Head to Toe Dance Interview with Anne Brown

Head to Toe Dance is Dripping Springs, Texas’ premiere dance studio. Anne Brown (formerly Anne ­­­­Barker), the Owner and Director, tells us that it is a small town dance studio with a big heart.  Located on the cozy main street of town, Mercer Street, Head to Toe is always bustling with energetic young dancers. The studio strives to provide an environment where dancers learn and grow as dancers and as individuals. Head to Toe Dance is a terrific place!

Anne has been teaching dance in the Central Texas area since 1988.  She studied ballet, tap, jazz and modern dance as a child in Houston and then in Austin under Dianne Greg with the Next Generation Dance Company.  Anne then majored in Music Education and completed her minor in Dance at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches and then at the University of Texas in Austin.  Teaching drill team, dance, and gymnastics has been a lifelong pursuit for Anne.  In addition to being a busy mother of three children (ages 16, 19, and 21) and a new bride, Anne is also currently the director of the award winning Head to Toe Dance Performance Company.

In the first nine years of business, Head to Toe has offered classes for children 3 – 18, participated in numerous competitions, and presented wonderful Spring Recitals.  Head to Toe Performance Company has taken groups of dancers to national dance convention and competitions in San Antonio, Houston and Dallas, Texas where they received many 1st and 2nd place trophies, as well as Platinum and Gold Awards. Head to Toe has performed at several community events including Founders Day Festival and Parade, Christmas on Mercer Street, Trail of Lights Festival, the Founders Day Parade, and the Jazz for New Orleans Benefit.

Now entering its eleventh year Head To Toe Dance exists to offer quality dance instruction to children and adults in the Hill Country area. They offer classes that both challenge and encourage dancers.  Building self esteem, confidence and discipline is valued just as highly as skills such as flexibility and alignment.

Currently offering classes in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Dance Team Prep, Modern, Pointe and Gymnastics, Head to Toe is committed to broadening arts opportunities in Dripping Springs. Developmentally appropriate classes are available for children from 18 months to Senior Citizens and for the beginner to the
most advanced levels.

From classical ballet to the latest hip hop, most of their dancers train in a wide variety of dance genres. Their youngest students (2 and 3 year olds) start with a basic creative dance class that incorporates ballet, tap, and tumbling. At 5 yrs of age, their students also begin training in Acro and some join their dance company.  In Second Grade, some students join their Fun, Exciting and Rated PG hip hop class.  Fourth Graders are excited to join Contemporary Class – a wonderful, expressive way to explore movement.  Their Middle School Dancers often train in the Kick Company for a future in a High School Dance Team.

This year their Company, which is 47 members strong, is traveling throughout Texas performing, learning and competing on a regular basis.  Dancers ages 5-21 train with their company in ballet, tap, acro, jazz, modern, musical theater and hip hop.

Anne feels that there are quite a few memorable moments in her coaching career, but one that really stood out for her was last year at their 10th Annual Spring Show.  She was so proud of their dancers and what they had built together.  The students and families really celebrated the milestone with joy and excitement!!

In Anne’s opinion, the biggest mistake she sees dancers make is not believing in themselves enough to really work for what they want. She sees dancers resign themselves to the same mistakes and struggles year in and year out.  How to fix it?  She says they should get determined!! She believes you can overcome whatever you struggle with.  Listen to your teacher.  Ask for help.  Practice, practice, practice and if all else fails take another ballet class!!

Anne has a number of goals for the next year. As a business woman, her goal is to make business procedures run smoothly and effectively. Also, she would like to build their program for Preschoolers and have three active preschool classes in the year 2015. Head To Toe has recently added an Acro program and they are implementing a new curriculum for their Acro classes. Additionally, she would like to run an organized and happy competition season.  It’s not all about winning.  She wants their kids to do well and learn life lessons while they are there.  She appreciates that their studio family is supportive, patient and works together.

Anne started a studio because she had taught for many years and wanted the artistic freedom to choreograph and direct some projects that she had been thinking about for years. She loves working with kids, seeing them grow and progress.

Please post a comment if you have had any experience with Anne Brown of Head to Toe Dance.

If you would like more information about Head to Toe Dance, visit their website at www.headtotoedance.com, call them at 512-789-9683 or email them at anne@headtotoedance.com. You can also like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, watch them on YouTube and connect with them on Instagram.