Studio 1 Dance Academy is a dance studio in Santa Clarita, California, that has provided dance excellence and the finest in dance training since 1990. They offer classes in classical ballet, pointe, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, tap, lyrical, musical theater, tumbling, stretch and conditioning for children ages 2 and up. They have many levels, from beginners to advanced and for children through adults.
According to their Artistic Director, Jan Frishette, the studio brings passionate dance instructors together with passionate dance students that are eager to learn. This winning combination of talent and determination culminates in beautifully trained dancers that go on to achieve their dance goals and dreams. Goals like making a high school dance team, winning national titles at prestigious dance competitions or high school competitions, booking commercial dance jobs, getting accepted to prestigious dance universities/colleges or dance companies, all become reality with the best training, provided at Studio 1 Dance Academy.
Jan believes that Studio 1 Dance Academy is different from other studios because they nurture all ages and levels with individualized instruction. Many dance studios say they do this, but don’t deliver. Also, a lot of dance studios don’t allow students to do solos until they have been with that studio for several years, or they only focus on a certain group of older kids. Studio 1 has young, little dancers, quite advanced for their age, performing and competing solos. Studio 1 has many levels of performance teams, including a pre-team of very young dancers that will also compete and perform.
Another way Studio 1 is different is that they do not make you sign contracts or pay huge deposits when you join their performance teams. The majority of other studios require one, or both, of these things to keep you from leaving for the year. Studio 1 believes that they do not need to do that because their teachers/choreographers are so great and Studio 1 is so confident that they know you will not want to leave! They also work well with industry kids and celebrate their successes instead of 
giving them grief.
Studio 1’s annual show is an organized, wonderful production that your whole family will enjoy and be proud of. They do classy, and age appropriate choreography, costuming and music selection.
Studio 1’s pricing is extremely reasonable and when parents switch from other studios they are always thrilled at how they are paying less and yet they are seeing their dancer advance so much and so quickly. Studio 1 does not waste time and the results come from their amazing faculty providing wonderful training.
Studio 1 brings in the best teachers from L.A – working industry professionals that are experienced, highly qualified instructors. Many of their instructors still dance professionally and are current with their curriculum. Dance genres such as Hip hop, contemporary, jazz, lyrical, tap are evolving art forms and their instructors/choreographers teach what is “now.” In a family like atmosphere, they really do focus on each individual dancer, developing soloists at an early age.
Many of the instructors have earned Bachelor of Arts or Fine Arts in theater or dance. Studio 1’s teachers also work in the entertainment field. At this time, Miss Kat is working on several TV projects and is currently casting for a Nickelodeon TV Show. Jan congratulates their very own dance instructor, Chris Babcock, for his work on Glee this year! The first episode was on Fox on 1/9/15! Additionally, many of Studio 1’1 instructors have worked, or are working, on professional projects that include The Michael Jackson Tribute (assistant choreographer), Flash Mob America, Ellen DeGeneres Show, Dr. Phil with Matty B, America’s Best Dance Crew, Hasbro commercial, Cisco commercials, Vitamin commercial, Country Music Channel and Kids Zoom Network, VMA’s with Rhiana, The Streamy Awards and Americas Got Talent, and with celebrities including Jay Leno, Tom Jones, Tim Conway, Kenny Rodgers and The Brian Setzer Orchestra. They have appeared in numerous other music videos, commercials, television series and awards shows. They have danced professionally with ballet companies such as New York Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, ABT, Chicago City Ballet, London Hite Ballet, Netherlands Ballet, Ballet Metropolitan and the Cincinnati Ballet among others.
At Studio 1, they believe that mastering a turn or accomplishing that gymnastic trick is truly addicting and fun. Real learning and achieving is fun!
In the last 25 years, Jan has had way too many proud moments to single out, i.e.,- seeing a student on a national commercial, watching a student “nail” a performance on stage, achieve a national title, observe a student’s gracious humility helping a fellow student. Classes at the studio are filled with proud coaching moments, i.e., helping a student get that double turn for the first time or watching a little one get her splits for the first time.
Jan believes the biggest mistakes dancers make is not giving 100 percent effort in class. It is necessary to give it your all in order to succeed at anything. Hard work really does pay off.
Since it is Studio 1’s 25th year of creating dance excellence, their goal is to develop the students at Studio 1 Dance Academy into the most amazing dancers that they can be! Jan says they have supportive dance families and they are so excited about this season of dance!
Jan says she started Studio 1 because of her love of dance and passion for teaching. She believes that many teachers love working with only advanced dancers. While she certainly enjoys working with advanced dancers, she is most passionate about how quickly she can turn a beginner into an intermediate, or even an advanced, dancer! Jan absolutely loves that challenge!
Studio 1 Dance Academy is known in Santa Clarita for having great technique in jazz, contemporary, lyrical etc. We certainly do turn out top young competitive dancers but a major contributing factor is our amazing ballet training. Because we are a well rounded studio offering hip hop, tap, tumbling etc, many do not realize the incredible ballet being taught by our regular master teachers. We challenge our little ones. We believe real learning can be real fun! We have the most knowledgeable faculty in regards to what is needed to make the local, award winning dance teams.
Please post a comment if you have had any experience with Jan Frishette of Studio 1 Dance Academy.
If you would like more information about Studio 1 Dance Academy, visit their website at http://www.studio1danceacademy.com, email them at studio1danceacademy@ymail.com or call them at 1-661-296-1268 or 1-818-731-3435. You can also like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter and connect with them on Instagram.
My daughter has been dancing with Studio 1 for a little over 5 years and competing now 3 years! So are so honored to be training under amazing teachers who help your child thrive in dance with correct technique. So proud to call Studio 1 my dance family.