Monica Smith - Exclusively Ballet & Dance
Monica Smith grew up with a passion for dance. She started dancing when she was 5 years old and remembers falling in love with dance after seeing the Nutcracker at a young age.
As the owner of Exclusively Ballet & Dance, Smith now is able to share her passion with other dancers.
“My passion when I opened my school and my passion still is to share my expertise of dance,” Smith said. “As a former Alabama Ballet principal dancer and graduate of UAB, I wanted to teach as many young people as I could.”
Having students return to say “thank you for helping me achieve my dreams” is the most satisfying part of the job, she said. Smith said she has enjoyed seeing Kate Wesler, who performed on the first national tour of “Pippen,” and Miami City Ballet Principal Dancer Jennifer Lauren return to the studio. Both are former students.
“Former students coming home and giving back in such roles as teaching and sharing their experiences was the sole purpose of opening the school 25 years ago,” Smith said.
All employees at Exclusively Ballet & Dance have formal training and have received dance degrees, which Smith said is important to keep ballet alive, build a foundation for dance and to instill passion in others.
“We love watching our ‘littles’ grow up and come home and teach one day,” Smith said.
► WHERE: 7154
Cahaba Valley Road
► CALL: 995-9220
► WEB: exclusively
ballet.com
