The Studio Dance School, a Dream Realized
By Tim Dunn
When you first meet Cara Agustin, owner of The Studio, Performing Technique Dance School, you are struck with the energy, and vivacious spirit of this woman. You instinctively know that grace and beauty does not just reside in her persona, but in something deeper. She has a dream, a dream that will be finally realized shortly when her very own dance studio will open to the public in Martell in August or September of this year. She visibly glows with excitement. Cara Agustin loves dance! Whether performing or teaching, she exhibits a passion for it. From the age of 7, Cara loved to dance. She first came to Jackson when she was 2 years old. Her father, Wyman Dickerson, as a pilot would sometimes rent a plane and take the family on a trip. Photo: Cara, owner, instructor, The Studio
His plan was to fly from Bakersfield to Sacramento but he took a wrong turn and ended up at Westover Field in Jackson, CA. They spent a few hours looking around the area, and liked what they saw. Wyman and Karen Dickerson decided to move to Jackson. In the early 80s, Wyman bought Briscoe's Pharmacy on Main Street in Jackson and 5 years later opened Buckhorn Drugs in Pioneer. Cara started taking dance lessons from Sue Brumet at the Dance Factory in Sutter Creek, first ballet for discipline and technique, and then she moved on to tap and jazz. Well-rounded, she also enjoyed gymnastics and playing soccer growing up.
She later auditioned and began performing with Kids on Stage, a musical theater dance company, for six years. Sue offered this class for 15-20 year olds; it was a great learning experience and occupied her Saturdays for five months. At fourteen, her love of dance took her to Sacramento where Ms. Agustin auditioned for and was accepted into a pre-professional ballet company, the Phares Theatre Ballet, where she was trained in classical ballet for four years. She performed leads in numerous productions, two performances a year, including the Nutcracker, Red Riding Hood, and Coppelia. She still loves ballet. Photo: Dancers
This local gal attended Pioneer Elementary, Jackson Jr. High, Amador High School and graduated college from UC Davis. Ms. Agustin was also accepted to participate and gain technical ballet, modern, jazz, and contemporary training in many dance programs including the University of Victoria Canada, Dance Aspen Colorado, the Bolshoi Ballet, Santa Clara University, and UC Davis. Locally, Cara began teaching classes for Sue Brumet and Giles Turner, the drama teacher since 1972. She was the choreographer for Guys & Dolls Musical Theater Program in 2005.
Cara began teaching at Brumet's Dance Factory seven years ago. Sue asked earlier this year if Cara would take over when Sue closed her studio in June 2011. It is very special to Cara because she was raised through her youth in Sue's studio in the 80s and 90s. Cara says that it was special to come home and work for her home teacher. It is also so special to now be in her shoes. The mirrors in the Martell studio are donated from Sue Brumet's studio - mirrors that Cara and all Sue's dancers have danced in front of for the last 30 years! Special and filled with meaning, indeed! Cara's Studio will be under construction (Agustin Custom Cabinetry will be doing floors to mirrors) all summer and scheduled to open in late August or early September 2011.
Photo: Three in Pose
The Studio will offer classical and technical training in ballet, pointe, jazz, contemporary, tap, and hip-hop. A free class demo workshop will be offered with the grand opening for students to try out classes that are offered. There is no other studio like Cara's in the gold country. She focuses on art and technique of dance, allowing students to gain self-confidence and respect. She loves to dance and wants to foster that love in others through a positive outlet.
Cara has lived in Jackson for the past 31 years. She and her husband Justin have two children--Saben, 2yrs old, and Talin, 4yrs old. I am sure we will soon see them at The Studio dancing! The Studio will be located at 12275 Martell Road, Ste. 17, Jackson, CA, in the new Shopping Center, next to the Anytime Fitness Gym. Please call/email to be added to the mailing list regarding the workshop date and Studio's grand opening! Call (209) 304-7361 or thestudio@volcano.net; online: www.thestudio-danceschool.com
All photos courtesy of The Studio
Editor's Note: Tim's daughter, Chalia, and her best friends took ballet, tap and jazz classes at Sue's studio in the 80's.
Back to Top
