Business
BY ASIA ARMOUR
Shanna Kirkpatrick owns the dance studio.
COURTESY SHANNA KIRKPATRICK
OLD ALVIN RD.
Friendswood
35
2
Pearland
HUNTERS LN.
1
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1 101 Hunters Lane, Friendswood 2 1570 Old Alvin Road, Pearland www.charadance.com
Chara Christian Dance Academy o ers contemporary, ballet, jazz, hip hop and other styles of dance at its faith-based studio.
COURTESY CHARA CHRISTIAN DANCE ACADEMY
Chara Christian Dance Academy spreads joy through music and dance Shanna Kirkpatrick has dedicated her life to dance. From 9 years old and throughout high school, she took dance classes, focusing on ballet. In college, she studied dance and sports management while founding companies—all with the intention to open her own studio.
Her vision was realized in September 2007, when she opened Chara Christian Dance Academy in Friendswood. Why it matters Chara Christian Dance Academy now has 1,300 students at two studios—the newest being a 10,000-square-foot facility in Pearland, which opened in July 2024. Kirkpatrick said it has been incredibly rewarding to watch students progress year-to-year. She’s also loved being able to provide a sustainable work environment for dancers to help them grow into responsible adults, she said.
The background The faith-based dance academy lled a need for Friendswood families who aligned with those values when it opened, Kirkpatrick said. Chara emphasizes positive environments, uplifting music and prayer before classes. What they o er Chara students rang from 9 months old to 18 years old. The studio o ers several classes, including three training tracks. “I value all dancers,” Kirkpatrick said. “Not just the competitive 12-hour-a-week dancer, but the one or two-hour-a-week recreational dancer.”
11555 Magnolia Pkwy., Suite 170 Pearland, TX 77584 713.852.6700 TexasBayCU.org
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PEARLAND FRIENDSWOOD EDITION
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