By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A former precision dancer with the legendary Radio City Rockettes has opened her own studio here focused on helping kids and adults find joy in all forms of dance.
Brooke LeMaster, who performed in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville in 2012, traveled the world performing before settling in Rockford in 2018.
The 34-year-old worked as a dance instructor before she took over Mary Lee’s School of Dance, which Mary Lee Sheldon had run for more than 45 years, amid the coronavirus pandemic. LeMaster, a native of Hinsdale who grew up dancing in North Carolina, has now opened in a new location with a business that bears her name.
“To carry on her legacy is absolutely amazing,” LeMaster said. “To not be from Rockford and to take over a studio that’s been here a long time is pretty awesome.”
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Ms. LeMaster’s School of Dance will celebrate its grand opening Saturday at 260 N. Phelps Ave., Unit M, which is part of a strip mall behind Culver’s off East State Street.
The school teaches all forms of dance — ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, musical theater, hip hop, contemporary, pointe, cheer dance and tumble — and has classes for both children and adults. There are also competitive teams, recitals and performances at the Boone County Fair and the Belvidere Christmas parade.
The grand opening on Saturday is the culmination of a difficult search after the pandemic nearly forced her out of business. LeMaster said she had to close the studio Mary Lee had operated for years across from the CherryVale Mall during the pandemic as class sizes dwindled or were forced to be canceled as a health precaution.
“I couldn’t afford to stay there. I was literally reaching out to anybody and everybody: gyms, churches, schools,” LeMaster said. “Where can I rent a space for cheap and keep this business going?”
She operated out of the basement of Creekwood Baptist Church, formerly Christ United Methodist Church, on Darlene Drive until she could open her new studio.
“It’s been a long journey for this grand opening, and having our own space is super exciting,” she said.
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LeMaster previously taught dance for the pre-professional program at Oklahoma City University’s Community Dance Center after she had earned hear bachelor’s degree in dance performance from the university. She also performed across the country with the Las Vegas-based Champagne Creative Group. After her stint with the Rockettes, she traveled the world performing on the Holland America Cruise Lines.
She now lives in Rockford with her husband, Justin, and their 4-month-old daughter, Camila.
Despite taking the stage across the world, LeMaster said she was anxious, nervous and shy when she first started dancing as a child.
“I think I cried my first year at every dance class,” LeMaster said. “But I just kept going.”
Eventually, the dance studio became where she was most at-home. She hopes her dance school will similarly help kids learn to be comfortable being themselves, find friends and find joy “whether they’re going to dance the rest of their lives or not.”
“I just want them to have a place where they can have an outlet to feel comfortable, find some confidence in themselves,” LeMaster said. “Just a safe place for them to come and let out their feelings.”
Know before you go | Grand opening
What: Ms. LeMaster’s School of Dance grand opening celebration
When: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5
Where: 260 N. Phelps Ave., Unit M, Rockford
About: A ribbon-cutting will be held at 1:30 p.m. and free 15-minute dance classes will take place at 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
On the web: mslemasters5678.com
On social: facebook.com/Ms.Lemasters5678
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas