Opening a dance studio has always been on Megan Adams’ mind since high school.
Whenever she saw an empty building she would imagine where the mirrors and ballet barres would be located.
As she and her husband Bruce prepare to open their new Platte City dance studio Elements Dance Academy, Megan’s dream is finally coming true.
She has a master’s degree in dance education and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with 21 years of teaching and dance experience.
Bruce works for the federal government and when a job opening came up at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. the couple moved to Platte City from Yuma, Ariz. to be closer to family.
Megan Adams
“Unlike Arizona, Missouri and Kansas do not offer dance in the school systems, so when I moved to Platte City I was hired as a sixth-grade teacher,” Megan said. “I taught at the public school for three years, but there was still something missing, a hole in my heart. One day at breakfast last year, my friend asked me, ‘Why don’t you open your own studio?’ At that moment in my life I didn’t have a reason not to. Everything in my life was aligned to open it. My husband and I went home, talked about it, and decided it was the best move for our family. I also know that opening the dance studio in Platte City is good because it is the perfect city. We love Platte City and we have felt drawn to this little community ever since we moved here.”
When the studio opens she will teach the dance classes and more teachers will be added as the business grows.
The studio’s mission centers around its non-competitive nature and a whole child integrative and educational approach. The studio will offer opportunities to connect with art, nature, music, dance and people.
Although EDA will teach technique, it will place equal importance on teaching fundamental character traits. Megan said EDA’s purpose is to intentionally build up strong leaders through a mentoring program and through the dance experience.
The studio invites people of all ages to take dance classes.
“We have chosen to be a non-competitive studio because we believe that dance is for all people,” Megan said. “We have classes scheduled for ages 3 to adult and for all abilities. Our four core values that will be embedded into everything we do are grit, grace, gratitude and generosity.”
Megan will begin teaching jazz, ballet, creative movement, hip hop, choreography and a company class for the more serious dancer. As the studio grows and students improve, she will add classes and levels.
“The heart of EDA’s philosophy of education lies in establishing connections,” Megan said. “I believe that dance and movement are a medium that can connect one’s deepest level of awareness to one’s true self. It is a means of communication with self, others, and the environment.
“I believe everyone has the potential to move beautifully while finding enlightenment through the creative processes of dance. I focus on producing critical thinking dancers versus simple moving bodies.”
The studio will offer leadership programs, with the first for grades 6-12. Students may apply for student director, mentor or as an assistant. Students in the leadership program will be able to learn how to be a leader while learning how to become a choreographer.
“They will learn how to be a leader and to choreograph in our choreography class,” Megan said. “They will create dances in our company class. Then, they will be given opportunities to volunteer in the community for different events. Finally, they will be able to reflect on everything they learned by teaching or assisting classes in the studio.”
The next leadership program will be the National Honor Society for Dance Arts, a nationally known program recognizing students studying dance. Students who are involved with NHSDA are able to apply for scholarships and graduate with honors in dance.
NHSDA promotes a desire for life-long learning in the field of dance and encourages an understanding and appreciation for dance as an art form. Elements Dance Academy has a secondary program for grades 9-12 and they are currently looking for students interested in being active in the dance studio and in the community. This is open to all dancers in these grades with or without experience.
For Megan, building relationships with students where every child feels safe, loved and protected is a top priority.
“Strong and healthy relationships are where students feel their voices can be heard, that they can trust us, and feel like they belong,” Megan said.
The studio will emphasize the five elements of dance: body, space, time, energy and relationships.
“These bring out the artistic side of dance and not the athletic side,” Megan said. “Our studio space is great because it allows us the room we need to demonstrate these elements. We are able to use the open space for dancers to practice moving through space and time with energy. Developing today’s leaders for the future is something that I have become very passionate about. Dance and leadership go hand and hand.”
The 1215 Branch Street location — near the Platte City License Bureau — was completely gutted when they moved in, so they renovated the entire space.
“We wanted the sense of home to be in our lobby area for parents who are waiting,” Megan said. “We have samples of Elements Dance Academy and ballet dance attire at the studio for people to actually feel and try on before purchasing items. We will have a coffee bar for parents, and lots of information for them to read while they are waiting for their children. If parents want to drop off their children for class we want them to feel safe and that their children are in good hands.”
Megan believes the physical and emotional benefits of dance are unlimited. Dance improves muscular strength and endurance, increases aerobic fitness, improves the condition of the heart and lungs, provides better coordination, agility and flexibility, and improves cardiovascular health.
As a social activity dance helps people boost their mood and mental health.
“It makes you a happier person,” Megan said. “Dance also enhances your awareness of others and tolerance of differences. The physical benefits of dance are the most popular and the ones most people would identify with, but dance is also great for the brain. Dance develops self-discipline, creative thinkers, problem solvers, risk takers, confidence, and persistence. The greatest benefit of dance no matter how good a person is at it is the ability to read people’s emotion and to exhibit empathy.”
Building a sense of community inside and outside the dance studio is Megan’s goal. She uses dance to mentor young people and give them tools to be successful.
“Getting the community involved with our events is one of our main goals as a dance studio,” Megan said. “We want to offer dancers and non-dancers a safe place where people can go and enjoy family time together.”
Summer dance classes will begin June 1 and they will run until the end of July. The studio will host dance camps for two weeks in July. Open house will be June 27 from 1-5 p.m. at the studio at 1215 Branch St., and food, drinks and prizes for the public.
For more information go to the website at elementsdanceacademy.com, email elementsdanceacademy@gmail.com or call (701) 934-1325.