Five Years Later, Performing Arts Academy Has Expanded Rapidly

Formerly called Studio21 Pom & Dance Company, the was founded in 2005 with three teachers and primarily focused on dance.

Oh, how things have changed.

Now it has 19 teachers and more than 500 students. And it's far from just a dance studio - the academy now includes music and acting classes for children of any age, an academic preschool program and a number of activities for adults.

"As a business, we're expanding and growing in different areas," director Stacy Schmidt said. "We only offered dance lessons at first, and then we added music. Our preschool classes just started last summer, and now we're trying to offer a lot more adult activities."

The academy has been at 9160 S. Pennsylvania Ave. for almost three years. The business draws mainly from the Oak Creek, Franklin and South Milwaukee, but also from communities further away, like Racine.

"We not only offer competitive programs for those who wish to go on to being a professional, but we also offer classes for recreation or the person who only wants to come out once a week," Schmidt said.

Dance classes offered include pre-ballet, ballet, tumbling, tap, jazz, contemporary and hip hop among others, while music classes range from the Little Mozarts Group Piano to group guitar and choir.

Acting and cheerleading classes are also offered at the academy, and the diversity of the business extends into dance-themed birthday parties.

"I have two soon-to-be 3-year-olds and we were looking for something the kids could do that was structured and would give them something to learn," said Kevin Lang of Oak Creek, when asked why he signed his kids up for classes at the academy. "They like to dance to music, so we figured we'd start here."

In addition to the fine-arts classes, the academy offers a preschool program around a school schedule from September to June and a summer session from July to August. The program covers basic academic concepts as well as activities involving visual arts, drama, music and creative movement and tumbling.

The academy also holds a winter and spring dance showcase annually as well as various recitals and an acting production.

For a full description of programs, classes and fees, visit the academy's website at www.OakCreekPerformingArts.com.