Dance instructor opens studio for all abilities in Kalispell

Chelsea Speer dances to her own beat at Turning Pointe Dance.

Her new studio opened last month on U.S. 93, where Speer offers dance classes unlike most others in the Flathead Valley.

"My motto is making dance accessible to all," said Speer, a special education teacher of 15 years.

She recently retired from her teaching position at Edgerton Elementary School to focus on full-time dance instruction.

Speer's unique background makes her well-equipped to introduce all kinds of dancers to the activity she loves.

Classes at Turning Pointe Dance Studio are open to participants of all abilities and a wide range of ages.

Dancers can start as young as 18 months old alongside a parent. Speer is starting adult classes this year, too.

For Speer, who has been dancing since she was a toddler, it's important to give everyone a chance to experience the many benefits of dancing, from physical exercise, to memorization skills, to a self-esteem boost.

"I believe in inclusion," she said.

In fact, she started offering classes to dancers with special needs after working with two local children who couldn't find an activity that fit their particular abilities.

Their parents told Speer, "They want to move, but when we take them to a class, they say they have to fit into a class, not vice versa."

That was an eye-opening experience for Speer. Compared to her native Arizona, Speer realized the Flathead Valley lacked many inclusive activity options.

"I looked and there's not a lot," she said. "There are a lot of therapies but not something that's just for fun."

She sought out specific training so she could give dance instruction to students of all abilities. Speer coupled that training with her extensive previous experience as a dance major in college and an instructor of more than 25 years.

SPEER'S APPROACH utilizes different teaching modalities, such as visual cues in addition to spoken instructions.

Speer also makes a point to adapt her classes to the individual needs of her students. People who experience sensory issues, for instance, might prefer quieter music. Others do better when they aren't watching themselves in the mirror. And plenty of dancers appreciate having a choice to perform at the end of class or to keep their moves strictly inside the studio.

Turning Pointe Dance is a place to practice ballet, jazz, lyrical tap, hip-hop, Broadway and contemporary dance.

Speer is offering summer camps in August, and the official class semester starts on Aug. 30.

Classes run twice a week until May, when students have the chance to participate in a performance onstage or in the studio. Speer also offers the option to enroll on a month-by-month basis, since many of her students are in the valley for only part of the year or involved in other activities in addition to dancing.

Class sizes usually range from four to 10 students, because Speer said she's passionate about giving each student individual attention.

Enrollment for fall classes is open now at turning-pointe-dance.com. The studio is located at 3525 Autumn Court in Kalispell, near the Northwest Montana Humane Society on U.S. 93.

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at 406-758-4459 or bserbin@dailyinterlake.com.