OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
THE DOXA EXPERIENCE THE DOXA EXPERIENCE
In the heart of Benton sits a studio that believes creativity should be accessible to everyone. Doxa Arts Academy was founded to do just that—open doors for children, teens, and adults to discover their artistic spark in a supportive, familyfriendly environment.
Founder and director Anna Bowman, a lifelong dancer and artist, built Doxa on the belief that nurturing creativity is as essential as academics. After growing up in nearby Bryant, she turned her passion for movement and the arts into a full academy designed to balance both sides of the brain, the logical and the creative. Her goal was simple: create a place where students could grow in confidence, discipline, and joy through the arts.
What Doxa Offers
Doxa Arts Academy is more than a dance studio; it’s a full creative hub offering a variety of classes across disciplines: Dance: Classical ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, lyrical, modern, and creative movement.
Acro: Acrobatics and strength-based movement taught through a certified Acrobatic Arts program.
Music: Lessons in piano, violin, guitar, and voice for beginners through advanced students.
Visual Arts: Painting, drawing, and mixed-media projects for budding artists.
Homeschool Enrichment: General music, choir, and arts integration for homeschool families.
From toddlers taking their first ballet steps to adults rediscovering a long-lost creative passion, Doxa welcomes all ages and abilities. The Academy’s focus on affordability and community inclusion ensures that every family—no matter their background—can participate.
The Doxa Experience
Walk into Doxa Arts Academy, and you’ll likely find a hallway filled with laughter, music, and movement. The instructors, each trained and experienced in their discipline, believe in teaching both technique and artistry. Ballet students learn French terminology alongside posture and form. Art students study color and texture, but are also encouraged to experiment and play.
The environment is intentionally positive and faith-based, emphasizing encouragement over competition. Students are celebrated for effort, improvement, and teamwork as much as they are for performances or recitals.
“Creativity isn’t just a subject to learn, it’s a way to connect, to communicate, and to build confidence. Doxa Arts Academy embodies that belief every day.” - Anna Bowman.
For parents, Doxa offers something rare: a place where their children can explore music, art, and dance in one safe, uplifting environment led by teachers who genuinely care.
How Families Can Get Involved
Enroll in a class — Registration is open for new students throughout the year with seasonal sessions.
Join a camp or workshop — Summer and holiday mini-sessions give students the chance to try new art forms.
Support Fostering the Arts — Donate, sponsor, or attend community fundraisers to help extend arts access.
Attend performances — End-of-season recitals and showcases highlight what students have learned and celebrate creativity in action.
Growing A Creative Community
One of the most inspiring parts of Doxa’s story is its outreach initiative, Fostering the Arts, Inc. This nonprofit arm was created to bring arts education to foster children and families with limited financial resources. What began with one special class for foster girls has grown into a program providing scholarships, class supplies, and performance opportunities for children who might not otherwise have access. The studio continues to raise awareness and funding for this mission, inviting community members to sponsor a child, volunteer, or donate to the cause.
Doxa Arts Academy has continued to expand its team of instructors and its class offerings to meet the needs of families across Central Arkansas. Whether your child is dreaming of the stage, wants to learn to play an instrument, or needs an outlet for self-expression, Doxa is a place where talent and heart are nurtured equally.
Doxa Arts Academy | (501) 298-5488 | DoxaArtsAcademy.com
Holiday Survival Guide:
How To Experience Family Harmony, Health & Joy
Publisher’s Note & How to Use This Guide
We know how quickly the holiday season fills up, concerts, parties, parades, and the constant question of how to fit it all in. This guide is our way of sharing what we’ve learned as parents to one or many. You’ll find community events, local favorites, family-friendly activities, and resources for self-care, health, giving back and more enjoyable togetherness.
We’ve organized it by topic, not schedule. Use it like a “Create-Your-Own” by picking what works for your family for one day, one week, or the whole season. Something doesn’t fit, like my mother would always say, “Just let it be”. In other words, move on and don’t sweat the small stuff. Just highlight, circle, and plan right from the pages. For updated dates and links, check KidCentralAR.com.
Local Holiday Adventures & Experiences
There’s no need to drive hours to find holiday spirit, we’ve created a great must-do, things to do heck list right here for you and yours to enjoy.
Pulaski County:
• Arkansas Skatium — Ice and roller skating special skate dates and activities. Great for all ages. arkansasskatium.com
• Museum of Discovery — STEM fun and seasonal exhibits. museumofdiscovery.org
• Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts — Winter art workshops and family theatre. arkmfa.org
• Little Rock Zoo — Special “GloWILD” outdoor exhibit to bring lots of lights to your animal friends. littlerockzoo.com
• Trail of Lights — Drive-through light show, late Nov–Dec. cityofsherwood.net/267/Trail-of-Lights
• Downtown Benton — Courthouse lighting, horseback riding, parades, and holiday markets. bentonar.org
• Bryant — Christmas parade with floats, school bands, and lots of candy. cityofbryant.com
• Garvan Woodland Gardens — Nov 16–Dec 31.
More than five million lights create a glowing garden wonderland. garvangardens.org
• Mid-America Science Museum — Hands-on discovery for cold days. midamericamuseum.org
Faulkner & Lonoke Counties:
• Conway Christmas Parade
— Early December. conwayarkansas.org
• Cabot Christmas Parade
— Family floats, school bands, and Santa’s arrival. cabotar.gov
Don’t forget your libraries — CALS, Garland, Faulkner, and Saline systems offer free family activities all season long.
Parent Tip: Plan one outdoor and one indoor adventure each week. Keep cocoa in a thermos, gloves in the car, and your camera ready.
