Today we’d like to introduce you to Anat Stigers
Hi Anat, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
A native from the San Fernando Valley, Ca I started gymnastics at the age of 5 years old. At the age of 8 years old is when I tried dance and fell in love at a studio called “Carousel Dance Studio”. I started training in tap and then quickly started adding ballet, jazz, hip hop and musical theater. Although I was a shy child, the love of dance truly opened me up, which led me out of my shell around the age of 12 years. This is when I started becoming a competitive dancer as well. I basically lived at my dance studio training 6 days a week for a minimum of 3 hours a day!
At the age of 15 years, I started assisting classes and working admin for the studio. I continued to work hard and dedicated myself to dance. After graduating high school, I started teaching at the studio and helping them with their competitive company during their rehearsals as well as choreographing for their competitions and continued to work as their administrative assistant. This job is really why I am able to be where I am today!
I then decided to move to New York City when I was 20 years old (almost 21) to purse my love of dance. After 9 months of being there, working as a waitress at “Ruby Foo’s” and booking small dance jobs, I booked the National Tour of “Cats” as the white cat “Victoria”. This was one of the best experiences of my life that I will never forget!
At the end of my tour, I was then offered the role of dance captain and ensemble for the Germany/Netherlands tour of the musical “Hair”. A week after finishing “Cats” off I was to the next venture.
Unfortunately, during the end of my tour with “Cats” I started having knee pain. On the opening night of the “Hair” tour I felt a snap in my knee when doing a chaine turn on stage. I didn’t think anything of it and continued to finish the show. The next morning, I woke up and I couldn’t straighten my leg. After seeing a doctor in Germany, he said that I tore my ACL and would most likely need surgery. Luckily, I was still able to finish the 3-month tour before coming back home to Los Angeles.
When moving back, I met with another doctor who said I did not tear my ACL, but a piece of my cartilage broke off of my knee and was floating around. This was giving me random pains in my leg. He recommended having surgery and possibly rethinking my career. I ended up having the surgery and going to PT.
Despite what the doctor said I was so motivated to move back to New York and purse my career in dance, so decided to move back about 3 months after the surgery. Unfortunately, his words were stronger than I wished and I went into deep depression. Four months later I decided to move back to Los Angeles to get my mind and body right and move forward with my life as needed.
After officially moving back to Los Angeles I decided to start teaching more dance rather than being a performer. I started teaching at several dance studios in the area. I then booked a teaching and administrative job at a convention called “Urban Jamm”. This was another really great experience that taught me so much in my career. From here I was offered a job as the administrative assistant for the dance crew “Jabbawockeez” who had just won the title of “America’s Best Dance Crew”. I worked with them until they moved to Las Vegas to purse their show!
This has all brought me to where I am now, the director at The Dance Center at My Gym Children’s Fitness Center – Beverly Hills location. We are a non-competitive studio that doesn’t put any pressure on students to be an amazing dancer, yet teach them correct technique/language with a curriculum base in a fun and creative manner. We do yearly recitals and make sure they are getting the most valuable classes they can get. I have now been the director here for 15 years and hope to be here for the rest of my life. Being the director of this studio has taught me so much and has made into the person I am today. Although I miss being a performer, I love teaching my kiddos each and every week. We teach kids from the age of 3 years all the way to adults and it is truly a blessing. I fondly feel that our studio is a hidden gem that families are so grateful to find!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Unfortunately not, due to having knee surgery (as mentioned above), but I was able to come out of it stronger than ever and now grateful at being the best dance teacher I can be!
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?
As mentioned above, I am now currently the director of a dance studio called The Dance Center at My Gym where I manage the whole program and teach dance to students ages 3 years up to adults. I am known for being the director/teacher and someone who truly cares about each individual student and their families. This isn’t just a job for me, but instead it’s a passion and love that fills my heart each and every day.
I am most proud of being able to give these kids and families a safe place to come to where they can forget about their every day lives and express themselves through dance. A place where they feel loved with no judgement.
I feel what sets me apart is the true love I have for these students and families and the joy I am able to bring them each time they are here. For me it’s not just about the business aspect of the studio, but instead it’s the relationships built with each individual child and family!
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
From being a shy child, I do feel that if your child expresses a love for dance, but have fear or shyness to continue trying as eventually they may come out of it. I am one to never push a child to do something they don’t like, so if it’s something they just don’t like then don’t push them. Otherwise let them flourish at their own time with no expectations or judgement. If they leave with a smile on their face and joy in their hearts, that’s what matters most!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mygydance.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedancecenterbh/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/104007091252773/
Image Credits
Brandon Friend-Solis and Amir Magal
