Bethany Stutsman Stimson and Jessica Pool at Dallas Dance Collective. Photo by Carol Toler.
When Bethany Stutsman Stimson and Jessica Pool agreed to become founding partners in Dallas Dance Collective, a new dance studio at the junction of Lake Highlands, Preston Hollow and University Park, they admit they were nervous. Could they recruit enough dancers to fill two studios at The Hill shopping center?
Spoiler alert: Their classes are mostly full, and the space hasn’t opened yet.
Pool handles the business side of DDC, although it’s tough to imagine how she finds the time. The wife of heart surgeon Dr. Mark Pool, mother of ten and “Big Mama” to one grandchild on the way also owns the Bahama Buck’s at Skillman and Audelia. She’s a former high school teacher and marriage educator who began her career coaching teen moms.
“I see this as a ministry, because we’re teaching these kids skills to be successful in life,” Pool says. “I can’t teach them any dance, but we’re teaching them how to communicate, how to schedule their time and how to master other life skills they’ll need to take with them to be successful anywhere.”
Stimson is an award-winning dancer, teacher and choreographer, but her career in dance was almost derailed — twice. She was cut from an elite competition squad when its schedule conflicted with her Highlandette drill team at Lake Highlands High School. Later, after serving as a junior Highlandette officer, she wasn’t named captain as expected. Both were crushing blows for the teen.
“I think I needed to hear that ‘no’ so that when my students experience a ‘no’ I can say ‘I understand how you feel. It doesn’t feel good, but you can still be successful. It doesn’t change your value as a dancer.’ I struggled at the time because I believed that it did.”
Stimson was recruited by the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, but she enrolled instead at Texas A&M University, which didn’t yet offer a major in dance.
“I went there on a hope and a prayer that I would get to dance,” she recalls. “I signed up for a ballet class, and they noticed I had training. They brought me into the office, kind of hush-hush, and said ‘sign here to be part of our new program.’ There were lots of people at the audition, but they took just 12 of us that first year. They really poured into us — the opportunity was huge. We traveled and had choreographers come in. I spent my summers in New York with the David Parsons Company, and I came back inspired and better than when I arrived.”
Stimson has been choreographing and teaching at other local studios, but she decided the time was right to add ownership to her mix. Pool helped her find a space at The Hill with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a big, sunny courtyard surrounded by restaurants and retail.
“We’re really looking forward to Nutcracker season and doing Nutcracker-themed teas and breakfasts in the courtyard,” says Pool. “The space gives us lots of opportunities.”
“When we were looking for a place, I wanted light, light, light — it makes such a difference,” says Stimson. “It’s awe-inspiring to dance in a place that feels beautiful with nature streaming in, because we spend a lot of time indoors.”
With mirrors on one side of the studio and windows on the other, teachers will have an option of which way to orient students while dancing. Stimson works hard to help girls develop a positive body image, and she finds it nice to dance with backs to mirrors sometimes.
“The less they’re thinking about their body, the better. It is a machine and an instrument, and we want to fuel it and take care of it. We don’t want to obsess over it.”
While DDC awaits their certificate of occupancy at the new studio, they’ve been meeting at Sway Dance Center in Richardson. They held auditions and selected a company of 70, and they’ve filled most of their recreational dance classes, too. They have openings for preschool-aged dancers, and they’re planning a class for little Wranglers so that boys can join in the fun.
Company dancers will be featured performers at community events, competitions and holiday shows, but DCC is breaking away from the traditional end-of-year recital model. Recreational dancers will enjoy a full year of consistent training.
“We’re trying to create a program that really helps the kids hone in on what they want out of dance and maximize their options,” says Pool. “We want to listen and see them as individuals on different paths. We cannot be everything to everyone, but we can hear them and guide them and show them that there are multiple paths to success.”
The two have hired current and former Highlandette officers to coach dancers aiming to make drill teams in the area. Other students may aspire to dance at the collegiate or professional level. Stimson says they are working to balance a high level of quality instruction while limiting stress and burnout.
“We are a pre-professional studio, but we are going to be here for kids who have other things going on. We want them to be involved at school. I feel like there was a need that wasn’t being met for those kids that want to be involved in school and get excellent training and do drill team and have a professional dance career if they want to. They can do it all.”
“That’s one of the things that makes our program really special — we have high expectations, but there’s a lot of grace,” agrees Pool. “The dancers prioritize us, but at the same time, they are allowed to do other things.”
Business ownership will be a new step for Stimson, though she’s been thinking about the possibility for some time. Teaching, choreography and performance are all second nature by now.
“I can’t imagine there’s anyone who loved performing more than I did. I don’t take other drugs, but that’s got to be the best drug of all — being out there and just not feeling nervous. It’s electrifying. Nothing can beat that.”
These days, Stimson’s performance opportunities come mostly when she’s demonstrating her choreography for students. Watching them master her moves is another kind of thrill.
“It’s truly because I’m obsessed with teaching, and the technique side just scratches that itch. I think musicians are the same way. (My husband) Johnny has played the piano his whole life, and he says at some point you just start to hear in color, and stuff starts to make sense. I know I have absolutely become a better dancer and technician because I’ve had to teach it.”
“Bethany is an amazing choreographer, teacher and mentor. She’s the secret sauce,” praises Pool. “It’s rare to find someone who can teach and choreograph well — and she does.”
Based on their initial success, the two are already planning to take additional space at The Hill, with 3-5 more studios, a possible black box theatre and a dance retail shop. They’ve created a “parent collective” to keep moms and dads involved, and they formed a nonprofit foundation to provide dance scholarships. They’re waiting for an official go-ahead from the city and hoping to celebrate Dallas Dance Collective’s grand opening August 17. For more information about classes, email DallasDanceCollective@gmail.com or text/call 972-583-6671.
Side note: Johnny Stimson, Bethany’s husband, kicks off his world tour Sept. 24 in Atlanta.
Dallas Dance Collective is at 9840 N. Central Expressway, Suite D300 behind WokStar.
