In the Spotlight

Many young girls dream of becoming dancers, but Andrea Galvan had always dreamed of becoming a dance teacher. She started dancing at five years old alongside her brother and sister and was instantly enamored. Her siblings eventually stopped lessons, but Andrea’s passion for dance never wavered.

Even as a young girl, Andrea also recognized that she loved to teach. When she wasn’t dancing, she would play teacher with her dolls and friends. So, when people asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up, the answer was simple: a dance teacher. Throughout her childhood, her answer never changed.

Elsa & Andrea

 

At fifteen years old, her dream became a reality. Andrea began teaching dance during her freshman year of high school, which only confirmed that it was what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. The dream, however, did expand. In addition to teaching dance, she realized she wanted to someday open a dance studio of her own.

During high school, Andrea started training with the top studios and choreographers in Miami, including Dance Attack under John Culbertson and Cookie Ramos and Show Stopper under Susie Garcia. She wanted to learn from the best so she could bring the best to her future studio in the Keys.

After graduating high school, Andrea dove into the professional dance world. She knew that to operate a premier dance studio, she would need real-world experience and connections. Andrea took her training to an intense level, and it paid off. She landed impressive gigs, including performing with Shakira in the Super Bowl.

“Dancing in the pro world was a dream come true,” Andrea says. “I was really able to make connections, grow, and see what’s out there.”

Once Andrea made quality connections and felt she had learned enough to become a strong asset to her students, she was determined to fulfill her ultimate dream of opening a dance studio in the Keys. However, though she was confident in her dancing and teaching abilities, Andrea knew that operating a business was an entirely different beast. Thankfully, she had her number one supporter by her side.

Spotlight Minis

 

Andrea’s mother and biggest supporter, Elsa Perez, was born in Cuba but grew up in New York City. Like Andrea, Elsa always loved dance, but her parents couldn’t afford to put her in classes. After moving her family to the Keys in 2004, Elsa realized little Andrea and her siblings could have the opportunity to dance that she didn’t have. So, she signed them up and gave her full support, even when Andrea’s siblings decided dance wasn’t for them.

In a way, Elsa got to live vicariously through Andrea, seeing her flourish in the dance world. It brought her a lot of joy, and it still does today as Andrea continues to live out her passion.

So, when Andrea told her mom that she was ready to open her dance studio, Elsa was right by her side. As a long-time office manager of the family business, Andy’s Pools, Elsa assured Andrea that she would manage the office and assist Andrea with running a successful business.

Latin Ballroom Performance

 

“My mom is awesome, and I don’t know what I would do without her,” Andrea says. “I’m learning so much, and I love working with her.”

Thus, a lifelong dream was fulfilled, and Spotlight Dance Studio was born in August 2023. Nestled comfortably in Pink Plaza in Key Largo, Spotlight Dance Studio has quickly become a beacon for aspiring dancers in the area. A vibrant and welcoming space, it offers a wide range of dance styles, including jazz, contemporary, hip hop, acro, Latin ballroom, and more.

“Despite the Keys having a big Latin community, very few studios offer Latin ballroom classes,” Andrea says. “As a Latina, it’s important to me to make it available to all who want to learn.”

Spotlight’s Latin ballroom classes have been a big hit. In their most recent dance recital, the Latin ballroom performance received a standing ovation.

Spotlight Dancers

 

For Andrea and her team, the goal is not just to teach dance techniques but to cultivate confidence and provide a space for personal expression. All levels and all ages are welcome to join, including adults. As Andrea says, “Nobody is too old to learn!”

Andrea’s not done learning yet, either. She is currently studying early childhood education to become an even more effective teacher. Her goal is to help kids step out of their comfort zone and cultivate a love for the art form of dance while boosting their overall confidence and self-esteem.

Currently, Andrea and her team are creating their first competitive dance team. “We are starting off small, but we’ll be training these dancers in diverse styles to prepare them for competitions. It’s an exciting new chapter for us.”

Beyond dance training, Andrea and her studio hope to become more involved in community events. “Growing up, it was very special learning to dance in a tight-knit community because we were asked to perform at many local events. I want our students to enjoy performing for our community, as well.”

With that community mindset, Spotlight Dance Studio offers scholarships to help aspiring dancers who might not otherwise have the opportunity to pursue their passion.

“We provided several scholarships for our summer dance classes thanks to the generous donations from our community,” Andrea shares. “Our partnerships have been invaluable, especially with organizations like Lifestyle Miami, which recently provided a $1,000 scholarship to one of our dancers.”

Andrea’s dedication to her dancers and community was evident during their first dance recital on May 18th. The event, which sold out two shows, was a touching tribute to her grandmother. “The recital was very special and heartfelt,” Andrea recounts. “The community feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and new dancers were eager to join our family.”

Dancers

 

Looking ahead, Andrea is excited to announce next season’s In-Person Registration on August 3rd 12-4pm and 4th 2-6pm. She invites both new and returning dancers to join the Spotlight family. These registration days provide an opportunity to visit the studio, meet the staff, and become part of a vibrant, supportive community.

“If you can’t make it on those days, just give us a call or email, and we’ll get you registered,” Andrea assures. Dancers are also welcome to join any time of year, as there are no contracts, but it’s ideal to join at the beginning of the season to prepare for upcoming shows.

The Spotlight team is also busy planning their first-ever holiday show,”A Christmas Spectacular” scheduled for 2 showtimes on December 7th at the Murray E Nelson Government Center Theater in Key Largo. “The community and parents have been requesting this, and we’re thrilled to make it happen. All of our students will have the opportunity to perform and showcase their talent.”

Andrea’s vision for the future of Spotlight Dance Studio is clear: she is committed to creating a nurturing space for dancers of all ages that is filled with inspiration, love, and art.

As the new dance season kicks off and with exciting events on the horizon, Andrea encourages you to visit SpotlightDanceFLKeys.com and follow Spotlight Dance Studio on Facebook and @spotlightdanceflkeys on Instagram.

–Jerrica Mah is a writer, Army wife, and freelance book editor, who loves to travel with her family.

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