I was a student of Amber Keeley's at another dance studio when I was very young, and when she left with a group of dancers and teachers to begin Out on a Limb, I was heartbroken. I followed them to a little studio on Como Avenue and found myself in a beautiful, loving, supportive environment where dance is not a competition, but an art, and an individual process. Since then, they have moved into a beautiful space on Larpenteur, and every year they perform for thousands of schoolchildren, exposing the world to dance in ways that I have always admired. Out on a Limb, if I could describe it in one word-- the experience, the company, the growth that I have received as a person and a dancer-- is family. They are a lovely group of people and I am blessed to have known them.
My daughter wanted to dance. We were at a school auction and saw 6 weeks of dance lessons. So I bid. That was 6 years ago. My daughter always wants to do her best and succeed. At Out on a Limb she can do that without the pressure of competition. The students are like a family. They work together to assist each other to be their best. They encourage each other. She has learned so much. She has poise, confidence and grace that goes into her daily life.
I found out about Out on a Limb Dance Company from a former student of mine at the U of M. She had mentioned that she was a dancer, and I bemoaned the fact that I could not find a dance school that didn't overemphasize competition and/or the more egregious beauty pageant aspects of dance. My older daughter had been at two studios already and really just wanted to learn to dance, not simply learn ONE specific dance for a specific show and then spend hundreds of dollars on costumes and shoes for the occasion. Out on a Limb focuses on dance skills and dance performance as cooperation, not as competition. The instructors offer instruction to all the students wherever they are in their dance process, with whatever bodies they have for dancing (and stage acrobatics!) It is a healthy and nurturing environment for dancers. Both of my daughters dance there, both in weekly classes, as well as the more public ballet the school mounts every spring (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, March 1,2,3, 2012. Don't miss it!) I have been privileged enough to be able to offer my skills in costume design and production for a few shows, and it has been very rewarding for me as well as my children. This dance school is such an asset to our community!
