Floating, gliding, flying through the air and feeling free. It’s the experience of dancing and anyone can do it. All it takes is motivation, desire, dedication, and a willingness to learn - and of course, a local studio to learn from.

A dance studio of a different kind opened in Rohnert Park in September and the owners and teachers are working full-swing to make it one of the more unique dance studios in Sonoma County.

What used to be Fancy Feet dance studio on Martin Avenue has transformed into what is now VEM Dance Academy, offering more than just the average ballet, tap, and jazz classes. “Our long-term goal is we want to help these children when they reach a certain point, help them find an agent so they can go onto the next step,” said Elena Martinez-Lamke, creative director and dance instructor at VEM. “When we feel its time, we call a meeting with (the student’s) parents and see where they’d like to go from here and offer them help to get there.”

Martinez, an accomplished dancer and choreographer, says she will “step in and do the footwork” (no pun intended) on locating an appropriate talent agent, see about head shots, and get her student started on the road to becoming professional.
But that’s only one of the things making VEM different.

The start of something big
Michelle Davis is co-owner of VEM and couldn’t be more proud of her new business. “We wanted to create a place for kids to go where they can get a variety of genres all in one setting, a place where it feels like family.” Davis’ daughter, now 12, danced with Fancy Feet since the age of four. When Fancy Feet closed in July, Davis said it was like breaking up a family. Her daughter and her daughter’s friends had to dance at different studios in order to practice different genres of dance.

While Fancy Feet was open, Davis met Vicki Fowler, whose daughter was also taking classes at FF. “We became friends and after going to different studios taking different classes, we talked about starting our own place.” And the rest as they say, is history.

Fowler and Davis moved into the vacant studio, painted, and did a touch of remodeling. With two dance studios, dressing areas, a viewing area for parents to sit and watch class, these ladies thought of basically everything, including an area for students to do their homework between classes.

“We wanted a stable place for them to take classes without having to go to other studios all over. But I think our studio is different than other studios in that we don’t freak out when a student does want to take class elsewhere.”

Variety creates the well-rounded dancer
VEM offers the basics: ballet, pointe, jazz, and tap but also adds a bit of spice with hip-hop, kick boxing, lyrical, character, pom-pom, endurance, and stretch/strengthening classes. All genres are offered at all levels and all ages - even as young as three. Some classes are even combo classes where one can learn the strict technique of ballet, then throw on their tap shoes and hoof-it-up.

With six teachers and close to 70 students, VEM is making great strides in accomplishing the vision Fowler, Davis, and Martinez-Lamke have had since the beginning. And that’s part of the meaning behind VEM. “Vicki, Elena, Michelle,” or as Elena puts it, “Versatile, Energetic Movement...it’s the perfect name.”

Martinez-Lamke began dancing at Fancy Feet when she was two years old and the studio has always felt like home to her, she said.

“I’ve watched Elena grow as a teacher,” said Davis. “She’s inspiring.” And Davis should know. After not dancing for 30 years, she took tap classes from Martinez-Lamke. “She dragged me back in,” Davis laughs. So having Martinez-Lamke as creative director, instructor, and choreographer seemed like an obvious no-brainer.

“I get incredible satisfaction seeing improvements in my students,” said Martinez-Lamke. “I guess it’s so gratifying because it’s me that did that.” Which is why, she adds, she wants to help her students take their dream and run with it.

VEM is currently on the hunt for a ballroom instructor and plans are in the works for adding musical theater to their repertoire and they’ll be holding auditions for a competition team next season to really complete the diversity of VEM.

Be sure to check out VEM’s recital June 26 at 4 p.m. at the Petaluma Veteran’s Memorial Building. For more information, call 585-8363 or visit www.vemdanceacademy.com.