Today we’d like to introduce you to Marla Heeler.
Hi Marla, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
The Dance Arts Center opened in 1985 under the direction of Lynn Fankhauser. With her creative talents and strong technical background, the studio quickly grew in name and reputation. What started as a small studio has now grown into a studio of 400 students. It has been a foundation of the St. Joseph community for over 40 years. The Studio has proudly served thousands of children and adults, teaching the art, joy, and discipline of dance. I was one of the first students at The Dance Arts Center in 1985. I commuted from Maryville to Saint Joseph for the excellent training several times a week. A pivotal point for me was participating in the Dance Masters of America Miss Dance Competition. With the guidance of Ms. Lynn, I won the title Miss Dance of Chapter 28, which opened many doors to continue my dance education. I received a scholarship to study with Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago in 1990. During my years in Chicago, I continued my own practice, danced professionally, and gained experience teaching the art of dance to the next generation. It was the right timing when Ms. Lynn called years later, inviting me to come home and take ownership of the studio I grew up calling home. In my 2o years owning the studio, I am proud of how far we have come. We now house over 400 students, offer classes for ages 3 to adults, compete with our DACPAC team, present a full-scale Pre-Professional Production every year, and, of course, what’s a dance studio without an annual Recital! One of the most unique things about our studio is that we also offer an adaptive dance class called Beyond Dance, where students are paired with dance buddies to help them share in the joy of dance. I am so proud of each and every student we have had over the years, and look forward to the many more to come!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think no studio owner would say it’s always a smooth road, but it is always worth it. In 2007, we made the choice to purchase a building to move the studio to a permanent home. There are always challenges with renovations, but in addition, we had a huge ice storm that year that closed our city down for a week while we were trying to move. The renovations eventually came together into a space I always hoped for. We have 3 separate studios with professional-grade flooring, observation windows, and the most recent addition, a student lounge. Our space has been a dance home to students for over 18 years. Always totally worth it in the end!
Another particularly tricky instance was COVID. COVID was challenging for everyone, but the arts community came together in wonderful ways. I am proud to say that I and other local dance and gymnastics teachers kept in communication to work out ways to continue to have classes for our dancers. We checked with each other to see what was working and what wasn’t. Some of my tech-savvy staff members helped me use old laptops to set up Zoom in the studio, so teachers could still come in while the kids learned from home. It was a crazy time, but keeping the kids dancing even while they were at home was an important accomplishment for the health and well-being of not only the dancers but also our staff members. It was just before COVID that I joined a group of dance studio owners across the country called More Than Just Great Dancing. I think this experience helped our dance community across Saint Joseph as a whole grow stronger together.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Teaching is where my heart is, but along with it come many wonderful creative opportunities. In the classroom, I am known for my passion. My students know how seriously I take their learning and this art form. I love working on all the little details with my students and seeing how it helps them grow into wonderful people. I try to always emphasize how the skills and discipline they learn in class can apply wherever their lives take them. My most joyful moments are when I hear from alumni telling me how they got the job or they did an excellent thing, and they attach it to the skills they learned here as a kid.
I am very proud of our history of giving back to the community in so many ways. One of the most exceptional examples has to be our 20 year history of raising money for Voices of Courage Child Advocacy Center. They are located in Saint Joseph but serve 9 counties in Northwest Missouri. We have brought together dance studios not only from the surrounding areas but dancers as far as St. Louis, Kansas, and even Chicago have come to be part of the incredible fundraising performance. Dance studios bring some of their best performers, and it’s a wonderful night of dancing for a cause. Students learn that their love of dance can make a difference in the world. To date, we have raised over $130,000 for the prevention of child abuse and neglect.
Beyond the studio, I have been lucky to teach students throughout the community. I have built a wonderful relationship with the theater teachers at the local high schools. Throughout the years, I have been the choreographer for many of their productions. Working with students who don’t dance regularly is such a fulfilling experience because their passion and determination are inspiring. I love getting to be part of their growth, even in the small ways, and watching them shine onstage. It has informed my practice as a teacher, and I love how these experiences challenge me. These experiences eventually grew into more professional opportunities working as a choreographer for The Roubidoux Resident Theater and the Missouri Western State University Theater Department.
In 2023, I received a call from Dallas Henry, a former theater director at Missouri Western. He was directing a commercial in South Carolina and needed a choreographer. I was surprised when he asked me, but I was excited to say yes. The project was something I never thought I would do, but it was a wonderful experience. I travelled to Myrtle Beach a week in advance to begin the process and get familiar with the filming location. I worked with the videographer, the costumer, and the director to make the commercial come to life. The dancers were amazing, and I’m proud of the project. The commercial was for Holiday Club Vacations and this is the link if someone would like to view it https://youtu.be/1wPaAPWGv0w?si=MDBoRSjgegFzIQ76
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Let me think about the long term, 5-10 years.
For the near future, for us personally, it is preparing for our Wizard of Oz production to be held on January 31st at The Historic Missouri Theater. Tickets available at www.jomotickets.com. Our dancers love this professional opportunity, and the community support is marvelous. Our production of The Nutcracker last year had 2000 people attend.
As for the dance studio industry, there are changes coming. The younger generation of teachers continues to be creative in their pursuits of dance and media forms they can implement. Performances with more multimedia can be inspiring and so fun for audiences. I think people will continue to diversify into different realms. Dance studios not only offer dance and gymnastics, which have been somewhat typical for decades. They now offer silks classes, aerial classes, circus classes, and more. Our studio even offers a Star Leadership class. As a community leader, it’s important that we partner with today’s families to help raise leaders of tomorrow.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.TheDanceArtsCenter.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedanceartscenter/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedanceartscenter
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedanceartscenter
