School of Dance offers variety

For local resident Allissa Christensen, dancing is in her blood.

Christensen comes from a long line of dancers, and likes to say she was raised in a dance studio. She is now sharing both her love for and experience in dance with the residents of Whitehall and surrounding area.

In 2015, Christensen started teaching classes one day a week at the Community Center, and in September of 2016 moved the Christensen School of Dance to a new location at 23 West Legion Ave. in Whitehall.

She currently offers ballet, tap, and jazz Dance combo classes for children ages four and up. The school also offers tumbling classes for boys and girls four and up. The school also caters to adults and offers Zumba, strength and flexibility classes, and also brings in instructor Cassandra Crinch from Butte to teach yoga one day a week.

Christensen said everyone living in a small community has different tastes and desires, and it's a rare, yet very important thing to have variety.

"I wanted to give children the opportunity to have something different to participate in that's enjoyable and that build's confidence. I don't count the amount of students, but the amount of smiles," she said. "Teaching adults is just an extra bonus. I also wanted to share options for them and I have met some wonderful people in the community and surrounding areas in the process."

Christensen started student teaching dance when she was 15, and while in high school she competed and continued to teach in several studios and gyms. While in college in Idaho, she did the choreography for competitive teams.

"I've been teaching independently for about eight years now. Last year was such a joy and success I thought 'why not?' she said. "I wanted to really commit so there came the idea to offer tumbling and adult classes along with the dance classes."

So far, Christensen has received very positive feedback as well as a lot of interest in the school.

Looking to the future, Christensen will be offering a summer camp program, and also has some improvements she would like to make to the studio over the summer.

"I just want to keep moving forward and give my best to Whitehall," she said.

For more information, call Christensen at 406-210-8629, or email allissa.christensen@gmail.com. The school can also be found on Facebook.