I moved here 10years ago on July 1st with a spunky, silly, sweet, shy 3year old little girl. All her family was back in California, the only friends she ever knew were her cousins, and we were starting a new chapter. She'd never been to daycare, never been to a class of any kind and was lonely and scared she wouldn't make friends. I needed to find something to build her confidence, and a fun, safe space for her to make some friends and know everything was going to be okay. I asked around online for recommendations and got a few but the name that came up most and always stuck out was Footlite. I enrolled her in a summer program in 2016 where I sat with her on the floor for the first 2/3 days as she anxiously watched the other girls interact with the teachers. The last day she slowly crept away from the wall until she was with all the other girls and finally participating. Before, I knew it time had flown by and she was dancing in her first recital. I half expected to still see her frozen in place, this time on a big stage looking like a little porcelain doll, but something has changed in that first year of dance and my baby was on that stage tapping, shuffling, pointing her toes, and doing all the moves. Since then she has grown by leaps and bounds under the care of various teachers at Footlite throughout the years and is beginning her 4th year on their competitive dance team. The friendship's she's made have been wonderful but the confidence, reassurance, and encouragement she's been given have been everything. My little girl has grown into a beautiful young woman, who is still spunky and silly, but who also shines in a way that lifts those up around her. She is kind, respectful, and hard working. Footlite has helped nurture the very best parts of her, and has been so much more than a dance studio. It's been a safe haven, a place of tremendous inspiration, and growth and most importantly, it's been another family. We are #foreverFootlite

Alicia Hernandez