At-Home & Multicultural Activities
When the weather cools, cooking and baking is our go to holiday treat. Creating lots of family favorites, trying new tastes, and even lots of messes too. But this is where we feel the real spirit of the holiday happens, and no one seems to complain.
Create a Holiday Fun Bin by filling it with glue sticks, paper, cookie cutters, and cocoa packets. Pull it out when boredom strikes.
Mix in Arkansas and multicultural themed celebrations:
• Arkansas Light Hunt — Count how many Razorback, snowman, and reindeer displays you find.
• Hanukkah Paper Menorahs — Teach the story of light and perseverance.
• Kwanzaa Unity Cup Craft — Explore values of community and creativity.
• Las Posadas Lanterns — Build paper luminarias to light your path.
• Diwali Rangoli — Use colored salt or chalk for mindful art.
Activity Idea: Make a 'Holiday Around the World' night. Each family member picks a country to cook from or tell a story about. It’s delicious cultural learning of tastes and fun learning at your own kitchen table.
Affording the Holidays & Gifts by Personality
We’ve learned that joy doesn’t come with a receipt. A smaller budget doesn’t mean a smaller celebration. Just match a personality type to a simple experience for them to enjoy.
Gifts by Personality Shop Local!:
• Builders — Pottery sessions at The Muddy Pig or a 3D print class at Arkansas Innovation Hub gets ideas built and able to take home.
• Creators — Art kits, sketchbooks, or Arkansas Museum of Fine Art class passes gets their creativity flowing.
• Explorers — State park passes, scavenger hunt cards, or Garvan Gardens tickets shares the great outdoors.
• Caretakers — Terrarium kits or family volunteer day coupons are great for everyone.
• Environmentalist – soaps, lotions, and beauty can be found at The Green Corner Store.
• Fashionista – nothing says unique like custom jewelry from Bella Vita Jewelry.
• Cook – specialty spice blends for the pickiest of chefs or bakers from Fennel and Fire.
• Reader – reserve a top-rated book, or new release author from Wordsworth Bookstore.
Budget Tip: Use the 'Rule of 3' — one thing they want, one thing they need, and one thing to share.
Holiday Travel with Kids
Holiday road trips can be chaos or comedy, depending on snacks and patience levels.
Pack a Travel Sanity Kit — wrapped trinkets, activity books, snacks, and a playlist everyone loves. Stop at Arkansas landmarks for quick breaks: Petit Jean State Park, Toad Suck Park near Conway, or Hot Springs National Park.
Flying? TSA allows baby wipes and juice. Keep medications in carry-ons and label devices to avoid holiday heartbreak.
Quick
Reminder: Sleep schedules are sacred. Protect naps and keep bedtime rituals even on the road.
Managing Stress & Self-Care
We promise: You don’t need to do it all.
Choose your top three must-do traditions and politely decline the rest.
Try this Pause List: walk outside, listen to music, light a candle, stretch, laugh. Repeat daily.
Need support? Check out Baptist Health’s guides on managing holiday stress and family expectations baptisthealth.com/blog.
Local Reset Ideas:
• Quiet morning at Two Rivers Park Trail.
• Spa afternoon in Hot Springs.
• Yoga or mindfulness class in Benton or Little Rock.
Remember: calm parents create calm holidays.
Keeping Families Healthy
Winter puts us indoors more, which means one thing: the sniffles are coming. Stay ahead with rest, vitamins, and clean hands.
Home Safety Checklist:
• Check smoke detectors and air filters
• Lock away medicine and cleaning supplies
• Set water heater to 120°F
• Keep helmets and gloves handy for outdoor play
Go to the source for correct and up to date information:
• Arkansas Department of Health Viral Respiratory Reports: healthy.arkansas.gov
• Arkansas Children’s Hospital RSV vs. flu updates: archildrens.org/blog/rsv-flu-covid-19
• CDC Family Flu Page: cdc.gov/flu
Parent Tip: Keep a labeled Wellness Basket such as a thermometer, saline spray, cough drops, and cozy socks, ready for quick recovery days. We also have easy soup to heat and a fun treat just to help make all of ick feel better.
Giving Back
Gifting can be giving back and there are several opportunities to share the joy of the season through giving. We like to find an organization that means the most to us and find what they need now and also other times when they may not be thought of outside of the giving season.
• Potluck Food Rescue – Fights food insecurity and waste. potluckfoodrescue.org
• Our House - Shelter, job training, and children’s programs. ourhouseshelter.org
• Habitat for Humanity - Helps families secure stable housing. habitat.org
• Women & Children First - Shelter and advocacy. wcfarkansas.org
• The CALL - Foster and adoptive family support. thecallinarkansas.org
• We Are The 22 - Veteran suicide intervention. wearethe22.org
• The Van - Mobile outreach for unsheltered neighbors. itsthevan.org
• Salvation Army, Center of Hope - Shelter and meals. salvationarmy.org
• Out of the Woods - Animal rescue and adoption support. ootwrescue.org
Kid-FriendlyGivingIdeas:Makeblessingbags,donate bookstoCALS,orbaketreatsforafirestation.
Creating What Counts
The best part of the holidays isn’t found under the tree — it’s in the laughter and quiet moments in between.
Start a Family Bucket List together:
• Visit one new light trail
• Try a new recipe
• Do one anonymous act of kindness
• Write thank-you notes to teachers
• Plan one family day of rest after Christmas
As we head into January, remember that slowing down is its own kind of celebration.
Fromourfamilytoyours:Mayyourseason bemerry,meaningful,andfullofmemorable momentsoffun,loveandlaughter.
Best buds George and Harold have been creating comics for years, but now that they’re in 5th grade, they figure it’s time to level up and write a musical based on their favorite character, Dog Man, the crime-biting sensation who is part dog, part man, and ALL HERO!! How hard could it be?
