1902 Jules Street, Saint Joseph, Missouri 64501
News-Press NOW: better LIVING January 23 and 24, 2021
Local dancers perform at nationals
News-Press NOW
St. Joseph and Chapter 28 of the Heart of America DMA Chapter was repre- sented at the 2021 Dance Masters of America National Title Scholar- ship Competition at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee by three dancers from The Dance Arts Center.
The DMA Heart of America Chapter 28 include studios from Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma. Dancers representing The Dance Arts Center include Mr. Dance regional winner, Caleb Keling, son of Troy and Brandi Keling; Miss Junior Dance regional winner, Lily Phillips, daughter of Kyle and Tia Phillips; and Mr. Junior Dance regional winner, Atticus May, son of Nathanael and Michelle Rautmann May.
Caleb Keling performed a lyrical dance titled “Smile” choreographed by himself and Marla Heeler; Lily Phillips performed “Higher Ground,” a jazz dance choreographed by Kealey Mathieson; and At- ticus May performed “Feel Good,” a tap dance choreographed by Marla Heeler.
Dance Masters of America was founded in 1894 and is a professional, certified membership organization of artists and educators committed to the elevation of the art of dance and to provide innovative artistic experi- ences for the advance- ment of dance worldwide.
It awards over $200,000 in scholarships to aspir- ing dancers and teachers annually.
The Dance Arts Cen-ter has been teaching dance to youth and adults for over 35 years and is owned by Marla Heeler of- fering classes for boys and girls 3 years old and up through seniors in high school featuring Ballet, Tap, Pointe, Jazz, Contem- porary, Hip Hop and Mu- sical Theater along with classes for adults which include tap and yoga.
Dance studios get back to normal operations | Bailey Ketcham, News-Press Now | September 24, 2020
Local dance studios were heartbroken when they had to close down in March and cancel recitals and competitions, but now they’re getting back to normal classes.
The Dance Arts Center and Darcee’s School of Dance both shifted to virtual classes in the spring. Marla Heeler, owner of the Dance Arts Center, is continuing to offer virtual lessons despite most of her students returning to the studio.
“Kids are quarantined every other minute right now with school so they’re able to still Zoom in if they need to and we have cameras that can take both angles of the classroom and we’re mic’d up,” Heeler said. Read more...
Students with The Dance Arts Center in St. Joseph performed a sneak peek Sunday afternoon of their upcoming rendition of ‘The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe’ by Ray Scherer | News-Press NOW 01/13/2020
The wonders and utter magic of a classic novel are uniquely making their way to dance floors in Northwest Missouri this year.
Students with The Dance Arts Center, 1902 Jules St., performed a special sneak peek Sunday afternoon of their version of the C.S. Lewis favorite, “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.” The three Narnia-themed performances in “Tea With Tumnus” served as the kick-off to the center’s 2020 season, with the full show set to occur over the next few months.
Marla Heeler, the center’s owner and director, said rehearsals every Saturday have been a constant since September. The studio itself has been around for some 35 years, and she’s been at the helm for the past 15 years. Read more...