Today we’d like to introduce you to Travis Kelley.
Travis, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My family owned a children’s dance school in Houston growing up, and that’s how I was introduced to dance. Actually, our family’s relationship with dance extends back to my grandfather who became a ballroom dance instructor after WWII. So I guess you can say it’s in the blood.
After growing up at my family’s dance studio, I pursued dance professionally and became a Principal Ballet dancer with the Dayton Ballet in Ohio, and later transitioned to working on Broadway, commercials, film and television.
Once I decided to step away from my performing career, I did a few other things before ultimately coming full circle to my roots at a Fine Arts School. The Royal Academy of Fine Arts (RAFA) has been around since 1972. When its founder passed away a few years ago, the school faced an uncertain future. The family who owned the school reached out to me to see if I’d like to carry the torch and I jumped at the opportunity. The school has been such a significant part of the local community for so long, there was no way I was going to let it go under.
So now here we are, a few years into this new chapter and the school is doing better than ever. Our shows are bigger and better than years past, and we’re breathing new life into the school as myself and my staff enjoy the privilege and honor of being the “next generation” of RAFA leaders.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Change is hard for most people, especially when that change is being initiated by “the new guy”. Many of the updates and renovations I’ve made were initially met with reservations by my staff and the customers. I don’t fault them for it. After all, they didn’t know me so why would they blindly trust me?
Today though, I can thankfully say that my relationships within both of those groups have developed in a healthy way and I’ve earned a lot of people’s trust. Those who have stuck it out and stood by the school are now loving everything we’re doing and they get excited when we introduce new ideas. We’re truly doing incredible work and we have a remarkable crop of students coming into their own. It’s a joy to watch.
Please tell us about Royal Academy of Fine Arts.
In terms of what we’re known for…historically we are known around town as the best Ballet school in the area. That’s the brand that’s really been built over the years (long before I got here). This reputation still holds true today, as we continue to offer professional caliber Ballet training, but what people are slowly starting to realize is that we offer the best Musical Theatre program in the area as well. Our students get to experience full-scale musicals that are run and managed just like professional productions. And we’re probably the only school in town that has the students learning from people with actual professional experience on Broadway.
In addition to our Ballet and Musical Theatre, our school offers excellent Contemporary Dance and Tap classes, private Voice lessons, and private Piano instruction.
What really sets us apart is our commitment to quality. I am pretty rigid on what teachers I’ll allow to work with our kids. Most of our teachers have professional dance experience and pass on that experiential knowledge, while some of our other teachers didn’t spend as much time performing but are remarkably gifted natural teachers. I keep a close eye on this attention to quality and make sure the students are getting what they really need at the right stages of their development.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Honestly, there have been a lot of hiccups and learning lessons along the way during this venture, but the only way to learn them is to go through them. So I wouldn’t change a thing. The end result is the school heading in a great direction with eager new students coming in every week, so everything is perfect in my book! Wouldn’t change a thing.
Pricing:
- 1+ class hrs per week = $70/mo per hour
- 2+ class hrs per week = $63/mo per hour
- 4+ class hrs per week = $56/mo per hour
- 6+ class hrs per week = $49/mo per hour
- 8+ class hrs per week = $42/mo per hour
- 10+ class hrs per week = $38/mo per hour
Contact Info:
- Address: 910 GEMINI AVE, HOUSTON TX 77058
- Website: WWW.RAFADANCE.COM
- Phone: 2814801466
- Email: INFO@RAFADANCE.COM
- Instagram: http://www.imgrum.org/user/royalacademyoffinearts/2255199217
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Royal-Academy-of-Fine-Arts-162816280434374
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/royal-academy-of-fine-arts-houston-2
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
