We were lucky to catch up with Helen Estrella recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Helen, thanks for joining us today. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

I have always felt like I was playing catch up in dance. I didn’t start taking dance classes until I was 16 years old, while most dancers start as early as 2 or 3. However, as I’ve grown, I’ve come to appreciate my unique journey. I didn’t have to relearn anything. As you could imagine, grasping concepts as a 5 year old and then as a teenager is quite different. I have also embraced the idea of always being a student. I still love taking class and learning new concepts as an artist. While once I wished I had started earlier, in hindsight, I’m grateful for the path I’ve traveled to reach where I am today.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Over two decades ago, I embarked on my journey as a dance studio owner with the primary aim of winning and proving myself as a young teacher and choreographer. However, as the years passed, I underwent a transformation in my perspective. I came to understand that the essence of dance education isn’t about winning trophies; it’s about igniting a passion for dance within the next generation of artists.

Today, I run a studio, pre-professional company and various workshops spanning the Denver metro area. My focus has shifted towards nurturing young dancers by providing them with exceptional training, all while fostering a balanced and non-competitive atmosphere. This journey has allowed me to appreciate the profound impact of dance as a form of artistic expression and personal growth.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Over two decades ago, I embarked on my journey as a dance studio owner with the primary aim of winning and proving myself as a young teacher and choreographer. However, as the years passed, I underwent a transformation in my perspective. I came to understand that the essence of dance education isn’t about winning trophies; it’s about igniting a passion for dance within the next generation of artists.

Today, I oversee not only a dance studio but also a pre-professional company and various workshops spanning the Denver metro area. My focus has shifted towards nurturing young dancers by providing them with exceptional training, all while fostering a balanced and non-competitive atmosphere. This journey has allowed me to appreciate the profound impact of dance as a form of artistic expression and personal growth.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

My perspective on what’s important in the world of dance underwent a profound transformation when I became a mother. The birth of my son, Milo, 11 years ago, granted me a newfound empathy for all the “dance-moms” out there. They weren’t crazy; they just wanted the best for their children and understood the significant financial investment (it costs small fortune to put your child in competitive dance).

At the time, I had students who were dedicating over 20 hours a week to dance, some as young as 9 years old. As a mother, I realized that this wasn’t the path I wanted for my own children. I wanted them to have the freedom to explore any interest, rather than spend their entire lives in a dance studio. This realization prompted me to shift my focus to training dancers to develop a healthy, balanced relationship with dance.

Contact Info:

• Website: Motiondancecenterco.com
• Instagram: Helen_estrella_dance
• Facebook: Facebook.com/boulderjazzdanceworkshop

Image Credits
JCM Photography