Mount Pleasant Magazine July/August 2019

www.CharlestonsPrivateSchools.com | www.CharlestonSchoolDirectory.com | www.ed.sc.gov INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS ISD 206 T he Dance Arts Studio has been thriving for 18 years as of this August — and all 18 of those years belong to Melanie Keen, who says she built the studio “from the ground up” based on her own passion for the art form and her enthusiasm for transferring it to students. As a little girl, Keen was busily running the extracurricular circuit, trying her hand at everything from piano lessons to gymnastics. One day, after a particularly moving rendition of “Sleeping Beauty” performed by the San Francisco Ballet, her destiny became clear: She wanted to be a ballerina. In no time at all, young Keen was taking multiple classes each week. By age 14, she was assisting her teachers in the studio. By age 17, she was leading her own classes. In 2002, she took a leap of faith and started her own business, based on what she believes regarding the transformative nature of dance. “Dance offers the development of structure, discipline, grace, poise, preparedness, teamwork and life lessons,” she pointed out. “It is something irreplaceable that young dancers will carry for the rest of their lives.” The studio focuses on classical ballet with plenty of contemporary twists. Dancers apply the techniques of ballet to styles such as tap, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary and even “pom prep.” Already a busy grown-up and wistfully wishing you could join the fun? There are adult classes, too — and Keen declared that it’s a “warm environment for all dancers, whether they attend class just once per week or multiple days.” The Dance Arts Studio also offers students the chance to show off their newfound abilities on numerous occasions, since the troupe performs at local and nearby festivals and events throughout the year. Other special events include guest dance teachers, including Jordan Benton this summer. Keen insisted that she owes a great deal to her “amazing staff” — Haley Kennett, Rachel Byarlay, Holland Fava, Hannah Dunnaway, and assistants Olivia Keen and Martha Noble. “I hope to continue on a path of studio growth, sharing everything we know about dance,” said Keen. “We become family, and we love that.” Learn more at thedanceartsstudio.com . On Point THE DANCE ARTS STUDIO The Dance Arts Studio Mt. Pleasant’s Premier Dance Studio www.thedanceartsstudio.com 1150 Hungryneck Boulevard Suite A, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 Voted Best Dance Studio! Registration is open now! Call today! 843-971-6400