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Encore! Studio of Performance Arts - starring LISA BROWN!
Kids are precious - and they hold a special place in my heart as Mom of 2 and Grammy of 3, so this profile on Lisa Brown, who teaches these little people more than just dance, really touched me.
The always on stage Lisa is nervous about her interview. Why? Probably because she's usually got an audience of little people, so discussing her history and life to someone is not typical conversation. Not to worry Ms Lisa - you are so genuine and engaging and funny and easy to talk with, and that truly comes across.
Ms Lisa has been in the performing arts industry for 25 years, starting with teaching tap dance to seniors (seems there should be a joke or oxymoron in here somewhere....but can't find it). But really, what better way to keep in shape and your body moving than tap dance? I want to be tap dancing when I'm a senior....oh wait, I AM a senior (dang AARP!)
Back to Ms Lisa....
Wanting to be a professional dancer, Ms Lisa got her degree in Performance Arts at Sacramento State University and was with the Capital City Ballet for about 7 years. It came to her that this part of the business was not going to pay the house mortgage, and since she really preferred to give the gift of art through teaching, turned her beautiful doll-like eyes in that direction. Ms Lisa taught in Woodland for a few years, then opened Happy Day Dance in Sacramento, partnering with another person who owned Happy Day Gym. After some time, they parted company and Ms Lisa kept the dance portion, re-opening as LaPetite Pirouette Dance Academy, which later became Encore! Studio of Performing Arts.
One of the attributes of Ms Lisa is that she not only wants to teach her students about performance arts, but also about confidence, poise and perseverance. There are many other dance studios to choose from, but if you want your child to gain a perspective on life that includes these factors, there really is no other choice.
For 13 years Ms Lisa taught 300 kids all by herself. This got to be too much so she decided to hire additional teachers to relieve some of the burden. Along with the little people dance classes, piano and music lessons, she added competition dance to the curriculum. The older kids weren't feeling "adult" enough with "LaPetite" on their dance attire, so Ms Lisa decided her studio needed a face lift. In true fashion, Ms Lisa asked the teens to come up with a name and Encore! Studio of Performing Arts was born.
And 25 years after the business was planned on a restaurant napkin, they continue to grow: Encore now has 9 employees, 6 classrooms in 3 locations, and averages 700-900 students (wow!). They've now grown out of the current facility, which is why she's in 3 locations. She and husband Jim (who just happens to be a contractor!) are now working on building a state of the art facility to house all of her Performing Arts programs, performances and retail outlets. This, unfortunately, has been quite an ordeal for a few years and continues to be, but if I know Lisa and Jim, their brave and strong hearts...and business acumen... will get them this dream. After all, she's been to the University of Hard Knocks 3 times now, and has 3 degrees to show the SBA who's boss!! Channel 13 seems to have a honing devise to her location - they've "popped in" 2 different times to interview her on different subjects. I think maybe it's time for visit number 3?
Lisa's motto/mantra/life affirmation:
Life is a Dance, the rest is just rehearsal!
And on to the "fun facts":
#1: Ms Lisa was known as "Ms Palm Desert", aka Ms Date at the Date Festival - back in the day (we won't say which day)
#2: Ms Lisa has 5 cats (maybe she played Cat Woman sometime in here career?), two of which are named Romeo and Julio (Julio is aka Juliet, turned Julio when the took "him" to the vet to get "spayed" - surprise!)
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