Valerie Anne Dixon opened her first Petite Pas Ballet School in 2015 in Wisconsin, and it was so successful that when she moved to West Chester, she copied the exact model again to continue bringing the importance of the arts to her young dancers, writes Faith Rae for The Freeman.

As a dancer for most of her life, Dixon knows the positive impact that dancing can have in the long run. Her experiences in ballet, dancing flamenco, and working with different ballet companies has led her to welcome students from toddler-age and watch them grow.

“What I love about my program is we’re focused a lot more on creating a love for the art form,” said Dixon. “I want them to leave the studio having a love for ballet and maybe going to see shows. Watching that develop into what it is today is incredibly rewarding.”

The studio offers “parent and me” classes for 8-month-olds to two-year-olds. Independent classes start at age three.

Dixon’s way of teaching is what makes children learn proper techniques and terminology well. She uses storybook approach by teaching with ballet stories. Students focus on a specific ballet by using the music in class, read from the book, and then practice the techniques

“We’re creating little art lovers,” she said. “And that’s what is really important to me in all of this.”

Read more about Petite Pas Ballet School in The Freeman.

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