Get to know Academy 8:31 – the 2024 Leap 'N Learn Studio of the Year
At our 2024 annual member training conference, we announced the winners of the inaugural Leap 'N Learn Awards. Find out why Academy 8:31 in Brea, California earned the title of 2024 Leap 'N Learn Studio of the Year!
Leap 'N Learn Studio of the Year nominations were assessed on demonstrated success and achievement across four key business areas:
experience and education
growth and development
leadership and culture
social impact.
As a Leap 'N Learn Studio of the Year, the winner needed to showcase the unique values and qualities of their business while capturing the essence of Leap 'N Learn – professional, powerful, and playful educational experiences. All of the nominations were fantastic, each doing wonderful and impactful things in their respective communities. It was truly a hard choice, but one entry stood out for how it put Leap 'N Learn methods, training and values to work in, and for, their studio with exceptional results – both in the dance class and in the wider community.
Meet Krista, owner of Academy 8:31.
Led by Krista Casey, Academy 8:31 demonstrates a commitment to student experience and education through their team of dedicated teachers who deliver quality instruction with an emphasis on building confidence and a lifelong love of dance.
Now, a lot of studios say they develop confidence... But it's not just saying it that counts, it's how they do it that matters. With Academy 8:31, this isn't just an empty promise or marketing spin. Krista and her team truly embody their values, and it shows.
“Leap ‘N Learn aligns with our Vision for our dancers because it develops the whole-child and the focus is on building confidence and joy, not perfection. We are seeing dancers blossom inside and outside of the studio. Inside the studio, they are taking on leadership roles as assistants, helping younger dancers in the lobby, and being of invaluable assistance (without being asked!) at our recitals. Our dancers are choosing and asking for more ballet classes because they genuinely love it, not because they are pressured, which has at the same time built a solid financial future and trajectory for our business.
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Instead of pressure and the unnecessary pursuit of perfection, the team at Academy 8:31 focus on progression, honoring each of their students as unique individuals that develop in their own way and at their own time. Academy 8:31 students are seen, heard and valued for who they are, and, as a result, they are internally motivated to learn, persevere through challenges, seek out new opportunities to extend themselves, and pursue their interests and dreams.
“We feel certain that Leap ‘N Learn is changing lives throughout our community. For example, our dancer who took 2 full years to go around the circle by herself, is now a teacher assistant, using a ballet barre at home, and even received a role in our Sugarplum Fairy trio. We also have a student that has been driving 37 miles one way, twice a week, for 3 years to come to ballet, instead of dropping when her family moved from the area. These dancers unquestionably demonstrate our definition of success!”
While other studios struggle to retain ballet students as they get older, it's no accident that Academy 8:31 has a different story to tell.
“We are consistently seeing that our Leap ‘N Learn retention rates are above 85%, which is exceptional for such young children who are trying out a variety of activities. Over the last few seasons we have watched our LNL students grow up and consistently choose to remain in dance, even as other activities vie for their time. The current Ballet 3 and 4 students have all been together for more than 5 years. Our dancers demonstrate a love for ballet and are choosing to make it fit into their busy schedules. 100% of our Ballet 4 students now choose to take 2 or more ballet classes per week and all have been with us 6 or more years.”
Academy 8:31 is a shining example of what happens when you team big picture thinking with values-based action.
As a studio owner, it is so important to balance the needs of the business with the needs of the community you want to build and the culture you want to foster. But the best thing is, they actually feed into each other.
With the right intentions and long-term thinking you can create a successful studio that speaks for itself. When you create an environment that supports students and team members and encourages them to be their best self, and then pairs that with the provision of high-quality classes, you'll start to see that these value-based actions reap rewards in more ways than you could imagine.
Intentional leadership driven by quality and connection
Krista is an intentional leader. This is visible in all aspects of the business, from teacher training and student experience, to curriculum and communicating with parents. But, more importantly, she understands the long game.
When I chat with Krista we often lament the gamification, gimmicks, and band-aid solutions that proliferate the dance education industry.
Quality dance education and cultivating communities takes time, effort, and intention.
“As a studio owner, Leap ‘N Learn has given me the ability to be a better leader because I know what is being taught in classes and how it is being delivered. I have confidence in the training my staff have received and the impact it will have on the child. Leap ‘N Learn is shaping our culture because the curriculum aligns with our values and is reinforcing them.”
When I look to Krista I see that she takes the time. She is goal-oriented, not goal-obsessed. The goal does not distract her or the team at Academy 8:31 from the real work – building community and confidence through high-quality educational experiences. In fact, it's her ability to stay focused on student education and experience that allows her to achieve her goals.
Through Academy 8:31 Krista has cultivated a community centered around the joy and love of dance, learning, and supporting others.
“One part of our vision reads: “Our studio culture promotes and values the mini-communities of dancers & their families to create lasting friendships that support each other in everyday life.” The joy in learning resonates with our families and they are building mini-communities organically. We have watched as these families have supported one another and been a lifeline through challenging diagnosis, family changes and life events. We are able to promote our Values and curriculum seamlessly because they align. This alignment is allowing us to become a beacon of light in our community, serving 51 different zip codes.”
And like the best leaders do, Krista and the team at Academy 8:31 lead by example. They model the community-minded, vision-driven, and inclusive change they want to see in the world. They know who they are and they stay true to it. Their words, actions and beliefs align on all levels, and it shows:
“The COVID pandemic forced us to look at how we got weekly lesson plans to our teachers and how we communicated with our families about their child’s progress. We created a Google Classroom so our teachers would have access to the curriculum that is updated weekly. This includes the LNL link but also all of the pdf’s, so teachers can prepare in their preferred learning style and in a format that fits their schedule. Once a month, parents receive a progress report, sharing what dancers have been working on (musicality, pantomime, etc) and encouraging them to ask their dancers to show them specific things they have learned. Using LNL, our staff has pulled together and truly shown the power of teamwork, resilience and what happens when the desire to make a difference in your community overrides any obstacle in your way. When families make the commitment to drive from 51 zip codes and your studio is in a market saturated with dance studios, something is different. For Academy 831 that difference starts with Leap ‘N Learn!”
We asked Krista how it felt to be named as the 2024 Leap 'N Learn Studio of the Year...
“Complete disbelief! Leap ‘N Learn has absolutely shaped the studio I have today in so many aspects. Using the philosophy and dance foundation of Leap ‘N Learn, we have grown our pre-school and ballet programs in ways we never imagined. Focusing on the joy of dance, as well as the whole-child, has grown our studio culture and been an exceptional demonstration of our core values. We represent 51 zip codes as a non-competitive studio and Leap ‘N Learn is absolutely the difference. Being recognized as the Studio of the Year has given me renewed confidence that we are positively impacting the next generations of dancers in our local and extended community!”
A massive congratulations to Krista and the Academy 8:31 team, dancers, and community. We are so proud to have you as the inaugural Leap 'N Learn Studio of the Year. You inspire us and we cannot wait to watch the impact you have on your community continue to thrive.
PS: Nominations for the 2025 Leap ‘N Learn Awards are now open for Licensed Members. Head to the member site to submit your nominationz for Studio of the Year and Teacher of the Year. Nominations close May 31st 2025.