At Alisa’s Dance Academy, largely considered the top destination for young dancers in Austin, Texas, well-roundedness is key. Ever since its formation in 1996, the studio has made it a point to offer far more than traditional ballet.
“We do it all,” founder and director Alisa Laraway says. “My philosophy was to open a studio open to all types of dancers, all levels, all kinds of dance, all different ages. There’s something for everybody here.”
The studio’s curricular list attests to that fact: Classes include musical theater, hip-hop, jazz, tap, and even creative dance for toddlers. “We start at age 2 and go all the way up to adult classes,” Laraway says, adding that specialists are on hand to schedule private lessons as well, in either their Westlake or Lakeway locations.
Plus, ADA’s competitive youth teams prepare young dancers looking for a shot at college scholarships and, eventually, a professional career. The introductory Momentum Dance Company and more advanced Austin’s Dance Elite and Gravity Dance Company train participants for 15 to 20 hours a week.
“When I first moved [to Austin] there weren’t that many studios,” says Laraway. “The Austin dance scene has just gotten bigger and bigger and bigger.” The city’s booming arts scene and increase in population over the last decade has made finding top-notch dance instructors easy. “My studio stands out because we treat all our students like a family. Besides the discipline and technique, we care about these children; we want them to call this their second home.”
Laraway’s most frequent advice to aspiring dancers of all ages is “to always believe. That means believe in yourself, believe in your dreams and your goals, and have no regrets. Train hard, work hard. Wonderful things can come to those who really work for it!”
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