Sarita's, The Dance Studio

Sarita’s Dance Studio provides safe, effective and healthy/lifestyle dance programs, which promotes artistic excellence through quality dance education and performance. In addition, Sarita’s prepares the youth of the south side community and surrounding areas for career opportunities in dance and the performing arts. Sarita’s is committed to truth and fairness; treating clients like family; providing quality service at affordable rates, and constantly striving to improve the quality of service.

Our facility is located at 3739 Commercial and has two studios with suspended wooden floors, ballet bars and mirrored walls; a weight room with state-of-the-art equipment; and a dressing room with showers. Our in-house Dance Supply Shop is equipped with active dancewear and accessories. Our facility is a reflection of our personable service.

SARITA ZÚÑIGA founded Sarita’s Dance Studio in 1980. Sarita has been in the dance and fitness field for over 47 years. She taught aerobics, dance, & wellness classes at Brooks AFB, Kelly AFB, Lackland AFB, Palo Alto College, University of Incarnate Word, Harlandale High School, Southwest General Hospital, Bexar Met. Water, Guarantee Bank & more. She was featured on P.M. Magazine, IDEA Today, San Antonio Express & News, San Antonio Business Journal, The Cutting Edge, Olé, Canal 41 , WOAI TV, La Prensa, Rumbo,and Connexion for her leadership and success in the fields of dance and fitness.
In 2006, she was honored by the South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce for her community leadership in making a positive impact on the Southside. In 2007, she accepted the position as the Rehearsal Coordinator for the Moscow Ballet’s 2007 Great Russian Nutcracker. In addition, she is named in the National Directory of Who’s Who for Executives and Professionals. She was selected to sit on the Educational Scholarship Committee for the American Council on Exercise. She is a San Antonio Dance Umbrella Member, Master member of IDEA (International Association of Fitness Professionals), and a South San Chamber of Commerce member. Sarita is ACE (American Council on Exercise) certified and has designed and conducted total wellness programs for fitness professionals as an ACE fitness continuing education provider. Additionally, she attains Specialty Recognition from ACE in Strength Training, Nutrition, and Kickboxing. She is the Founder and Artistic Director for Alegría, a pre-professional dance company and continues to teach dance in ballet, jazz, ballet Folklorico and tap.

MARINA ZÚÑIGA-JOHNSON has been studying ballet, jazz, ballet Folklorico, modern, and tap, since 1993. In 2002 & 2003 Marina was accepted into the Ballet Austin Summer Intensive program. She was a San Antonio Metropolitan Ballet Company member in 2004. In 2005 Marina was accepted in the School of Rock for Dance Education in Philadelphia, PA for their summer jazz intensive program. In 2006 Marina was accepted into the Joffrey Texas Summer ballet intensive. In 2007, Marina attended the 2007 Jazz Dance World Congress to study different forms of Jazz. Marina trains at Sarita’s in advanced ballet, Pointe, jazz, tap, modern & ballet Folklorico. In addition to her studies, Marina teaches ballet, tap, ballet Folklorico, and jazz.

VALERIE CHAVARRIA has been studying dance all her life. In addition, she has been teaching dance for ten years. She currently is a performer in the Latin Explosion Show
for Six Flags Fiesta Texas. In 2005 & 2007 she traveled to Spain to study flamenco at the prestigious Amor de Dios dance studio in Madrid. She is an active member of Mexico España Dance Company and A& R Productions. Valerie holds an Associates degree in Kinesiology from St. Philip’s College and A Bachelor’s of Science degree in Kinesiology from the University of Incarnate Word. Valerie currently teaches flamenco at Sarita’s.

ALLISON HRNCIR has been studying various styles of dance including ballet, jazz, hip hop, flamenco, salsa, and modern for 17 years. She attended UT Austin College of Fine Arts; created with her peers, the Latin dance group, Grupo Suave; and was a member of the Adrenaline Dance Co., and A&R Productions of Fiesta Texas. Allison currently instructs flamenco at Sarita’s.

PRE-SCHOOL DANCE: Ages 3, 4 & 5
Your child will learn basic ballet, tap skills, creative movement, motor skill development games, and tumbling. In addition, children learn centre work, fun and creative movement activities, and flexibility exercises.

BALLET/TAP LEVEL 1: Ages 5 & up
Children learn basic ballet and tap through creative dance techniques. In addition, children learn centre work, across the floor creative motor skill activities. Flexibility exercises are included to enhance dance skills. This class is a prerequisite for taking Ballet/Tap 2 or any other class.

BALLET/TAP LEVEL 2, 3: (Prerequisite Ballet/Tap 1)
More challenging ballet and tap skills are introduced in addition to beginning jazz skills. Centre work and across the floor movement and flexibility exercises are included to
enhance dance skills. This class is a prerequisite for taking Ballet 1, Jazz, Tap, and Ballet Folklorico.

BALLET 1, 2 & 3 & Pointe: Children & Adults
Ballet is the basic foundation of all dance disciplines; therefore, ballet is the prerequisite to taking any dance discipline on our schedule. Ballet demands great physical
virtuosity. Students learn vocabulary of classical ballet and dance interpretation with adequate and proper feeling. The class is divided into three sections: exercise at
the barre, centre floor work where problems of balance and choreography are mastered.

JAZZ: (All Levels)
Jazz is a feeling, an attitude, and a freedom of movement. We combine jazz, modern dance, and ballet in an exciting infusion of energy and natural rhythm for all ages.
Dancers learn to express their feelings and learn how to dance with an attitude to popular music they enjoy. Additionally, dancers learn jazz technique, vocabulary, choreography, and flexibility exercises.

BALLET FOLKLORICO 1, 2 & 3: Children & Adults (Age 6 & Up)
Dancers learn about the Mexican culture while learning the art of Ballet Folklorico. In addition, dancers learn the history and dances from different regions of Mexico while
mastering Mexican footwork (zapateado) and the use of the ballet Folklorico skirt. This is a stimulating, informative and valuable class for any child or adult wanting to learn traditional dance from the Mexican culture. Ballet Folklorico 2 & 3 is for dancers who have advanced passed Ballet Folklorico 1.

TAP: Prerequisite Ballet/Tap Level 1, 2 or 3 or previous tap experience
This fun class will teach dancers the history of tap as well as time steps, rhythm tap, and combinations of steps and sounds. Tap is more than just making sounds with your feet. It is about expressing yourself, percussively, with your feet and body, making music, and making statements.

FLAMENCO: (Ages 6 & up) (Various levels):
Dancers will learn flamenco vocabulary, how to master footwork, the use of the flamenco skirts, as well as how to play and master the castanets and the use of
hands, arms and upper body movement.

Save Time & Money! Shop at Sarita's Dance Supply Shop!

Please Note:  Dancers are graded every four weeks.  A uniform is required for all dance classes.  Hair must be worn neatly tied back in a bun with a hairnet.  Chewing gum or wearing jewelry is STRICTLY PROHIBITED!  Parents will be charged a $1.00 a minute when dancers are not picked up within 15 minutes following the end of class.  Please do not wear workout or dance shoes outdoors! Please use a separate pair of shoes for walking outdoors.

MEMBER OF IDEA AND SAN ANTONIO DANCE UMBRELLA

MONDAY – THURSDAY – 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM; SATURDAY 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (HOURS DURING REHEARSAL ONLY)