KIMBERLY BELLAMY
Since the age of three Christie Scott DeStefano has never truly hung up her dance shoes, mainly due to the impact her childhood dance instructor had on her.
DeStefano took lessons at Bobbi Collins Dance Studio in Tarboro until Collins passed away from cancer.
With Collins, DeStefano learned tap, ballet, jazz, ballroom, and pointe dance skills with her younger sisters Kimberly and Bethany. The time she shared with Collins are memories she holds close to her heart.
“She was more than a dance teacher … she completely changed my life,” DeStefano said.
After Collin’s death, she began to take classes with Melanie Donnely at Tarboro Academy of Dance Arts in Tarboro until she turned 18. The academy closed a few years ago leaving young inspiring dancers with less options to pursue their dreams and interest.
“Once the other studio closed down, I saw a need for kids in Tarboro, and I wanted to give to them what Ms. Bobbi gave to me,” DeStefano said.
The Academy’s closing was her cue to open her own dance studio. On her search for a possible location she found an opening at 103 E. Church St. where Lauren’s Attic gift shop was closing.
That’s where DeStefano has set up shop for her dance studio Gimme A Beat.
The name of the studio came by chance as she was listening to a 1980s Janet Jackson song that has the opening words, “gimme a beat.”
“I wanted something different … it was catchy,” DeStefano said.
Making minor adjustments to the space by adding mirrors, proper flooring, and wall bars began on Feb. 1. Gimme a Beat opened on May 1.
With only about a month of existence in Tarboro, the studio already has about 60 kids enrolled.
“I think people have been waiting for something to come to town for little kids to do, and every little girl spins around like ballerinas,” DeStefano said.
The studio is open Monday-Thursday from 3-8:30 p.m. The classes offered includes a combination ballet/tap class for 2 and half to 5 year olds, and jazz, ballet, tap or cheer gym for kids 6 and up.
The first class is $30 a month, and each additional class is $20 each. Each class is held one day per week for one hour.
Those who bring in someone to sign-up will get a Gimme A Beat t-shirt, made by Caroline’s on Main Street.
DeStefano, 28, had to brush up on her dance skills before opening her studio.
“I watched old videos I had from Ms. Bobbi, but it’s kind of like riding a bike, once you remember, it comes back to you,” she said.
In between her dance lessons and opening her own studio, DeStefano coached cheerleading at THS for five years, and one year at South Edgecombe Middle School.
“I love kids and from coaching cheerleading and dancing I wanted to have something where I could do all that in one place,” she said.
She is also getting some help from her oldest dancer Allison Watson, 12, and Charles Dew of Princeville who has agreed to begin teaching shag lessons.
She is looking to develop her studio even more by offering the kids more opportunities to dance.
Her plans involve taking them to cheer and dance competitions, and pick up some skills of her own by going to a convention for instructors.
A dance class for boys ages 3-8 will begin in August, and the most recent development is hosting an event called Mommy’s Morning Out from 9-11 a.m. where the moms and dance students can spend time together by playing games and doing arts and crafts.
For more information about the studio call, 252-266-5463 or email her at gimmeabeatdance@yahoo.com.
