Our Story | 20 Years of JOY at Chara
When I first stepped into a dance studio at nine years old, I was considered an older beginner. Like so many young dancers, I quickly fell in love with the joy, discipline, and artistry that dance offers. But even as a young teenager, I found myself wondering if there could be something different.
I remember being just 12 or 13 years old and thinking:
What if a dance studio could blend faith and fun?
What if a Christian dance studio could produce exceptional dancers while never compromising its values?
What if families could experience a level of professionalism that made them feel informed, respected, and truly cared for?
What if every child walked out of the studio feeling more confident than when they walked in because they were surrounded by encouraging teachers, positive role models, and an uplifting culture?
Those “what ifs” eventually became the foundation of Chara Christian Dance Academy.
From the very beginning, my vision wasn’t simply to open another dance studio. It was to create a place that challenged many of the stereotypes often associated with the dance industry. A place where excellence and faith could exist together. A place where children could pursue high-level dance training while growing into confident, kind, and Christ-centered young people.
Our mission has always been to provide excellent, faith-based instruction for students of all ages, abilities, and experience levels while creating an environment where families experience the joy that comes through dance and music.
For many children, the dance studio becomes a second home. During the school year, some of our students spend more waking hours with us than they do in their own homes. We don’t take that responsibility lightly.
Every member of our staff is intentional about creating an environment where every child feels loved, valued, accepted, and encouraged. We believe that the atmosphere surrounding a child is just as important as the instruction they receive.
We also believe that parents shouldn’t feel like they’re dropping their child off into the unknown. Instead, we see ourselves as partners with families.
Raising children is one of life’s greatest responsibilities, and we have the privilege of reinforcing the values parents are already teaching at home—perseverance, kindness, honesty, integrity, respect, and a strong work ethic. Every class is an opportunity to encourage not only better dancers, but better people.
At Chara, excellent dance instruction isn’t the goal—it’s the expectation. It’s our baseline.
But we also recognize that while some of our students may go on to dance professionally, most won’t. They will become parents, spouses, teachers, business owners, employees, church leaders, and members of their communities. Long after recital costumes are packed away, we hope the lessons they learned inside our studios continue to shape the way they live, lead, and love others.
When people ask me what I’m most proud of after more than 20 years, my answer is always the same.
I’m incredibly proud of our staff.
Our teachers genuinely care about every child who walks through our doors. They know their names, celebrate their victories, encourage them through challenges, and invest in them far beyond dance steps.
And I’m proud that our students have developed a reputation throughout the community—not only as excellent dancers, but as respectful, kind, hardworking young people with outstanding character.
Over the past two decades, thousands of children have experienced the joy of dance at Chara Christian Dance Academy. Behind every student is a family that chose us because they were looking for something different—a studio where faith matters, professionalism is a priority, communication is clear, and children are surrounded by positive role models who truly care.
It is an incredible honor to have earned the trust of so many families over the years.
And while we’re grateful for everything God has done, we truly believe this is only the beginning.
We’re just getting started.
