Studio Jade: Dancing Its Way Into San Angelo

San Angelo, Texas – Elegance, skills and laughter are just a few of the things visitors can expect to find when they visit Studio Jade. Studio Jade is San Angelo’s only venue that provides ballroom dance lessons for adults in the Concho Valley.

“It’s bringing a little elegance to San Angelo,” said owner Jade Bolding.

Bolding not only directs the Studio, but she is also one of the main teachers. Bolding previously taught ballroom dancing for 6 years in Dallas. The inspiration to open the studio came after a friend, Margaret Benson, asked her for dancing lessons for her and her husband.

She then decided to begin offering classes at Bentwood Country Club and was very successful. At the highest point of the classes, a total of 12 couples attended the weekly sessions. Realizing the need for a bigger space, Bolding decided to open up Studio Jade in the College Park Shopping Center.

Studio Jade offers a variety of classes that provide patrons the ability to learn different styles and steps that are very common in ballroom dancing. The studio currently hosts rotating weekly lessons for the following:

• Foxtrot
• Waltz
• Tango
• Cha-cha
• Rumba
• Swing

Recently, the studio also added Country Western and Two-Step to its repertoire.

Taking the time to learn how to dance has shown a lot of benefits and improvements for the students and is a lesson they will always remember. At Studio Jade, it is about teaching people to feel confident and ready to dance in front of others. Both teachers and students agree that the hardest part of the process is getting through the door.

Once the person loses the fear of making a mistake and possibly looking silly, it’s an experience like no other. Whether its couples taking classes together or individuals, dancing provides an opportunity to not only create new friendships, but also to strengthen existing ones.

For Margaret Benson, a student of the studio and an instructor, taking dance lessons has been a wonderful opportunity for her and her husband. Seeing couples connect and work together as a team has really shown her the impact dancing can have on a relationship. Ultimately, her goal as a teacher and student is to strengthen the bonds that exist between two people.

“[We want to] be able to provide an opportunity to really connect with one another,” Benson said.

But even for single individuals, ballroom dance provides an opportunity to connect with dance partners, and to create new relationships of different types. Studio Jade offers an inviting place where people can relax, have a good time and learn something new.

Dancing in general is also an excellent way to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Ballroom dancing improves posture, critical thinking, and provides an opportunity for dance partners to work as a team; plus, it’s a great workout.

Regardless of why people choose to take lessons, it’s a great way to become involved in the community, and it provides an easy path to learning something new. One of the studio’s most consistent and dedicated dancers, Dave Anderson, noted how much more confident a person feels if he or she feels prepared to dance in public. And while it can be a bit embarrassing in the beginning, dancers soon learn the steps and feel ready to keep learning. And of course, there are the added social benefits. If anything, he invites the male audience to come out and give the studio a chance and learn something new, whether the men are single or in a relationship.

“Women love a man who can dance,” Anderson said.

Studio Jade is currently offering lessons three times a week: Sundays at 6:00 p.m., Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m., and Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. People interested in joining can view classes on the monthly calendar posted on the studio’s Facebook page under Studio Jade Ballroom Dance.

Classes are $15 for singles or $30 per couple; private lessons are also available for $55. All classes run for about an hour.

Starting next month, the studio will be offering Newcomers Lessons, which will include a free 30-minute session that allows dancers to experience the fun and relax in a great atmosphere.

The studio is also available for lease to any local dance groups looking for a venue to practice in.

For more information, please contact Studio Jade at (325) 374-4435. The address for the studio is 3328 Loop 306, in the College Park Shopping Center, next to Community Health Club. They can also be reached on their Facebook Page.