PHOTO VIA ORLANDO DANCE COMPANY
The Orlando Dance Conservatory (Website) has moved into a new 3,500 SF facility in Winter Garden.
The new studio is located at 751 Business Park Boulevard [GMap], Suite 102, just six minutes from downtown Winter Garden. The main studio room spans 2,100 SF with sprung floors and 100 feet of barre, and can be divided into two smaller rooms for simultaneous classes. The space also includes a 300 SF private teaching room, dressing rooms, costume storage, an office, and lots of parking.
The move comes with an expanded curriculum led by Artistic Director Aretuza Garner and her faculty, who are adding tap and Pilates to the conservatory’s existing offerings, which already cover classical ballet styles. Morning and evening sessions for adult students are now available alongside the existing children’s program for ages 4 and up. A separate track of jazz, tap, and ballet classes will be offered for non-professional students pursuing dance for personal enjoyment.
Garner, a Brazilian-born dancer, choreographer, and teacher, opened ODC in 2021 after years of performing, choreographing, and teaching across multiple continents. She previously ran a dance academy in the Turks and Caicos Islands and founded the youth performance company Aretuza’s Ballerina Project after arriving in Orlando in 2010. Over the past five years, ODC students have been accepted into programs with the Boston Ballet, Oklahoma City Ballet, European School of Ballet, the Royal Ballet in London, and the Vaganova Program. Students have also received full scholarships to The Westchester Ballet Company and won competitions internationally.
“We are teaching the real world,” Garner said. “It’s not just ballet. We’re teaching how to be disciplined and responsible, where you can be in college, or you can be a doctor, you can be anything you want. A work ethic is very important for you to do anything in life.”
ODC will continue its twice-yearly public recitals, including a holiday production of “The Nutcracker” and a spring showcase, at off-site venues. An open house is scheduled for Saturday, August 8, beginning at 2 p.m. at the new location.
Tuition starts at $90 per month with a $75 annual registration fee. More information is available at orlandodanceconservatory.com or by calling 407-616-4967.
