Today we’d like to introduce you to Sydnee Reese
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
OWNER/ ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
I grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada and began my dance training at London Dance Academy where I trained and completed R.A.D. and I.S.T.D. examinations in ballet, modern, jazz, and tap with distinctive scoring. I moved to St. Louis, Missouri in 2006 and began training and teaching ballet, tap, and jazz at various studios. In 2009, I attended Webster University, and obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in dance with an emphasis in ballet in August of 2012. While at Webster University, I studied as a scholarship recipient with the Dance Theatre of Harlem and Mark Morris Dance Group in New York City where I received extensive training in ballet, jazz, contemporary, Horton, Graham, and other modern dance techniques. After college, I danced a principal role in the productions of The Opera Theatre of St. Louis, and had an arts administration internship with St. Louis Dance Theater, formally known as The Big Muddy Dance Company. I danced with Common Thread Contemporary Dance Company for two seasons as well as the administrative assistant to the artistic director of the company. I have also guest taught and choreographed for Webster University’s dance department in recent years as well as performing and choreographing a dinner theatre variety show in downtown Saint Louis. With over 16 years of dance instructing experience, she is currently focused on owning and artistically directing Imagine Dance Project. I started Imagine Dance Project in 2015 at the age of 24. I was teaching at a studio that unexpectedly closed and had a small group of 19 students that I had been working with for a few years who didn’t want to be separated, so I found this to be a great opportunity to start my own dance studio. I sub-leased from a jazzercise studio and worked two other jobs for a year and saved up enough money to get my own space that I could grow into. I have had over 600 students and 420 families receive training over the past 9 years. We have an inclusive and diverse all female staff that pours love, talent, and girl power into our students.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I really can’t complain about my journey as a business owner. I started as a very young, bi-racial woman who came from nothing and experienced a ton of personal growth as my business has grown. I’ve learned how to maintain my business successfully through trial and error, and although it hasn’t always been perfect, I’m proud of what the business has become and can’t think of anything that I would change or do differently. The only notable obstacle I’ve faced was during the Covid shutdown. Teaching dance classes on Zoom, losing students, and reopening with drastic cleaning protocols, social distancing, and teaching in masks was definitely a challenge. We adjusted, and overcame the obstacles and almost doubled our enrollment the following season. We have a really family-friendly, nurturing environment, and most of our families end every season excited to come back for the next season.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Imagine Dance Project?
Imagine Dance Project offers dance classes to children ages 3-18. Our classes include, but are not limited to ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, modern, contemporary, hip hop, acro, aerial, and conditioning. Imagine Dance Project has an award winning, competitive performance company that dances and competes in the Saint Louis area. Dancers are selected based on skill, ability, performance, and work ethic during annual auditions. All of Imagine Dance Project’s instructors have a degree in dance and/or are working dance professionals with experience and professional development equivalent to a collegiate education in dance, therapeutic practices, performance art, dance composition, anatomy, somatics, and dance pedagogy. We strive to offer high quality, individualized training to every dancer that attends Imagine Dance Project.
It is my mission to provide dance training through the principles of critical thinking, respect, discipline, and collaboration to fully convey the importance of each element within the art form. Imagine Dance Project will provide a nurturing environment that will build a platform for each individual to discover themselves, explore their talents and capabilities, and develop as a freethinking artist. There will be an emphasis on the proper execution and strengthening of classical technique, and an open minded appreciation for all styles and forms of dance. Each student will develop an impeccable work ethic, disciplined thought process, creative mind, and flexibility that will be carried throughout all aspects of their lives. Our studio motto is: Hard work, dedication, and perseverance.
What are your plans for the future?
We are in a great place as a studio. We don’t have any plans to change anything in the near future. We have had an influx of new, young dancers. Our focus is to cultivate them and maximize their training for the continued growth and success of the company.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://imaginedanceproject.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imaginedanceproject_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imaginedanceproject/
- Twitter: https://x.com/imaginedanceIDP
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@imaginedanceproject1498
