Sharing A Lifetime of Dance

by Stephanie Struyck Elgin

She started dance class at the age of five and continued her training until she was 14.  While dance was a huge part of her life, never did she imagine it would become her career, but it did, and she couldn’t be happier.
“I have been so fortunate that this is where my path has led me,” states Dance Studio 84 owner Carla Hunt Smallwood.
Carla was raised in Simi Valley.  She moved to Kansas for a few years before returning to California and making her home in Santa Clarita.  “When I was younger, my dance training was relatively basic,” states Carla.  “I attended one or two classes a week, but in high school, I became much more involved.”
In 1978, Carla began working at Reena’s Dance Studio, now Dance Studio 84, and continued to take more classes.  “As an older teen, I started to train through conventions that would come to L.A., as well as weekly classes with Joe Tremaine, Pat Rico, Doug Caldwell, Wes Veldink, Al Gilbert and many more at Morro Landis studios in Studio City.   “I continued taking classes consistently through my younger adult life at Edge Performing Arts Center with staff members such as Gregg Russell and Randy Allaire.”
In 1984, Cindi and Leo Gallegos bought the studios from Reena Newhall, renaming the studio base Dance Studio 84. “At the time, we had three different studio locations, and I was teaching at all three,” states Carla. Just two years later, Cindi and Leo decided to move to New Mexico.  Unable to find a buyer to take over the entire business, the Gallegos’ contemplated selling each studio individually.  
And Carla jumped right in.
“While it was hard for me to imagine owning my own business, it was impossible to imagine how I could decide which studio I would teach at, or how to manage working at three different studios, so I decided I would jump right in and buy the business!”  
Some 25 years later, Carla continues to share her love for dance with others at Dance Studio 84.  “There are so many reasons why I love to teach,” states Carla.  “I have been so blessed to be surrounded by children, to watch them grow up, to share in their accomplishments, to witness a small little moment when something just clicks and you see the students ‘light up.’  I am so grateful for the lessons I continue to learn every single day in my effort to become better and better at my craft.”
“I know I have the ability to inspire and  help my students strive to be their best, but I do not know if all my students over the years know just how much they have inspired me.  I hope that they do.”
Carla enjoys making her home here in the SCV.  “Though much has changed over the years, it still feels like a small town to me.  We live in such a family oriented community, and I feel so fortunate that my path led me here and provided me the opportunity to raise my children here.  The studio has always been our second home, and the families there, our extended family.”
Dance Studio 84 is the longest operating dance studio in the SCV.  Established 30 years ago as Alex Romero’s Dance Studio, then Reena’s Dance Studio and now Dance Studio 84, Carla’s student body has grown to approximately 700 students including 100 classes per week in a state-of-the-art facility.  Thousands of dancers have passed through her doors, carrying the strong love and appreciation of the art of dance in all its forms.  
For more information, visit www.dancestudio84.com.