Laura Ruez

I have agonized about who to write my profile about and have settled on Laura Ruiz. Laura Ruiz is the founder of Celebration Street Academy of Dance; she is a mother of two and a teacher of many of the classes provided at the Academy. The Academy was first located in a warehouse in Winston, Oregon. The studio looked normal from the outside, like an old warehouse, except the sparkly royal purple door used to enter the studio. It seemed put off the other owners of the buildings next to the studio, that owned car repair shops, to hear the sound of classical, pop, and hip hop music blaring from the studio. The inside of the studio was just a masterpiece of mirrors used for checking alignment and technique on the dance floor, and an observing room for parents and visitors. The attendance of the classes started to rise and Laura decided that the studio should look for a new place to conduct business.


It took months of searching but, Laura and the staff finally found another warehouse, in Winston, to conduct classes. The warehouse had more room for students on the dance floor and a separate office and changing room for the staff to work and the dancers to get ready for they're classes. Laura was sure that because of the new location of the new studio and the size, that the classes would continue to grow and more staff would be hired for classes. The door was quickly painted and the dancers soon made the new studio they're home away from home. Laura was very pleased with the new location but, felt that God wanted her to expand more and bring the studio to a more populated area.



After a year of being in the second "Winston" studio, and having much success in bringing more students into classes; Laura, as well as the staff, felt that it was time to move on with the studio and strive for a more public area. This area was about fifteen minutes north of Winston in the town of Roseburge. Yes, it was time to move again but, the move had to be made after the annual recital due to all the already present chaos that comes with the season. After two months of costume changes, eight hour practices, and dress rehearsals; the recital came and past. It was now time for Laura to make her move on buying the two story building in downtown, Roseburge. The building was perfect from the hardwood floors and plethera of mirrors to the dressing rooms, parents room(with a oneway mirror so that the dancers wouldn't get distracted by those watching practice) and the location. Not only did Laura show contempt about the change by saying "Well, we've finally found "The Spot," but the staff and students were happy to finally have a place where they could actually give understandable driving instructions to.

Laura has made three things priority in her life; serving God, raising her two amazing kids and running the Celebration Street Academy of Dance. And she is doing a beautiful job with all of them and plans to continue to do so.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Laura Ruez