them through the move! However, their building is not as physically visible as it was at the old location. Their goal is to continue growing their program’s presence and help their new location’s exposure by spreading the word of their studio through events like “Bring A Friend To Dance” week.
Robin grow up loving to dance and always put on dancing theatrical shows in her parents garage. She loved choreographing and teaching at a young age and could not imagine ever not dancing. She danced professionally, went to college for dance, choreographed musicals and dance teams and was a student teacher in high school. She always loved children in general. It was her dream to someday own a dance studio of her own. She feels blessed to share the joy of dance with a wonderful staff, awesome customers and beautiful and passionate dancers!
Her oldest daughter is the studio’s Artistic Director and her youngest daughter returned to CDA as an instructor/choreographer this year after dancing professionally for 10 years. Columbus DanceArts Academy is definitely a family affair!
If you would like more information about Columbus DanceArts Academy, visit their website at www.columbusdancecda.com or call them at (614) 789 – 0052. You can also “Like” them on Facebook, check them out on YouTube and connect with them on Instagram.
Please post a comment if you have had any experience with Robin Smith of Columbus DanceArts Academy.
Written By Cyndi Marziani
Owner
BDancewear.com
