Spark is an art and performance based, non-competitive, dance studio. We train dancers as artists and encourage them to explore their own creativity, learn proper technique, and enjoy the expression of dance as an art form. There are few better ways to learn discipline at a young age than by participating in ballet. Join us this summer in a fun, immersive, non-competitive environment.
Tuition: $120
Description: Dancers will take classes in tap, jazz, or hip hop from 9:00-10:00 a.m. then take ballet from 10:15-11:15 daily. Prerequisite: Ballet 1
Tuition: $140
Description: Dancers will take classes in tap, jazz, or hip hop from 9:00-10:00 a.m. then take ballet from 10:15-11:15 daily. Ballet 3 students will also take a pre-pointe class from 11:15-12:00. Prerequisite: Ballet 2
Tuition: $195
Description: Dancers will take classical ballet from 1:00-2:30 p.m. and then pointe from 2:30-3:30. From 4:00-5:30 dancers will explore many styles of dance from hip hop and jazz to lyrical, with a heavy emphasis on contemporary. We will work on technique, leaps and turns, learn combinations in various styles, and introduce dancers to improvisation and choreography. This camp will end with a showcase.
Tuition: $110
Description: Dancers will take classes in tap, jazz, or hip hop, daily from 2:30-3:15 then classical ballet from 3:30-4:30. This camp is perfect for beginning level ballet dancers who would also like to explore other styles of dance.
Tuition: $100
9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
ages 4-6
Description: Princess Ballet camp is the perfect camp for every little girl to feel like a princess. Learn basic beginning ballet technique, play games, do crafts, and dance to your heart’s content!
Tuition: $75
4:00-5:30 p.m.
Ages: 13+
Description: Dancers will explore many styles of dance from hip hop and jazz to lyrical with a heavy emphasis on contemporary. We will work on technique, leaps and turns, learn combinations in various styles of dance, and introduce dancers to improvisation and choreography.
*Included in the Ballet 4-6 Intensive.
Prerequisite: Must have several years of dance experience.
Our mission is to bring the joy and opportunity of a fine arts education to every child and to empower all to learn, create, and inspire.
We believe that every child should have opportunities that spark their interest and creativity. These experiences have the power to shape a child and lead them down a path of self discovery, confidence, and success throughout their life.
Our goal is to:
Provide High Quality Arts
Seek Mentors and Teachers with Passion
Create a Nurturing environment
Uphold High Standards
Offer Diversity in programs through multidisciplinary and cultural arts
Give Scholarships and Tuition Assistance
Reach out in the community to provide exposure, opportunity, and awareness
● Dance is an Art: The discipline of dance is taught as an art and does not have emphasis placed on competitive teams, but rather grooming a dancer as an artist. We plan to offer audition based performing companies in the coming year. The goal of our program is to have our Senior Company choreographing and presenting showcases of their own work. This is a whole other level of training to prepare them for whatever they may want to pursue!
● Beginning Classes for Older Students: Many younger students do not gain an interest in taking dance until they are 10 or older. These kids do not want to take beginning classes with 5 year olds. We want them to feel comfortable to explore this new skill and advance as they are able.
● Affordability: Dance can be extremely hard on the pocket book. Because of our non-profit status and the fact that we have a performance space "in house," we are able to offer dance without all of the extra fees.
● Excellent Teaching Staff: We are dedicated to offering high quality dance education and can ensure that our teaching staff reflects those standards. We are thrilled with the teachers we currently have on staff and look forward to building a larger team!
● Costumes, Music, Movement: At Spark we strive to cater to the highest level of sensitivity when it comes to our student policies and code of ethics. Discretion will always be used when considering costuming, music, and movement that is age appropriate and displays a respect for the dancer as an artist.
● Confidence and FUN: As with any of the programs we offer at Spark, our goal is to uplift our students, help them to build confidence, and add joy to their life! The arts add color to life and that is why we do what we do!
If this sounds like something you are interested in being a part of, SIGN UP for camps next week!
The classical ballet program at Spark is directed by Miss Maria Eugenia Bieberach.
We are fortunate to have her on staff to share her love and passion with the girls and to properly train them in the discipline of classical ballet.
Maria Eugenia Bieberach, ballet dancer and teacher, studied at Higher College of Ballet in Lima, Peru and graduated with honors. She was awarded a scholarship to pursue further training at the Colon Theatre in Buenos Aires,Argentina. Maria worked for 1 year as staff dancer at the Ballet Municipal de Lima Peru under Lucy Telge, and eventually became lecturer at the same company soon afterwards. She was a soloist professional dancer at the National Ballet de Peru for 17 years. Maria also took a course in Pedagogics in Santiago de Chile. When evaluated by the Royal Academy of Dance in Great Britain she received a distinction with honors. She has been lecturer and teacher in several Ballet schools in Peru. Maria Eugenia was Mistress of the faculty of Artisan School of Dance in Houston, TX, for 2 1/ 2 years (June 2006 -September 2008). She then served as guest teacher at the Western Ballet in Mountain View CA, summer program ( July- August.2008) . She then went on to work in San Jose Ballet School in Silicon Valley CA (September 2008 - June 2009).After returning to Houston she continued working in Artisan School of Dance as Ballet Mistress (August 2009 - December 2015 ) I choreographed many dances in Acts I and II of the Nutcracker productions, Sleeping Beauty, and Coppelia. She most recently worked at TKB Ballet and is excited to be continuing to share her love of classical ballet and technique at Spark.
Dana Sparks Welch started dancing at the age of six and hasn’t stopped since. She took classes, conventions, workshops and competed as much as she could. She has studied ballet, tap and jazz extensively throughout her career as well as Hip Hop, Lyrical and Musical Theater. Dana was also a competitive gymnast , cheerleader and president of thespians in high school. Throughout her years in school and early years of college she won numerous awards and performed throughout the US and Europe including The North Sea Jazz Festival, and in various shows such as "42nd St.", "George M.", "Pippin", "Working" and "Noises Off", among others. At the age of 19 Dana acquired her childhood studio and owned and operated Dance Center of Deer Park for 18 years before she began teaching for TUTS/River. Dana teaches all over Houston and surrounding areas and has judged numerous dance competitions such as I Love Dance, KARR, Showstoppers and Champion Dance, which she continues to judge every year. Dana choreographs shows for local schools and theaters ( The Wiz, Oklahoma, Godspell, Adams Family, Beauty and the Beast). She also choreographed a group of dancers to perform a 30 minute show on Carnival Cruise Line. Currently she teaches at The River and the Humphrey School of Musical Theater as well as Classes in the Community and various other projects. Dana loves to share her passion for dance and musical theater with students of all ages and abilities! She is an especially proud mom of two children.
Nicole Carter has been dancing since the age of five. She has a love and passion for dance, especially contemporary and modern dance. Nicole performed throughout college with the contemporary dance team and received her degree in Performing Fine Arts. After taking a long break from dancing and performing to raise her children, Nicole founded Create a Spark Foundation in 2015. She has choreographed several productions such as Annie, Into the Woods, and Elf. In 2019 Nicole began teaching contemporary and lyrical dance for Spark and has enjoyed every minute of her time creating with her students . She looks forward to building a non-competitive, art based, dance program in Houston that will prepare dancers as artists to learn, create, and inspire!
