Dear Students, Teachers, Parents, and the ASA family, I have been allowed to do something beautiful. I have been allowed to live my dreams. For the past 32 years I have danced. This was my world. I turned my love of dance into a successful career that involved nearly a decade of dancing professionally and a 14 year teaching career. My love has always been the children I am with. My favorite experiences were always seeing that moment when they comprehend how dance is a part of truly being alive, that there are emotions in life that can only be found in dance. At that exact moment an artist is born. It is a special thing to witness. Two years ago my dream came true. A drawing I had made when I was in the 2nd grade was turned into a beautiful building in Oxford Florida, and A Step Ahead Performing Arts Academy was born. Parents and children from the area came to us, and together we created one of my favorite things in the world: performing art. Dancing, music, theater, acrobatics, the empty rooms of our building were filled with stomping feet, booming beats, piano melodies, laughter, the list is long and fantastic. We came together as artists, sharing our talents with each other, developing our skills and forming new friendships. Many of you I have taught your whole dance lives. At ASA we were able to push the boundaries of what was expected of a performing arts academy. We built memorable Christmas floats and introduced ourselves to our community. We joined together to fight cancer in all night dance-a-thons. Some of us finally hit the competition stage for the first time under the ASA banner, giving the world a chance to see what we knew and more importantly, who we were as people. You are all amazingly talented and well rounded performers, quick to lend a hand to each other and represent your studio with pride and honor. Many of you were welcomed with fun formal dinners into our elite Company team. I am honored to have been able to witness the audition process for the Company team, the rooms at ASA allowed you to transform into characters in your auditions and our judges were treated to some amazing talent. Our sleepovers were other ways we bonded as a team. We held the first Young Choreographer talent searches, ASA Idol singing contests, Monologue championships, we put together anything we could to give you a platform, to allow you to be seen, for the world to see the talents that we knew you had. We were one of the last acts to perform at Silver Springs State Park, right between Kansas and Luke Bryan. Even with a tropical storm relocating our entire dress rehearsal, you conducted yourself with poise, dignity, and professionalism. The show must go on. Over the past two years, ASA Academy was my life. From sunup to well after sundown, usually 7 days a week, I was working to make this dream a reality. I have never truly worked so hard to make something work out. I continued to search for that work-life balance, with work usually winning out. (I appreciate everyones constant help with this too). This past year was especially hard because of what seemed like my continuous family tragedies and the struggle I had with my own personal health. But this was my dream, and I wanted so badly for it to come true. ASA parents volunteered their time, ASA teachers created their dances, and ASA dancers gave it their all. Together we created a heartbeat for this building, and no one can take those memories away from us. A few days ago when I received news that ASA Academy would be closing I was devastated. I immediately began working with my team to figure out how to once again get our building back, but was surprised when it was announced that another dance school was coming in. This was hard to accept, I kept thinking of our new Company dancers proudly displaying their Company invitations, my daughter had made her very first Company and was thrilled. I have had little time to process this and less time to react to it. To their credit, our teachers secured another building in Lady Lake and we soon began plans for remodeling and reopening in time for the fall 2014 dance year. But I am afraid I wont be joining them on this endeavor. I love my students, the dancers, musicians, actors, acrobats, you are all amazing. I only want the very best for you and the very best instructors guiding you on your journey. I have seen many of you take your first dance steps, and now find my jaw dropping as you display your very best. You have made me so proud and I hope that you continue on your paths toward filling your own dream. I am truly sorry to all of you for the roller coaster this has been. When ASA closed, I was able to step back and see the big picture. Of how much of my life went into our dance studio and how much I loved seeing the world we created together. My passion is in teaching dance, in being an artist, in helping a student bring a melody to life by allowing the music to move them. That will never change. But the recent events with ASA and the situations it provoked has left our dance family fighting amongst ourselves. This was never what I wanted, and I am not sure if there is any other way to remedy it. Dance is supposed to be fun. I loved ASA for our ASA family, and we all deserve to be surrounded with happiness. Just knowing that this beautiful dream we created is having this effect breaks my heart. Those of you that have stuck by me through this whole ordeal, there arent enough words of thanks. You have been such a comfort during such a sad time in my life. I appreciate all of the phone calls, texts, and visits with you as you sent me encouragement and affirmations. You are the best of the good in this world, and you can forever find friendship with me. I have cried numerous times seeing all of the efforts you have done to keep this dream alive. I wish I could hug you all, because you also kept me alive. I will always remember who stood in my corner. To my students, you are my main concern. None of this is your fault so keep those chins up and keep a step ahead! You shared in my lifes dream, what else could I ask for? You are all amazing people and going to go so far in life. I wish you all success in your future dance careers, and will forever be honored for having played a small part in it. I will remember all of you as some of my greatest accomplishments and follow your careers as far as they go. I ask that you take care of each other whenever you get the chance and continue to be the wonderful students that I know you are. To my teachers, I will contact you individually. Thank you for all of your hard work in this venture. I am proud that you also had a chance to follow your dreams, even for a short while. My son took his first steps at ASA Academy. My daughter has learned all of her dance there. But as far as many of their other memories, I missed them. Those are moments I cant get back with the people that want nothing more than for me to be near them. For my health, both mentally and physically, for my family, and for the well being of the students of ASA, I must step back and retire from the dance world. I cant allow my students to get anything but 100% focus and the best of my creativity, and I feel that with the recent events I am no longer in a position to provide the instruction and guidance that my students deserve. I have contemplated this for days now and I do not take the decision lightly. I am sure one day I will be able to make some sense of this. But for now I will laugh at the confusion and smile through the tears as I take some needed time off with my family. I hope this goodbye is not forever and it is not the end. It is a heartfelt THANK YOU for being a part of my life, and allowing me to be a part of yours. I will miss you all. Dancingly Yours, Miss Tiffany PS--If you currently had an outstanding balance with ASA, please consider it paid in full!
Posted on: Wed, 02 Jul 2014 23:14:11 +0000
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