STUDIO HISTORY

It all started…

In 1971, my mother took me to what looked to me like a HUGE room filled with classical piano music & a smell of the wooden floors. The girls were in black leotards, pink tights & ballerina slippers with their hair pulled back in a neat hair bun. I looked up at my mom & told her I wanted to be just like them. She replied “Judy, if you like today’s class, I will bring you back every week to learn how to dance like a beautiful Ballerina.” That day was the start of my dancing career with the very Best Artistic Director, Choreographer & Dancer, Doria Avila.

Doria Avila was in Broadway Musicals such as, Out of This World (1950), The King & I (1951), Bells Are Ringing (1956), Do Re Mi (1960), Hot Spot (1963), & I Had A Ball (1964). Doria Avila studied Ballet at the School of American Ballet in New York City with George Balanchine, Oboukhoff, Vladimiroff, Muriel Stuart, & Lew Christensen. Doria also studied with Helene Platova in New York City, Volonine & Olga Preobrajenska in Paris, Volkova in London, Modern Dance with Martha Graham, Hanya Holm, Merce Cunninghaw, Alwin Nikolais & performed in the Ballet Society, the New York City Opera & New York City Ballet.

During 1966 to 1993, Doria Avila was the proud Founder & Artist Director of the Rio Grande Valley’s Ballet; Doria Avila Dance Academy. He was instrumental in reviving Mexican Folklorico & Spanish Flamenco Dance to South Texas. Was even a Dance Adviser to the Texas Fine Arts Commission & panelist of Texas Commission on the Arts & Humanities. With everything Doria has accomplished, he was chosen to be one of the four Living Legends of Dance by the Governor of Texas in 1992.

Doria Avila & my mother are the reasons my heart was open to one of the most beautiful forms of Art & Dance. As a young girl, I was given an opportunity to dance with a living legend. Since then, I have danced Ballet, Jazz, Flamenco, Folklorico, & so much more. I have performed the Nutcracker several times & been in the Spring Recital for Flamenco at the McAllen Civic Center N

Today, I have many accomplishments because of Doria. I have been a Dancer, a Dance Mom to my daughter Nicole Ramirez, a Dance Assistant Director at Nikki Rowe HS for the Tiaras, a Dance Director for a local Semi Pro Football Team, & a Dance Teacher at McAllen Boys & Girls Club for 18 Years as a volunteer. I have been awarded several Choreography Awards such as First in Division & Best in Category.

My career during the day is at a local School District in the Rio Grande Valley. I love what I do & the people I serve. I have a son name James, a daughter Nicole, a Glam-mom to my granddaughter Sophia Lynn & a very supportive family who has never left my side. It is an honor & privilege to Reopen the doors of the Original Doria Avila Dance Academy building located at 1309 N. Main St McAllen, Tx 78501 with its new name Main Stage Dance Studio. Doria Avila’s legacy, spirit, passion & love for all Dance forms will continue to inspire our students.

Thank you for your trust in us,

Judith Ramirez