Published: May 16, 2008 08:42 am            

Dance • Dance • Dance

Studio B to open in May with tap, jazz, baton and hip hop for girls

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Special to The Times-Tribune

Most girls at 12 years old have no idea what they want to do when they grow up. Brooke Lewis, however, knew early on that she wanted to teach dance.

Lewis spent many years dreaming of what her dance studio would be like, what types of classes she would have and how she would design her program. Now, at age 19, her dreams and hopes have become real. Studio B, the only dance studio of its kind in Barbourville, will begin classes Tuesday, May 20.

Lewis will teach baton, tap, jazz and hip hop to girls ages four and up. Each class includes three levels – beginning, intermediate and advanced.

Lewis will have the girls performing at major events in the Knox, Laurel and Whitley County area, such as festivals and parades. Studio B students will have one major recital per year, along with the other appearances.

Studio B also offers original choreography for school dance teams and cheer squads – elementary, middle school and high school.

Lewis, who is a student at Union College, has been cheering, dancing, tapping and twirling baton since she was 5 years old. She likes working with girls of all ages. Most recently she volunteered her time to choreograph dances for the Barbourville High School Dance Team. She knows all too well how performing can help a girl who might be shy and unsure of herself, turn into a self-confident, well-rounded young woman.

“Dance and performing are both a part of who I am. It’s something that will stay with these young girls into adulthood,” Lewis said. “It teaches them confidence in themselves and shows them that dedication truly does have unique and long-lasting benefits.”

One step inside Studio B’s door and visitors will see this place is all about girls. The colors, which Lewis thought about carefully, are very girly. Hot pink and laser blue cover the walls inside. Sparkly stars and dainty curtains cover the windows.

Lewis doesn’t want to her dance studio classes to be dreaded by the girls. She wants to make it fun and exciting – classes that girls will look forward to attending – a place where the pressures of competition are left behind.

“All too often, children are bombarded with activities that after a while they begin to dread,” Lewis said. “Studio B is a place for learning dance and relaxing. It’s a place to leave the stress of school and organized school practices behind. Not every child can be a star basketball player or an outstanding cheerleader at their school. My studio is a place for those who want to perform and compete only with themselves – achieving better and better results each time they perform.”

Lewis is also making classes very affordable for parents.

“Studio B is for all little girls,” Lewis said. “I don’t want to exclude anyone by making my prices too high. For me, it’s about reaching out to all girls, not just a select few.”

Lewis will host an open house on Monday, May 19 at 6 p.m. Studio B is located at 95 Minton Drive, Barbourville (take the road across the street from the National Guard Armory and Studio B is at the first driveway on the left). The public is invited and light refreshments will be available. For more information about cost, classes or to have other questions answered, contact Brooke Lewis at 606-546-3728.

        

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