Julie Reed-Russo is the Owner, Director, Teacher, and Choreographer of Westbrook Dance Academy (WDA) in Westbrook, Connecticut. She describes their studio as a big family where everyone cares about each other and goes out of their way to support each other on and off the dance floor. Also, they do their best to help each student achieve their personal best and have a great dance experience. At the same time, they strive to provide age appropriate curriculum, choreography, costumes, and music.
In Julie’s opinion, WDA stands out from other studios because they pride themselves on giving all of their students a complete dance education, whether beginner or advanced, recreational or competition. This is done by stressing technique, terminology, and the mastering of steps in their fun, exciting, and challenging classes.
They offer a wide variety of classes for all ability levels from beginner to advanced, 2 years old to adult, recreational dancers and competition dancers, in Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, Jazz, Tap, Irish Step, Hip Hop, Acrobatics, Boys Hip Hop, and Ballroom. They also offer Voice lessons and Technique Workshops.
Julie does not have a “proudest moment” in her coaching career. For her, every moment has been a proud moment for her. Watching the students perform and grow as dancers and people makes her a very proud teacher. The one “moment” that does come to Julie’s mind is 
the most recent. This past year their Senior Competition Team finished Third at the World Dance Championship. To qualify was an honor in itself – both their Senior and Junior Teams qualified. And “for the students and the studio to be on the same stage competing against some of the best in the world and for their Senior Team to finish Third – Wow!” It just showed how far the students and the studio had come, and with hard work, teamwork, and dedication anything is possible.
From Julie’s experience, she believes the biggest mistake dancers make has to do with technique. Julie believes that technique is very important and it is easy to fix poor technique. It is simple. Just practice. It is her viewpoint that dancers who take the time to practice progress much faster than those who don’t. There is no substitute for practice.
Julie’s goal for Westbrook Dance Academy for this year is simple and the same as it is every year – to be better than last year in everything they do.
Julie’s passion for dance was her impetus to open Westbrook Dance Academy. She has been in the world of dance since the age of three. After her dancing career was over, she began to teach, and that eventually progressed to opening her own studio. She wants her dancers to be able to experience all of the great things that she was able to when she was dancing and more. She hopes to instill a lifelong love of dance in every student – a lifelong love just like hers.
WDA’s award winning teams provide students the opportunity to take their training to the next level through outside performances and competitive dancing, Team members advance at an accelerated pace due to more training, classes, and performance opportunities. Westbrook’s students have earned many accolades over the past six years – choreography awards, dance titles, overall awards and national championships. In March, 2015 the Junior and Senior Competition teams for the World Dance Championships and took Third Place in the August, 2015, competition.
WDA loves for their students to have performance opportunities. They do local parades and performances and have also traveled also. In 2012 and 2014, several of their students performed at Walt Disney World. WDA’s students also performed in The Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios Parades. Additionally. students took to the stage at the Premier Theater in Hollywood Studios for a performance. A couple of the more local venues include the Westbrook Tree Lighting Parade and the Old Saybrook/Westbrook Football Halftime Show.
The studio is very dedicated to charities. To date – WDA students have raised over $7500 for Relay for Life. WDA students participated in the event in 2014 and 2015, and will also participate in 2016. They are proud of their students for working and contributing to this important cause.
If you would like more information about Westbrook Dance Academy, visit their website at www.westbrookdanceacademy.com, call them at (860) 664-4308 or email them at westbrookdanceac@aol.com. You can also “Like” them on Facebook.
Please post a comment if you have had any experience with Julie Reed-Russo of Westbrook Dance Academy.
Julie is an amazing teacher and choreographer! She has former students who are pursuing dance careers of their own. Creating an environment where students can build on their passion for dance, has been a top priority!
We couldn’t be more proud of Julie! Her knowledge, experience and devotion to dance and her students is unbeatable and has no limits! Our daughter has been with her since 2 years old, they have formed a bond through dance with the same love of dance, goals, and dreams! As a mom, I couldn’t ask for a better teacher/mentor/friend for my daughter to know she’s there 24/7 for her and all her students now and beyond their dancing years!! Thank you, Julie!!!
My daughter thrived at WDA…she gained balance, rhythm, coordination and core strength in the 5 years she had with Ms. Julie. This in turn made her a strong athlete in field hockey and basketball. Thank you!