Showtime Dance Academy Needs Your Help!

In an area saturated with studios focused on dance competitions, we provide an alternative: a studio focused on the art of dance.

I am saddened to see the state of my beloved art form as it descends into gymnastic “tricks,” pushing kids beyond safe physical limitations without the strength and technique needed to safely perform what they are being taught. Too many teachers do not have an underlying knowledge of anatomy, physiology, or child development, and kids are getting injured from overstretched ligaments and burning out before they reach adulthood.

Too often, young children are put on stage in skimpy two-piece costumes, performing suggestive movements to songs with adult innuendos. Parents either shrug and say, “That’s just how dance is,” or actively cheer their kids on, supporting the decisions being made for them by other adults.

At Showtime Dance, teach ballet, tap, jazz, and creative dance, and 95% of our students are Hispanic/Latina. We specialize in teaching beginning dancers, from the age of 18 months up to adults, and in sharing the art and joy of dance. We teach body positivity, and safe, developmentally-appropriate technique, while keeping ballet fun. We provide family-friendly performances instead of competitions, and an environment of inclusion, regardless of age, race, religion, gender, LGBTQ+ status, age, or ability. At Showtime Dance, we believe that dance is for Every Body!

We need to relocate our studio, due to serious problems with our current building, built in 1910:

- The interior door knobs fall off and cannot be replaced without replacing the entire door, due to the age of the building.

- Marijuana smoke seeps in through the walls from the business next door.

- There is a wasp nest right outside our entrance that needs to be removed by professionals.

- Most importantly, the building is not up to code. There is a window to the outside of the building that is stuck wide open without fall protection from the second floor to the pavement below.

City Code Enforcement has investigated and reported that the problems must be corrected immediately. I have repeatedly reported the problems to the landlord, with no response. The Code Inspector has interacted with the landlord many times, and he is known to take years to bring his buildings up to code. We simply cannot wait that long. Our customers are families with young children, and we need to provide them with an ADA-accessible, safe place to dance.

We have been at this address over three years, and despite assertive marketing, I hear, "I had no idea you were here." There are beautiful spaces available only blocks away located on the first floor, and with greater visibility and foot traffic. Any of the other buildings would have a lower rent payment, while ultimately increasing revenue.

We are hoping to move at the end of May with a Grand Opening in early June. This grant would go towards:

- Rental deposit

- Movers for large furniture and a piano

- Removal and reinstallation of wall-mounted mirrors and barres

- Painting/patching drywall after removal

- Professional cleaning

- Payroll for hours needed to relocate