The Old Opera House Arts Centre
Classes for Acting, Dancing, & Voice
Educating children in the performing arts is at the center of the Old Opera House's mission. The Old Opera House Dance Studio offers classes in ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, and Broadway style dance for dancers from ages 3 to 18. The Old Opera House Acting Studio offers classes for young theatre performers from ages 8 to 18. And the Old Opera House Voice Studio trains young vocalists in the proper techniques to get the most out of their voices helping them to sing with strength and clarity.
These intimate performing arts studios are run by experienced, dedicated instructors who have a strong desire to develop each performer to his or her full potential. In each of these studios, young performers develop a respect for themselves, their fellow performers, and the performing arts.
Having Your Child Find Their Own Vioice
According to PBS, children participating in the arts—individually or in a group setting—often develop highly favored skill-sets that help them become more well-rounded, socially intuitive, skilled, dedicated, and confident individuals.
Acting Studio
Scene Study, Role Playing, Improvisation, & More!
The Old Opera House Acting Studio (OOHAS) was started in September 2008 and offers small classes that are designed to give students a wide range of acting, performance and theatrical experiences.
Classes are designed to encourage students to have a strong respect for the performing arts and for each other as individual artists. Class work includes scene study, role playing, and improvisation and creative exercises that keep the studio fun and engaging. Our goal is to be sure that each student understands what it means to be a good performer, to utilize their creative tools and to be an actor in today’s competitive theatre world.
Dance Studio
Offering: Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, & Broadway Style Dance Classes
The Old Opera House Dance Studio (OOHDS) was started in June 2008. The OOHDS is an intimate dance studio with experienced, dedicated instructors who have a strong desire to develop each dancer to their full potential. Classes are offered in ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop and Broadway style dance; for students from age 3 to 18 (we also offer a Wee Ones class for even younger dancers.) Classes are small and the dancers develop a respect for themselves, their fellow dancers and the art of dance.
Every other year the OOHDS presents The Nutcracker ballet as part of the Old Opera House’s Christmas Season.
Voice Studio
Private & Group Lessons
The Old Opera House Voice Studio (OOHVS) is the newest member of the Old Opera House’s studio programming. Both group and private voice lessons are available for students age 8 to 18. Young vocalists will learn the proper techniques that will help them to sing with strength and clarity without straining.
Diction, breathing, pitch, and posture will be improved, as well as building confidence when singing in front of others and developing a repertoire of music that they will be able to sing at auditions or just for fun.
Meet Our Instructors
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Heather Mae Wilson
VOICE & YOUTH CHOIR INSTRUCTOR
Heather Mae Wilson is from Princeton, West Virginia. She has a degree in Music Education with a concentration in Voice from Concord University in Athens, West Virginia. Heather Mae completed her Master of Music Education at Shenandoah Conservatory at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia. She's been teaching voice, instrumental, general music, and theatre arts for 15 years to children and youth. Heather Mae loves to use the arts to help kids and teens find their voice and the confidence they need to believe in their own capabilities. When not teaching, she is raising two amazing kids with the love of her life, Mark Wilson. She loves the outdoors, traveling, and is always up for a new adventure! Heather Mae also continues to perform herself to improve her craft and enhance her teaching skills.
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Christina Franz
BALLET & POINT DANCE INSTRUCTOR
Christina Franz brings over 30 years of teaching experience to the Old Opera House. She studied Ballet under Leda Anchutina Eglevsky at the Eglevsky Ballet in Long Island, New York and then trained at the American Dance Machine at The Broadway Dance Center and Steps in New York City. She had the privilege of being a student of many great Broadway legends, including Lee Theodore, Nannette Charisse, Wayne Cilento, Peter Gennaro, Liza Gennaro, and Anne Reinking.
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Deswell Carr
HIP HOP & PRESCHOOL DANCE INSTRUCTOR
Deswell Carr received his initial dance training as a student with the Charles Town Dance Studio, which held classes at the Old Opera House under the direction of Anne Walp and Amanda Cipriano until 2008. He's been a dancer in the Old Opera House Dance Studio since its inception and began teaching for the studio in 2012. Deswell also serves as the show choir choreographer at Washington High School and has worked as a choreographer for Liberty High School in Bealeton, VA.
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Heather Toma Carr
BALLET & JAZZ DANCE INSTRUCTOR
Heather Toma Carr was raised and trained in Los Angeles, California, where she performed with several Ballet, Jazz, and Modern dance companies, as well as in TV commercials and films. She majored in Dance at the University of California-Irvine, but NYC beckoned, where she continued her training and career. She toured extensively in National and International productions dancing Ballet, Jazz, and musical theatre. Heather was also the principal dancer in the Emmy Award winning John Adams opera, Nixon in China. She eventually worked as Assistant Director-Choreographer on Ringling Bros. and Barnum Bailey Circus and several regional theatre productions before settling back down in Los Angeles with her husband to raise their family of three children. After relocating to Charles Town, she's thrilled to be back in the studio at the Old Opera House to share her love of dance with your children!