DePass Dance Studio Celebrates 30 Years!

Just for a moment, try to imagine:

You are wearing a beautiful costume, your makeup is flawless and your eyes are sparkling. Your feet are bound firmly in ballet slippers as you stand in position, ready for the music to begin. Your entire body is strong, flexible and ready.

You breathe deeply to calm yourself. Every sense in your body is heightened. 

When the lights come up and the first note floats across the stage, your fellow dancers move and you leap into the center of the stage to begin what will be a critically-acclaimed performance of Swan Lake at the Royal Opera House in London's Covent Gardens.

Doesn’t that sound like a dream come true?  A fairy tale from a beautiful Disney movie?  

That is actually a scene from the life of Watkinsville’s own Alice DePass, owner of Alice DePass Studio of Dance. As a student, DePass honed her craft alongside some of the most prestigious instructors in the world, studying at the Atlanta School of Ballet, the Harkness House for Ballet Arts, the Joffrey Ballet School, and The Dance Centre of London. 

As a member of Ballet South, she danced all over America and Europe in large-scale performances just as she did in Swan Lake.

Many exciting years later, upon retiring from stage performance, she returned to the South to teach ballet, maintaining her association with the New York City Ballet as a teaching artist, liaison, and developer of curriculum for the "Storytelling Through Dance" program.  

Eventually, her life’s journey led her to Athens, where she held her first classes in a less than perfect location, with a scattering of students seeking strong dance technique training. 

Many students who graduated from the class have continued their training at some of the same prestigious schools Depass attended. They have also gone on to pursue careers in dance choreography and teach the art form.

“We believe we both teach students to dance, but also train them for success in life,” DePass said.

Many other students have left her class, and have led successful careers outside of dance, she said. 

Several of her former students, such as Oconee's Mandy Seigler, have even enrolled their own children in classes with Alice DePass.

“I have had a very successful career in part due to my foundation in dance which started when I was just four years old," said Seigler, who's first job at age 16 was teaching ballet to toddlers.

"Time management, organization, diligence, and work ethic were all a part of our training." Seigler said. "It means the world to me that I can pass on the love I had for dance to Katie, and the miracle that she has the same amazing instructor I had in Ali, is priceless. (DePass) is one of the best teachers I've ever had because she listens to your heart, and doesn't just focus on the physical movements."

This week marked the 30th Anniversary of Depass Studio of Dance, which is now located in Watkinsville.  Invited to attend, I walked through the deep purple door of her attractive brick studio and into a room filled with little girls and their parents, lots of balloons, and a giant cake!

I had an opportunity to speak with Ms. DePass, and tour her studio full of beautiful custom made posters of the many performances her thousands of students have created over the years.

Patch:  How has the dance studio progressed over the years?

Ms. DePass:  It has grown from teaching in an unheated, second floor ballroom of The Georgian Hotel in Athens to a lovely studio in Oconee County.

Patch: When you began did you ever envision a 30th Anniversary? 

Ms. DePass:  No.

Patch: Your small business  is surviving a deep recession. What have you done to make that happen?

Ms. DePass:  Putting one foot in front of the other, prayer, family support, living and working within a budget, using our resources, hard work, awesome teachers, a sense of humor, a loyal staff, using my imagination, being detailed, teaching the discipline of dance in an atmosphere of grace and wonder...

Patch:  What have you had to change to keep with the times?

Ms. DePass:  The class schedule.

Patch:  What is your most favorite thing about your business? 

Ms. DePass:  Working with creative and resourceful people and teaching students who learn and grow as dancers and people.

Patch: What is your least favorite thing about your business? 

Ms. DePass:  Paperwork.

Patch: What advice would you give to anyone wanting to start a business in Oconee County?

Ms. DePass:  To make a plan, do your research, and ask questions.

Patch: What are your future plans for the studio?

Ms. DePass:  Come dance with us and find out what we are up to.

offers a wide variety of classes  for both children and adults. Check their beautiful website for details.