Inspire Ballet holds ribbon-cutting in Valparaiso

Inspire Ballet and Fine Arts offers a variety of dance classes for children ages 3 and up and a preprofessional program for ages 13 and up including ballet, jazz, lyrical, creative movement, ballroom and pre-ballet, as well as, Pilates and conditioning classes.

Inspire Ballet and Fine Arts co-owners Brittany Swain and Shelley Thiess celebrated the grand opening of their new dance studio located at 890 Valastics Ave in Valparaiso with a Niceville Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting.

Inspire Ballet and Fine Arts offers a variety of dance classes for children ages 3 and up and a preprofessional program for ages 13 and up including ballet, jazz, lyrical, creative movement, ballroom and pre-ballet, as well as, Pilates and conditioning classes.

The facility also hosts several fine arts programs including, piano, violin, ukulele, drum, drama, and magic lessons. The classes all embrace the Inspire Ballet and Fine Arts mission to create an atmosphere where dancers can thrive as artists, grow in technique, and reach their full potential in a loving Christian environment.

The inaugural season kicks off on May 12, 6 p.m., at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center with a full-length production of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

Brittany and Shelly first met at Florida State University through the Dance Department, and both boomeranged back to their Niceville roots where, with a lot a hard work, family and community support and prayer, they turned their dream of opening a Christian based dance studio into a reality.

Both owners, in addition to both being new moms and business owners, are accomplished dancers. Brittany’s dance training includes studying with the Atlanta Ballet’s Center for Dance Education, Tallahassee Ballet and several summer intensives with the Boston Ballet, Houston Ballet and Chatauqua Institute of New York.

Shelly danced professionally with the Ad Deum Dance Company in Houston and has performed all over the world including New York, London, and Malaysia. She is a Level 2 Comprehensive Pilates instructor in Mat, Reformer, Chair, Cadillac, and Barrel, as well as a certified personal trainer.

For more information about Inspire Ballet and Fine Arts located please visit inspireballetarts.com or call (850) 517-1050 or stop in at 890 Valastics Ave, Valparaiso Monday-Thursday 3 p.m. -8 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-12p.m.