Hello,
ALL THE THINGS! Unique Dance Studio Joins Forces with Art and Music Program Creating a Hub for FUN By Abby Meaux Conques
O
nce in a while, Acadiana is blessed with a business that exists to break norms, change the status quo and become the birthplace of new, creative ways of doing things. These types of establishments can serve as catalysts for entire parts of the city to embrace “different” and breathe inspiration back into a place where it is constantly being molded into the constraints of a box. After visiting Hello Dancer, Hello Imagination and Hello Music in Lafayette recently, I firmly believe that this spot is destined to serve as one of those catalysts. But how does a dance, art and music studio for children break norms, you ask? Think dance studio with an emphasis on fun (sans endof-season dance recital or competition teams), children’s art classes geared towards complete expression, and music classes offering original songwriting that embraces local culture. Let me introduce you to the Hello trifecta; Hello Dancer, Hello Imagination and Hello Music.
THE BEGINNING The original piece of the Hello puzzle was the Hello Dancer studio; the brainchild of April Peters with complete unwavering support from her behind-the-scenes, equally creative husband, Thomas. Born out of an idea via Hello Dancer, Hello Imagination was created, followed by an addition of Hello Music bringing in well-known and loved Acadiana music personality, Melissa Stevenson.
CREATIVE DANCE, ART AND MUSIC TEACHING DUO, APRIL PETERS AND MELISSA STEVENSON
We recently sat with April and Melissa to speak about the motivation behind the studios, the path here, and a look ahead. Both April and Melissa come into the Hello realm with deep undercurrents of experience and passion in their own rights, building the foundation of what embodies all of the Hello businesses. While sitting with us, April recalled her love of dance as a child, her extensive dance instruction and training beginning at age 15, and teaching dance to students out of her Grandmother’s little red barn circa 1999. “First a Mom asked me to teach her child, then friends asked to come... then it was 10 kids, then 20 kids!” she laughed. When April was in college the enthusiasm for dance and her need for a “real” job led to her opening a studio on Main Street in Welsh where she taught over 100 students in the first year. Following 11 years of an impressive list of studio owning and directing, creating complete dance programs for a university and various national dance academies, and choreographing numerous award-winning competition teams, April left the dancing realm for work in the non profit sector. After spending some years with Miles Perret Cancer Services, a year working with the Acadiana Center for the Arts lit her creative pilot light again, and dancing came back to the forefront for April.
APRIL PETERS AND DANCE CLASS
Then one day, passing by a vacant space on Rena Drive in Lafayette changed everything. “It was serendipitous...the right spot at the right time,” April explained. “I recently had these thoughts of opening up a dancing school again...and saw the building… it’s that feeling of just knowing it’s what you’re supposed to do.” Hello Dancer was opened in February of 2018. Walking up to the brightly-painted blue building with its bubble gum pink doors and welcome note on the outdoor chalkboard is instantly inviting. Entering the building and experiencing the magic inside is the icing on the cake. The large bright white dancing space is cheerfully adorned with bright-colored accents, fun decor and wall art. Separate but equally lively areas serve as waiting spaces for siblings or spots where children can finish after-school tasks while waiting for class.
DANCE / ART / FUN EXTRAORDINAIRE, APRIL PETERS
The brightest energies in the room? Hands down, it’s April and Melissa. Their enthusiasm and passion for helping children reach full-fun potential is a force in itself. “We get to be a part of something bigger than ourselves,” April says through a smile. “I wanted to make this place convenient for working moms and an exciting, fun and positive experience for the kids...it’s all about the kids. I wanted to expose them to the arts, give them play-based structure, and let them build their own magical worlds from there. I wanted to give them the tools to explore.” April’s business model of teaching children dance without the stress and pressure of recitals and competition (not to mention the additional fees) is not commonplace around here, but it makes sense. There will always be a space and market for those types of schools, but for parents who are looking for a more exploratory approach to the arts for their children, Hello Dancer is the perfect solution at the perfect time.
