About Us
Anyone who connects with Transformation Station of NWA and our home studio, Elite Dance Studios, has heard one of our favorite sayings, which is “Happy Dancing.”
That’s what we believe around here. We believe in the joy found in pursuing the arts and since 1998, we’ve been helping people of all ages do just that through Elite Dance Studios.
Transforming Lives
In our more than 20 years in business, our team has seen first-hand how many children and their families live in poverty despite living in what many consider to be one of the most prosperous parts of the country. You may be shocked to realize that in Benton and Washington counties, up to 50% of children live in poverty.
We have also seen a heartbreaking number of children living through trauma, and we’ve seen the devastating effects that trauma has on their lives. This trauma includes being exposed to certain aspects of the dance competition culture, which is often not a mentally and emotionally safe place for children.
Medical science and childhood psychology experts are becoming increasingly aware of how the arts, including dance, music, and movement, have therapeutic value in helping people heal from various forms of trauma. This is especially true when discussing the age-appropriate and healthy childhood development.
This knowledge, combined with our passion for ensuring that all children have access to the arts, is why Transformation Station was born.
In 2018, we created this 501(c)3 nonprofit organization to make it easier to create scholarships and other opportunities that foster our overall mission. We are active in the Northwest Arkansas community and love partnering with others to help make lives better.
We are also unique in that our studio is the only Arkansas organization to be certified through Youth Protection Advocates in Dance (YPAD), which is an organization that is fueled by the passion and commitment of doctors, therapists, specialists, and educators for youth in athletic and artistic activities. Currently, only 32 dance studios are YPAD-certified in the country.
Transforming the Future
At Transformation Station, we dream big. And what’s more, we believe big. We already provide scholarships to make a difference for children interested in our various programs. We already offer our studio space for other community organizations as it’s available.
Our vision for the future is to have a new, standalone building in Northwest Arkansas that offers dance and music space, performance space, and meeting space. We want to build more partnerships in our community to make a true “station of transformation” come into fruition. We invite you to join this journey and we have opportunities shared throughout this site.
Now, and for always, Happy Dancing!