It’s neat because they get to wear costumes that are handmade in Russia.” “I have to learn the choreography so I can cue the kids,” she said. The annual performance is at the Kiva Auditorium in Albuquerque, and this year’s performance is on Sunday, Dec. Taking their final bows as a cast with Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker. Over the years, more and more students signed up to learn to dance, and the studio has grown to have three teachers and three assistant teachers, all who have been Baca-Chavez’s students. I’m strict with the kids - I want them to learn a discipline, but I want parents to know that their children are safe here.” “The kids who started with me are now bringing their kids here,” she said. Her heart, she says, has always been with children, and being able to teach them how to dance has been a dream fullfilled. “We know not everyone is going to be a professional dancer, but I do want them to learn how to dance professionally at our studio.”īaca-Chavez explains she makes sure her students learn the correct terminology, and to learn to dance the right way. “There are kids who take it for exercise or recreation,” Baca-Chavez said. “I would study my terminology for ballet during lunch, and I would ask my friends to quiz me during recess.”īaca-Chavez’s love for dance and her desire to teach has provided hundreds, if not thousands, of children an opportunity to also move to the music and make memories of their own. “There was a name for every exercise, so it just made sense to me,” she said. The staff at Renée Antoinette’s School of Dance, include, from left, demonstrators, Avery Latter and Abigail Brown assistant secretary, Felecia Landavazo guest teacher, Jasmine Day teacher, Kara Latter owner and artistic director, Renée Baca-Chavez assistant teacher, Rena Cordova secretary, Valerie Marquez teacher, Bailey Washburn and demonstrator, Isabella Orona. She loved ballet, saying it made sense to her. I remember that sacrifice my parents did for me, and I remember thinking if I didn’t open a studio here, what are the rest of the kids going to have?”įor Baca-Chavez, being on stage was natural. “I was fortunate to have that support and encouragement from my family. “My mom was always on the road - five, six days a week - taking me to classes,” Baca-Chavez said. It was then that she knew she wanted to open a studio in her hometown one day. When she turned 9 years old, her parents had to take her to Albuquerque for classes. While there was a dance studio in the Hub City when she was young, it didn’t cater to older children. “People always asked what else I wanted to do, and I remember thinking, ‘Why do I have to pick something else? This is what I want to do.’” “I remember when I was little, I told my mom I was going to own my own studio when I grew up,” she said. The 25th anniversary alumni cast, sharing the stage for a production dance. She remembers going to dance recitals and enjoying every bit of it. Eventually, Baca-Chavez bought the current property and built her studio 15 years ago.īaca-Chavez, born and raised in Belen, always had a desire for dance - ever since her parents put her in dance class. After a couple years, she rented two rooms in what is now Ladyhawk Feed. Now that I think about it, I didn’t know to be scared.”īaca-Chavez started her business in a tiny room with a small viewing window, and all the parents would take turns peaking in to see their children. “I always joke that I was too young to be scared. “I was only 22 years old when I opened the studio,” Baca-Chavez remembers. Main St., was founded in 1994 in a small room in the former Belen Recreation Center on South Main Street. Renée Antoinette’s School of Dance, which is located at 920 S. BELEN-Turning a passion into a profession is a dream for many, and for Renée Baca-Chavez, she’s been able to continue her dream for the past 25 years.īaca-Chavez, the owner of Renee Antoinette’s School of Dance in Belen, has been twirling and tapping since she was 3 years old, and has shared her love of dance with many of her students over the years.
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