Local dance studio changes hands

Tuesday, 31 January 2012 7:04

by Katie Wagner

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As the weather stays cool in the new year, dancing at Center Stage Dance Academy (CSDA) in Churubusco continues to heat up as competition season approaches.

The new year has also brought a change in ownership in the studio. Lisa and Tim Fensler of Churubusco bought the studio effective January 1, 2012 from the previous owner, Audrey Husk. Husk opened the studio in 2002 and has owned and operated it ever since. The Fenslers also own Shear Creations hair salon in town. Lisa Fensler said she wanted to buy the studio because she saw a unique opportunity to be a part of the lives of youth.

“Times are changing and it’s hard being a kid these days,” she said. “Kids long for someone to acknowledge them and be a part of their lives. We, along with our dedicated teaching staff, hope to offer that to our students. Positive goal setting and rewarding good behavior.”

The Fenslers are no strangers to the dancing world—their two children, Zach and McKenna, are very active in dance at CSDA. Lisa jokes that she just adopted 75 kids—“They are all our family now,” she said. “Come join our family.”

Fensler said CSDA has something for everyone, including recreational and competitive dance classes (such as tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, cheer, technique and lyrical), BodyVIBE (an aerobics class), a beginner adult tap class, ballroom dancing and Martial Arts.

Fensler said she would like to add more boys to the studio and will be offering scholarship to those interested.
“There is a stigma about boys and the arts,” Fensler said. “A little known fact is that professional football players and basketball players take ballet classes to help with their core balance. We want to overcome the dance stigma.”

Fensler said she and her husband are very excited about the opportunity to become owners of the studio.

“We want to take dance to a new level,” she said. “We will still have both recreational and competitive classes, but we hope to offer something for everyone. We all want to get healthy and fit, so we hope to add to the aerobics and fitness classes as the need arises.”

Center Stage Dance Academy is open Monday through Friday and some Saturdays. Feel free to contact Fensler at the studio at (260) 693-1057 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The studio website is dancingatcenterstage.com.