Flor de Liz Dance

Flor de Liz Dance is a community-focused studio on West Fort Lowell Road in Tucson offering classes for young dancers aged 3 and up. The studio celebrates each student's unique qualities and takes time to know their names and progress. Classes are taught by experienced artists and dance professionals, and the studio positions itself as a welcoming, professional alternative to competition-focused schools.

The curriculum spans ballet, hip hop/jazz, modern, lyrical, and tap across age groups: Toddler classes (ages 3–4) are 30 minutes long with re-evaluation offered every 8 weeks. Pre classes (ages 4–6) run 40 minutes on the regular semester schedule. Children and teens aged 7 and older attend one-hour or longer classes, organised into Level 1–3 and Level 4–6 groupings.

All students aged 5 and up are invited to perform in two special showcases each year at the beautiful Leo Rich Theater, a highlight that builds confidence and celebrates the sense of community. The studio also partners with NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet through their "Dance with Us" program, which invites ballet students with at least one year of training (ages 6–17) to audition, rehearse, and perform alongside an international professional ballet company in a live Nutcracker production. Auditions and rehearsals take place right at the studio, and every auditioner receives a part.

Flor de Liz Dance is led by Director Flor de Liz Norris, a dancer and choreographer trained at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and holding an MFA from the University of Arizona, with over 20 years of dance experience. The faculty includes Olivia Bellone, who trained with Ballet West Academy and performed in ballets including Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, and George Balanchine's Who Cares?; Jeffrey Hughes, who enjoyed a 22-year professional career with Joffrey II, the Joffrey Ballet, and the London Festival Ballet and has choreographed over 80 ballets; Whitney Hester, who trained at the Glorya Kaufman School of Dance at USC and performed with Complexions Contemporary Ballet; Rebecca Garcia, who brings over a decade of teaching experience; Leilani Gomez, a University of Arizona student and longtime student of the studio now in her third year teaching; Chris Ollar, with extensive background in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, and musical theater; and Brittany Schoer, who trained at Dance Arts Studio in Colorado and performed with their company for eight years.

You'll meet an experienced instructor who knows your name and cares about your progress in a welcoming, supportive environment. Classes are structured by age and level, with clear pathways from toddler movement through advanced training. The studio emphasises technique, confidence, versatility and creativity, and your child will have the chance to perform in two showcases per year.

The faculty includes Director Flor de Liz Norris (trained at UNCSA and University of Arizona, 20+ years' experience), Olivia Bellone (Ballet West trainee, performed in Swan Lake and The Sleeping Beauty), Jeffrey Hughes (22-year professional career with Joffrey II and Joffrey Ballet, choreographer of 80+ ballets), Whitney Hester (BFA in Dance from USC's Glorya Kaufman School, performed with Complexions Contemporary Ballet), Rebecca Garcia (10+ years' teaching experience), Leilani Gomez (University of Arizona student, three years teaching at the studio), Chris Ollar (ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, musical theater), and Brittany Schoer (trained in Colorado, guest artist with Danse Etoile Ballet).

The studio welcomes new students and structures classes carefully by age and level, beginning with 30-minute toddler classes and progressing through Pre and Children/Teen groupings.