Today we’d like to introduce you to Dana Sparks.
Dana, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My story started as a little girl of 3 years old. My mother Becky Loving gave me the “gift of dance” at that early age, and the passion grew and has stayed in my heart for the past 46 years.
My parents built and started the Dance Studio GREENSPOINT SCHOOL OF DANCE where I started teaching at age 14 after the Houston Hardy Toll Road took our property I continued to study dance throughout the Houston, Humble and Bellaire Areas. A graduate from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance.
After graduating from College, I left to live and teach dance in Los Angeles Area. Then I found myself missing home and decided to return and right away was offered my own studio at the young age of 28. I have carefully created classes that are age appropriate and developmental. I dedicate my time to meet with my staff for training and development each understanding the vision that I have created for my studio.
Unlike other studios, I also make myself available to parents and students for personal attention. I am the founder and Artistic Director of Arts In Motion where I produce the dance concert “Danscape” each year for different outreach programs including Ronald McDonald House of Houston, Ovarian Cancer Awareness, and in-school arts programs. Our mission is to increase dance appreciation in our community.
We facilitate collaboration amongst companies and choreographers and provide educational and performance opportunities to dancers of many different styles.
Showcasing NEW choreography and offering several community outreach programs, Arts in Motion takes pride in fostering future generations of dancers and providing quality Houston entertainment. Proceeds go to our outreach programs, scholarships, Ronald McDonald House, Can-Care and ovarian cancer awareness.
I lost my mom to Ovarian Cancer and Leukemia November 2011. “Giving back through the Art of Dance is a way to raise awareness and honor survivors and those lost to cancer.” Some of her choreography credits include The Houston Sammy Awards, Miss Teen Houston, Miss Teen Fort Bend Co. and working with musical theater groups such as DLP productions of The Woodlands, Creighton Theatre of Conroe, just to name a few.
You can also see her as a featured Country Western Dancer in the feature film, “Sgt. Bilko”, starring Steve Martin. Other film credits include “Rings,” “The Dorothy Day Story,” and most recent award-winning short film “Connect,” Extra work on “Friday Night Lights, and “Lonestar.” She continues her acting career by doing local and state-wide commercials. She has directed Dance Companies in Los Angeles and Houston, winning many awards.
She has an extensive background in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Lyrical and Pointe. She love’s taking her dance companies to perform and compete each year. Her Dancers continue to perform outside of In-Step Dance, and many have gone to College to further their careers. Boston Conservatory, NYU, Texas A&M, Texas Christian University, Sam Houston State University and now one of her students is starring in Broadways “Dear Evan Hanson.”
“Being a positive role model and a great teacher is just as important as being a great performer.” With ten instructors, I firmly believe that the best teachers specialize in the form of dance that they are teaching, which accounts for the small staff. My Husband Mike Sparks and my two boys Hunter and Austin are my Biggest Fans. They are my Rock and the reason I love what I do. Being a studio owner/artistic director continues to fulfill my life daily.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
As with most business, there have been a few struggles. Overall the experience has been positive and has proven itself everything and more than what I expected.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with In-Step Dance Company – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
In-Step Dance is celebrating its 20th year in The Woodlands. We are a local dance studio with two locations. My Studio specializes in creating well rounded passionate dancers.
We offer all styles of dance Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip-Hop and including modern dance and circus arts. We have a dance company that not only competes regionally and nationally but also performs at different venues throughout Houston.
My studio nurtures a family environment. The teachers and I take the time to not only connect to our students but also to get to know the family as well. Our focus is to ensure that the dancers we teach become confident individuals.
As a studio owner and artistic director, I take pride in celebrating all performers. 17 years ago I started a benefit concert to bring dancers from Houston and the surrounding areas together to perform at Danscape. In-Step Dance Company is the Non-Profit performing Company of In-Step Dance and Performing Arts Center.
Our Goal is to raise awareness and interest in dance in our community. In-Step Dance Company is an affiliate of Arts In Motion, a Non-Profit Company whose purpose is to promote excellence in the area of the performing arts through teaching, demonstrations, programs, and community outreach.
Under the direction of Dana Loving-Sparks for the past 18 years she has given the company many amazing opportunities to perform like taking them to New York City’s Alvin Ailey Spring Showcase, Kat Wildish Performance Showcase at Peridance in New York City, The Hobby Center’s DANSCAPE, performing for the Mayor of Houston Lighting of the Christmas Tree, The Woodlands lighting of the Doves, Children’s Festivals and many more. These Dancers have received recognition and honors for their performances and competed locally and nationally.
In-Step Dance Company has received prestigious awards such as MidAmerican’s Showstopper National Competition, Stage One Nationals Jr. Miss Over-All and Shootout Winners, KAR National Competition Choreographer of the year award and National Finalists, Star Quest National Teen Over-All Soloist, Star Systems Regional Over-All Top Scoring Team, Hall of FAME Regional and Nationals Top Soloist winner and Group Top Scoring Dance and many more.
In-Step Dance Company Alumni have gone on to pursue dance in major college programs across the country to further their careers. This yearly performance raises funds for student Scholarships as well as raise Ovarian Cancer awareness.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I am always looking for growth and promoting all of my dancers. My next goal is to work towards building a studio that actually has a full performance stage and developing our Musical Theatre Program and Music Program. This has been an ongoing goal of mine, and I am looking to see it finalize within the next five years.
Contact Info:
- Address: 449 Sawdust Rd the Woodlands 77380
- Website: www.instepdancecenter.com
- Phone: 2812987837
- Email: danasparks@sbcglobal.net
- Instagram: insteprox01
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/InstepdancePAC
- Twitter: @instep01
- Other: www.facebook.com/danscape5678
Image Credit:
Lucy Heredia
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