The Old Opera House Dance Studio (OOHDS) was started in June 2008. The OOHDS is an intimate dance studio with experienced, dedicated instructors who have a strong desire to develop each dancer to their full potential. Classes are offered in ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop and Broadway style dance; for students from age 3 to 18 (we also offer a Wee Ones class for even younger dancers.) Classes are small and the dancers develop a respect for themselves, their fellow dancers and the art of dance.
Every other year the OOHDS presents The Nutcracker ballet as part of the Old Opera House’s Christmas Season.
Desiree Acosta started dancing at the age of 4 and developed her skills through experiences at her home studio, workshops, competition, and church. She completed Dance Masters of America's Teacher's Training School in New York and has been teaching for the last four years. Desiree recently moved to Charles Town from Maryland and looks forward to sharing her love of dance with your dancer.
Christina Franz brings over 30 years of teaching experience to the Old Opera House. She studied Ballet under Leda Anchutina Eglevsky at the Eglevsky Ballet in Long Island, New York and then trained at the American Dance Machine at The Broadway Dance Center and Steps in New York City. She had the privilege of being a student of many great Broadway legends, including Lee Theodore, Nannette Charisse, Wayne Cilento, Peter Gennaro, Liza Gennaro, and Anne Reinking.
Deswell Carr received his initial dance training as a student with the Charles Town Dance Studio, which held classes at the Old Opera House under the direction of Anne Walp and Amanda Cipriano until 2008. He's been a dancer in the Old Opera House Dance Studio since its inception and began teaching for the studio in 2012. Deswell also serves as the show choir choreographer at Washington High School and has worked as a choreographer for Liberty High School in Bealeton, VA.
Ed Conn studied Musical Theatre at Shenandoah Conservatory. At the age of 5, Ed started performing with Capachione School of the Performing Arts in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts. From then his love of the theatre took off. Ed has been with the Old Opera House as an actor since 1997. He began teaching at Allegro Dance Studio in 2011, where he taught Tap. Ed joined the OOH Staff in 2013 and has taught a variety of classes from Broadway, Adult Tap, Tap I-III, to Voice. Shaping children to be confident and knowledgeable performers is his focus!
Sherry Smith has been a dance instructor since 1998, with experience teaching Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, and Tap to students ranging in age from three to adults. Before joining Old Opera House, she was teaching at a studio in Chantilly, Virginia, until 2014. Sherry has enjoyed being a part of the OOH family and very much enjoys spending time at the studio working with the students on dance techniques and choreography. When Sherry isn't working or teaching dance, she enjoys shopping and spending time with her friends and traveling to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to visit with her family.
Heather Toma Carr was raised and trained in Los Angeles, California, where she performed with several Ballet, Jazz, and Modern dance companies, as well as in TV commercials and films. She majored in Dance at the University of California-Irvine, but NYC beckoned, where she continued her training and career. She toured extensively in National and International productions dancing Ballet, Jazz, and musical theatre. Heather was also the principal dancer in the Emmy Award winning John Adams opera, Nixon in China. She eventually worked as Assistant Director-Choreographer on Ringling Bros. and Barnum Bailey Circus and several regional theatre productions before settling back down in Los Angeles with her husband to raise their family of three children. After relocating to Charles Town, she's thrilled to be back in the studio at the Old Opera House to share her love of dance with your children!
2018-19 Studio-Season Registration is now Open!