At Orion Oxford Dance Arts, students are made to feel they’re part of a team, part of a family.
‘The kids are involved in all the decisions from which competitions we enter to costume selections,? said studio owner and Oxford resident Cheryl Ziegelbaur. ‘We pride ourselves on having an open, friendly environment where the kids are more relaxed and free to talk to us.?
Orion Oxford Dance Arts was founded at Ziegelbaur’s Oxford Lakes home (547 Bay Pointe Drive) in August 2004. Classes began there in October.
Ziegelbaur opened the studio because she and her 13-year-old daughter, Brittany, have such a great love for dance.
‘I love working with kids and I love to dance. It’s always been a dream of mine, so I went for it,? said Ziegelbaur, who’s been dancing since she was a kid.
In the 1980s, Ziegelbaur was one of the original Detroit Pistons cheerleaders. She’s also taught aerobics and learned ‘clogging,? a special type of dance created in the south and very similar to tap. She continued to stay current on the latest dance techniques and steps by attending workshops and training sessions locally and in such places as New York City.
Offering classes in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip hop and clogging for everyone age 3 to adult, Orion Oxford Dance Arts currently has about 50 students, 25 of which are enrolled in competitive dance classes.
From group classes to solo and duet instruction, Orion Oxford Dance Arts currently offers classes Monday through Thursday and on Saturdays.
Rather than classify or group students according to age like many other dance studios, Ziegelbaur said Orion Oxford Dance Arts offers three levels according to individual ability and experience ? petite (beginner), junior (intermediate) and senior (advanced).
Aiding Ziegelbaur are fellow dance instructors Jamie Hoffman (a senior at Oxford High School who’s been dancing since she was little) and Shelly Covins (who’s extensive background in Russian ballet made her the perfect choice to teach the studio’s ‘competitive ballet techniques class?).
Right now Ziegelbaur is very excited about her studio’s impending ‘big move? to 1228 Lapeer Road in Orion Township. The space is located inside the Oxford Market Place strip mall next door to former site of Buffalo Wild Wings.
With approximately 3,000-square-feet of space and two dance rooms (one large and one small), the new studio will allow Orion Oxford Dance Arts to expand its class offerings to include more groups and adults plus dance gymnastics and hip hop aerobics, Ziegelbaur said.
A grand opening for the new location is being planned for sometime in April. ‘Come check us out and see what we’re all about,? Ziegelbaur said.
Ziegelbaur said dance lessons provide great exercise, build self-esteem and self-confidence and are a great way to help shy people come out of their shells.
‘You can become a totally different person on stage,? Ziegelbaur said.
For more information about Orion Oxford Dance Arts call (248) 933-1060 or log on to the studio’s website at www.orionoxforddancearts.com.
Ziegelbaur can also be reached at Cheryl@orionoxforddancearts.com.