Former dancer finds passion in teaching

Address: 701 N. McCroskey, Nixa

Phone: 417-724-8878

Website: www.starlightersdance.com

Hours: Vary according to class schedule; schedule and registration available on website

Owner: Laura Hawkins

About the business: While studying dance at Missouri State University, Laura Hawkins was very clear about her intentions: She would never, under any circumstances, teach.

Hawkins laughs about that today, 16 years after she quit dancing professionally and began a career as a dance instructor.

"I decided to leave Branson to start teaching, and that's when I found my passion," she says.

Hawkins says she loves all aspects of teaching.

"I really like kids. They're fun and they're brighter than anyone would think," she says.

"And it gave me a vehicle to create. I can create really cool recital pieces for them to do and the costumes."

Hawkins began her career teaching at Oak Grove Community Center in Springfield.

She later moved to a studio in Nixa and for the last four years has occupied a space in the heart of Nixa.

With the help of five instructors, dance classes of all sorts are offered, including tap, ballet, contemporary, hip-hop and lyrical.

The classes are offered to all ages, from 2 and up.

But offerings don't end with dance. Starlighter's has expanded to include classes in the visual arts, music and acting.

She credits her mother for planting the seed for creating a performing arts center.

"Really, if I look at it, looking back my mother was determined to drive us to all these different places to get the best … I thought if I could bring it under one roof, it will feed off each other," she says.

The expansion was a bit of leap of faith, but Hawkins says it's working well.

"It's been a lot of trial and error. I knew we had a good thing going, but I'm totally blessed," she says.

Experience: Hawkins began studying dance at a young age.

"When I was 5, my mom put me in (dance) because I had a swayed back and she wanted me to get my posture correct.… I ended up loving it and kept on going," she says.

Hawkins went on to study dance at MSU and performed professionally in Branson.

Challenges: "Definitely, the challenges have been getting it structured and streamlined and getting our online registration going," she says.

Goals: "Eventually we would like to branch out and take over more space and keep growing the programs," Hawkins says.

She'd also like more opportunities to work with kids who have special needs.

"My particular love is working with children who have disabilities like autism," she says.

"I just see so much change."

By Jan Peterson/For the News-Leader