Pulse Center for the Arts • Leander

Pulse Center for the Arts • Leander

Written by Katie Gutierrez Thursday, 17 April 2008

Resplendent in dark leotards and pink tights, six four-year-old girls imitate dance instructor Elizabeth Simmons’ movements with admirable poise. When they’ve completed their dance (a number from their upcoming recital of The Little Mermaid), the girls erupt into squeals and applause before thanking Simmons and rushing out the door, into their mothers’ arms.

It’s a typical Friday morning at Pulse Center for the Arts in Leander, and owner Carmen Amaya and director Alexandra Budziszewski are both on hand to encourage the tiny students.

“We emphasize technique rather than competitiveness,” says Amaya, her wide brown eyes sparkling as she waves goodbye to the little girls. “We’ve become like a family, and we want to instill not only dance skills [in the students], but life skills, too.”

Budziszewski, a classical ballet dancer herself, enthusiastically agrees. “This is a really positive environment, and we’re focused on seeing [the students] grow.”

Both in atmosphere and vision, Pulse differs notably from other community dance studios. Amaya, who purchased the studio (then Julianna’s Performing Arts Studio) in October 2007, recently attained 501(c)3 nonprofit status for the business, and says she is less interested in profit than in showing kids how to explore the world through the medium of fine arts. Utilizing her real estate background, Amaya also intends to purchase land later this year for a new studio site, preferably near its current location on South Bagdad Road. The project will include an adjacent theater capable of seating at least 300—a first for Leander—as well as spaces to rent out to similar-minded businesses.

“We’re in a great wild stage of development,” says Amaya with a smile.

Budziszewski, too, is passionate about the vision, and has helped develop more than half a dozen innovative new programs for Pulse, including Kid’s Day Out, a fully integrated, fine arts-based pre-school that is another first for Leander. The program engages children in theatre games, music and rhythm classes, visual art, ballet, tap, and tumbling, as well as instructs them on the alphabet, numbers, and concept challenges. Summer camp registration has also begun, with weeklong classes in everything from ballet to hip-hop to Broadway classics.

“We want people to understand how crucial the arts are, not as a supplement but as a foundation,” Budziszewski says. “What is dance used for? Strength, perseverance, [fostering] community. We want to help people understand the connection between the arts and life.”

Pulse center for the arts will offer the following classes during summer 2008:

• Pop Star—The class will inspire students to channel their inner celebrity, with lively excerpts from “High School Musical” and “Hannah Montana.”
• Simply Beautiful—Part of Pulse’s classic series, the class emphasizes foundational ballet technique.
• Jump and Jive—Boys and girls alike will love the energy of hip-hop and tap technique.
• So You Think You Can Dance?—Tapping into the nation’s newest craze, this class will test students’ skills in a fun, instructional environment.
• My Little Princess—Little divas will feel like royalty as they make their own crowns, dress up for a ball and learn how to dance like Sleeping Beauty.
• Bound for Broadway—Kids will learn how to dance and sing their favorite classical Broadway shows in this unique and interactive class.

Office hours: Mon.-Thurs. 3:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Class hours: Mon. - Fri., various times between 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.