THE INCEPTION OF HELLO IMAGINATION
“I was using art in dance classes, and the children LOVED it... so we thought we should add something geared specifically to the process and conceptualization of art...giving children the foundation of learning the rules of art, and then breaking them,” April explained. She described the art classes as embracing a curriculum that’s built from the ground up learning basics and branching to a visionary approach where children learn, create and use their imaginations for their own work (as opposed to mimicking an instructor’s art pieces as train-
MUSIC AND FUN FUSION EXPERT, MELISSA STEVENSON
ing.) It also doesn’t hurt that so many creative minds are behind the business, one of which holds a Fine Arts degree.
WELCOME, HELLO MUSIC The most recent piece of the Hello puzzle was added when Melissa Stevenson joined the Hello family. Melissa brings over 20 years of experience teaching music in a variety of settings. She realized her penchant for early childhood music education and spent years honing her skills in providing exceptional music experiences where she synergistically combines silliness and fun with music, creating an exploratory atmosphere that's exciting in a relaxed learning environment. She also holds professional music certifications, degrees, and experience with music school directing and ownership.
Since she was a child, she was active in choirs and performance groups and knew she wanted to share her love for music one day professionally. She shared her passion for music and teaching children at Ascension Episcopal School in Lafayette for 12 years before opening her own charming music school, The Music Garden. She loves writing, recording and performing her own original children’s songs. To top everything off, she’s also a member of the well-known all-female folk band The Figs. “We absolutely love what we do...and we have an intense passion for teaching kids about the arts,” she said of her partnership with April. The two paired up after COVID had an impact on in-person classes for Melissa at her magical Music Garden which was located in the Saints Streets area of Lafayette. Melissa announced in May 2020 that she’d be closing the school which so many children flourished from in the form of musical classes, workshops and training. In line with the proverbial one door closing, another one opening, the letting go of The Music Garden made space for Melissa to join the Hello family with the addition of Hello Music. Melissa's classes are care-free group music classes, fusing music jams and lively instruction. "I believe in kids learning through play, and at their own individual pace," she explained. She also offers classes where parents and children particpate and learn together.
HELLO UNIVERSE The pair spoke energetically about the possibilities of cultivating creativity in our community’s children. “At these younger ages, there’s really not a lot of places to go and be creative. We offer a space where they can be free and messy and let their imaginations run,” April explained. “You can start them with basic concepts and they can build on all of those initial blocks. It’s more than encouraging them to embrace their creativity...you give them tools to be amazing in leadership roles, community roles and problem solving skills as they get older….they can see different ways of doing things...effective ways,” Melissa added. “Our goal is to be the happiest music, art and dance studio in the universe,” April laughed.
HELLO MUSIC CLASS
It’s one thing to slap a name on a class and promote it as a theme. April and Melissa methodically tailor their curriculums and class offerings to foster a space where creativity can flow freely. One of the many things that sets this place apart is the amount of energy they pour into making every single day, class and student feel special and as if they walked into a threshold of magic when they enter the space. Making the learning environment magical is definitely their specialty. They’re like magical little fun-inducing fairies, working behind the scenes making every little detail extraordinarily enchanting.
HOW DO I ENROLL MY CHILD(REN)? Currently, all creative Hello offerings are open for enrollment. There’s classes from babies, toddlers, little kids, and big kids up to age 10. There’s Mommy and Me classes and private classes. There’s trial classes, events and parties. An entire splatter paint room has just been finished for a unique party experience where children get to make art and splatter paint all over the walls, ceiling, floors...only painting your friends is off limits! And two words: SUMMER CAMPS. There are a plethora of creative and engaging summer camps available by the half day, day or week for various ages up to age 10 with multiple interests. There are even mash-up camps combining two or more of the creative classes offered. Think Kidz Bop classes, Unicorns Fairies and all things Magical classes, Frozen classes, Mermaid classes, Dreamhouse classes...the list goes on. Honestly, we're just patiently awaiting the addition of Hello Adult classes!
HELLO DANCER DANCE STUDIO
FOR MORE INFO, VISIT WWW.HELLODANCERLAFAYETTE.COM
