Today we’d like to introduce you to Alison Hooper Keslake.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started dancing when I was 5 years old in a small town in Kansas. From the moment I put on my first pair of tap shoes I was smitten! I danced every day and everywhere! I was a part of my dance studios’ performing group and had the opportunity to perform at Starlight Theatre in Kansas City, MO with the National Tours of Annie Get Your Gun and Peter Pan. When I was 12, my family moved from Kansas to California. The first thing my mom did was find me a dance studio and I was welcomed in to my new dance family with open arms.
After graduating high school, I started at Mt SAC community college before transferring to Cal State Fullerton. While at Mt SAC I met Lee Martino, an LA-based choreographer and auditioned for her production of Brigadoon and Glendale Center Theater. I got the part of Maggie Anderson and my love for musical theatre grew exponentially. I continued to audition and work in local theaters and eventually found my way to working for Princess Cruises as a project coordinator. In between gigs on cruise ships, I began my career as a choreographer for local community theaters.
In the fall of 2001, while choreographing a holiday production, I felt that my career was at a turning point. I had always wanted to open a dance studio, and was familiar with the Monrovia community. The process to open the door to Centre Stage Dance Academy began almost immediately and in March 2002, I opened the doors to CSDA. A small 1000 square foot building with 22 students quickly turned into a move to a larger 4500 square foot building and students overflowing out the doors.
CSDA has been proud to offer the community a unique artistic experience. With emphasis being placed on proper technique and healthy lifestyle, an overall well educated dancer emerges from Centre Stage Dance Academy. I have carefully selected a well-rounded staff of professionals working in the business. Parents are always pleased with the personal attention given to the needs of each student when it comes to class placement. CSDA prides itself on continuing to be innovative and fresh in its approach to dance as well as the arts as a whole. CSDA has truly evolved with the times and challenges its students and teachers to keep an open mind as part of the overall philosophy. We strive to make art exciting and different by constantly challenging both the body and the mind of every student.
Students are given the opportunity to perform in CSDA’s annual recital held every June at the Haugh Performing Arts Center in Glendora, CA. This 1400 seat theatre is the beautiful setting for our recital. CSDA also has an award winning, nationally ranked competition team. Comp team auditions are held every September. One of my greatest joys is seeing the success of my former students, whether they have chosen to stay in their arts, or are using their talents elsewhere. Just a few of our incredible CSDA alumni: Derek Klena (“Anastasia”, “Wicked” Broadway), Taylor Ortega (Columbia University, “The View” ABC), Jillian Gomez (Dreamworks “Trolls”), Alex Mendoza (“Mamma Mia” National Tour, Emily Grace Tucker (Disney Cruise Lines), Amber Thompson (Princess Cruises, Tokyo Disney)
In addition to weekly classes, CSDA students are given opportunities to take master classes throughout their training as well. Such classes have featured the talents of Ivan Koumaev (20/20 TOUR, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE), Shoshana Bean (Broadway WICKED, HAIRSPRAY), Rogelio Douglas, Jr (National Tour IN THE HEIGHTS), Eden Espinoza (Broadway WICKED, BROOKLYN), Jerald Vincent (National Tour THE PRODUCERS), DJ Gray (Broadway assistant choreographer of Xanadu), Shelly Nichols (DISNEY CHOREOGRAPHER), and more.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Every great story has some rough moments. While I feel I know A LOT about dance, building a business is hard work. Most people’s greatest “fears” in owning a business is “will there be enough money to cover the bills this month”. I have had those months and they were scary, but what I care about more than the bottom line is “am I doing the best I can to help raise good humans.” Not everyone that comes to a dance studio is going to become a professional dancer, but every single student has the potential to make a difference in the world. I feel my job is to help them find their voice and confidence so they can go out and conquer anything they choose.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Centre Stage Dance Academy – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Centre Stage Dance Academy (CSDA) is an award winning dance studio located in Monrovia. This is our 15th year of business.
Specializing in both dance and musical theatre opportunities, CSDA has been proud to offer their community a unique artistic experience. With emphasis being placed on proper technique and healthy lifestyle, an overall well educated dancer emerges from Centre Stage Dance Academy. We strive to make art exciting and different by constantly challenging both the body and the mind of every student. We offer an extensive variety of class for children ages 2 1/2-18. Our award winning competition team is making people stop and take notice with full blown production routines. As musical theatre is a huge part of our program I truly feel this sets us apart from other studios.
The world is much bigger than our dance studio and a big goal of the entire CSDA staff is to help raise awareness among our students. This year we went Gold for Childhood Cancer Awareness month, we went Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness month and donated blankets to Foothill Unity Center to name a few of our Philanthropic work.
I’m proud that our staff continues to expand their horizons; not only in the dance class they teach but by bringing their choreographic talents to other venues such as Center Stage Fontana, Covina Center for the Performing Arts, Candlelight Pavilion, Glendale Centre Theatre, Lewis Family Playhouse and the Victory Theatre in Burbank. CSDA will always have a hand on the pulse of the future of dance and musical theatre.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
As student numbers continue to increase we are in need of a larger building. I would love to have 4-5 studios going at the same time and a studio big enough to keep our comp team production routine set up all year long, a homework/sibling room, and our own parking lot.
At the 15 year mark, we are continually trying to find new and innovative ideas to keep students engaged. We will be having our first ever “On The Verge” Commercial Video Workshop this summer which will end with a promotional video for the upcoming year starring the students of the workshop. 2017 will end with a “twisted” take on a holiday classic, “The Nutty-Cracker”.
Contact Info:
- Address: Centre Stage Dance Academy
127 East Olive Ave.
Monrovia, CA 91016 - Website: www.dancecsda.com
- Phone: 626-357-8308
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: centrestagedanceacademy_csda
- Facebook: Centre Stage Dance Academy – CSDA
Image Credit:
Kayla Rowland, Alexandra Strauss, Monica Solaranzo, Micaela Flores, Alison Hooper Keslake
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