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Arts
May 17 - June 6, 2014
57
Dance Studio 111 celebrates two decades of success BY ALISON STANTON
Twenty years ago, Kimberly Lewis opened her school of dance on Ray Road in Ahwatukee. In 2010, she moved to a new location on Chandler Boulevard in Ahwatukee, and changed the name to Dance Studio 111. Over the past two decades, Lewis’ studio has grown from one that offers just dance lessons to a whole performing arts center that features musical theater, voice lessons, guitar lessons, an annual all-children’s performance of “The Nutcracker” and much more. “We are not just about dance,” Lewis says. To celebrate 20 years in business and honor the many people who worked with Lewis along the way, Dance Studio 111 will present the 20-Year Anniversary Production at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 30, and Saturday, May 31, at the Chandler Center for the Arts. “The show will feature some of the best routines that we have put together over the past 20 years, and it will include past and present dancers,” Lewis says. There will be a wide variety of music and dancing styles, including some of the best daddy-daughter dances. “It will be a fun show, and just a great way to celebrate 20 years in business.” As she was planning the show, Lewis says she found herself reminiscing about the past two decades. “I still cannot believe that it’s been
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS: On May 30 and May 31, past and present dancers from Dance Studio 111 will perform in the 20-Year Anniversary Production at Chandler Center for the Arts. Submitted photo
that long, and I’ve just been so fortunate. So many of my staff has stuck with me for years and I have members of my original dance team that are still by my side, and former students who now work for me. We are just such a family unit.” Lewis says she is looking forward to the performances, and having the opportunity to share with the audience many of the highlights of the past 20 years. “I get so excited to come to work; I love my dance studio and my dance studio family, and I literally walk around
every day saying ‘thank you’ to God every day. I’m just so blessed and so fortunate.” Amy McDonald says she and her girls love Dance Studio 111. The Ocotillo resident used to work for Lewis, and now her two daughters Kaiya, 6, and Braelynn, 4, dance there and will be in the production. “I think 20 years for any small business is an amazing accomplishment,” McDonald says. She adds that Lewis does a great job running the studio.
“She still has teachers from the first year at the studio and I think that is also amazing.” The Chandler Center for the Arts is located at 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler. For tickets, call (480) 782-2680 or visit www.chandlercenter.org. For more information about Dance Studio 111, visit www.dancestudio111.com Alison Stanton is a freelance writer who lives in the East Valley. She can be reached at Alison@SanTanSun.com