Our first daughter was born a dancer. From the time she was just a few months old, anytime she heard music (and sometimes even when she didn’t), she danced. Sometimes it was just her upper body swaying to the music while she looked at a picture book or played with toys. Other times, and especially as she grew older, it was a full on dance party, with every part of her little body moving and grooving.

A few years later, our second daughter came along. From the time she could talk, she asked to take dance classes. For a number of years, our family traveled around the US in our RV, and we weren’t ever in a place long enough to commit to a season-long dance program. There would be the occasional class here and there, but nothing consistent. Then Covid hit, and it grounded our travels.

Since it seemed like we were staying put for a while, the questions started up again. “Mama! I really want to dance. Can you put me in a dance class? Mama, when can I take dance lessons?” Of course, Covid shut all that down, and the world was crazy for a time, but kids didn’t really understand all of what was happening, so it wasn’t very long before she’d ask me again. “Mama, can I take dance lessons yet?” This wasn’t just a passing phase. If you know this particular daughter of mine, you know she is a force to be reckoned with when something is important to her, and dance is that thing.

Finally there came a day when my answer was, “Yes, sweetie, you can!” A local studio had reopened, and was enrolling students.

Both girls enrolled, and dance became a huge part of our lives. They spent 10+ hours a week at the dance studio, taking every class for their age group, and helping out with many more. As they became more involved, we became more involved. Our hours spent volunteering with fundraising, costumes, photography, logistics, advertising, programs and more made this truly a family affair.

These girls were born to dance, and as they embraced this artistic expression they had for so long yearned to do, we wanted to make sure they had every opportunity to take it as far as they wanted. Their dance teacher said so many times that they had natural talent and tremendous potential, and could make this a career if they chose to. A huge component of our homeschooling philosophy is to give our children the tools and resources they need to pursue their passions and interests, so they have every opportunity to succeed in what they set out to accomplish in their lives.

After a couple of years, it became clear that this dance studio wasn’t going to be a good fit or long-term studio for them. Their teacher strongly encouraged us to make it a priority to continue their dance education and find them a place to dance. Thus the search began for a new dance studio to call home, one that offered focused, high-level instruction, while also allowing dancers to balance other important priorities.

We explored many options, including a variety of private lessons and group zoom classes. We met incredible professionals in the dance world all over the country, and our girls got to learn from some of the very best. However, nothing was quite the fit we were looking for.

As we spent time chatting with families in the community and discussing our goals and desires, a new plan began to take shape. We realized that it wasn’t just our family who was looking for a new dance home. So many others had experiences similar to ours, and those experiences culminated in their girls taking a break from something they loved because there just wasn’t another option. We found there were so many kids who wanted to dance, but didn’t have a place where they felt comfortable, challenged, respected, or valued.

Oregon Coast Dance Conservatory was founded to be that place, for those people. It is the studio we searched for and never did find for our girls, and the dance home all those families desperately wished for.

We are here for everyone in our community who wants to come and dance in a place where you can:

-Challenge yourself
-Deepen your love of dance
-Unleash your potential
-Try something new
-Reconnect with a form of dance you loved long ago
-Learn from a team of relatable high-level dance professionals
-or Just get some exercise while having a whole lot of fun

If you love dance, this is the place for you! Catch the dance wave, and come dance with us at Oregon Coast Dance.