Oct. 26, 2018

A Sioux Falls dance studio has a new owner, a new name and a new mission.

When Shelby Bruyer took over Amaze Dance Studio, the former Dance Expressions, she knew she needed something to set her dance studio apart from the others in town. She’s working to help her students be better dancers and better people, she said.

“I don’t have staff, I have mentors,” Bruyer said. “My whole goal for these teachers and for myself is that we need to do more than teach them dance. We want to help turn them into inspiring people … who will do things for others.”

At lessons, the mentors work through affirmations with the students and give them a task to work on each week such as doing something kind for someone else. Bruyer wants the mentors to build relationships with each student, giving youths an adult they can turn to for guidance.

“And we’re making sure skill development is happening at the same time.”

Bruyer has the four mentors submit weekly lesson plans to her.

“We have a very open dialogue about how things are going, what can we do better for the kids.” She wants to ensure that the students are showing growth and keep progressing through the year in both their technical and personal skills.

Bruyer bought the business, which is in a retail center at 49th Street and Western Avenue,  in April and started the transition of teaching classes to students age 3 to 18 in June. Her first session started in September, but some classes still have a few openings and students can register until January. The session ends with a recital in May, and Amaze will offer weekly camps in the summer.

“We do tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, lyrical and both competitive and recreational classes,” Bruyer said. “ We offer programs for those that aren’t ready to commit to a full schedule and sometimes the financial aspect of it.”

The competitive teams will attend a half-dozen events each year, Bruyer said.

“We’re trying to move into more outside of South Dakota, place like Omaha, Minneapolis. We are trying new things from what they did in the past.”

Bruyer has a long history with the dance studio.

“I believe I was actually one of that business owner’s first students,” said Bruyer, who started taking classes at Dance Expressions when she was 6 and continued through high school. While she was in college, Bruyer taught classes at the studio until branching off to start a choreography business with a partner. She got married, moved to Charlotte, N.C., and was the co-owner of a dance studio there until returning to Sioux Falls.

“We wanted to start a family, and this is where our roots are,” Bruyer said. “The previous owner (Julie Christenson), was looking to move to Mitchell, and the timing was just right. God put me in the right place.”