Lisa Matias Dance Centre

Lisa Matias Dance Centre has been providing quality dance education in West Hartford for over 40 years. The studio focuses on technique, performance, and character development, offering developmentally appropriate classes that encourage personal growth.

Lisa Matias opened the dance centre at age 16, following a recommendation from her own teacher, Helyn Flanagan, with whom she began training at age five. Her background is extensive: she studied with Ann Reinking, Tommy Tune, Joe Lanteri, Ronnie Mahler, Danny Hoctor, and Frank Hatchet, among others. She performed at the closing ceremonies of Liberty Weekend with Liza Minelli, and was chosen as one of the first "Caravan Kids," touring the US and Europe at age 15.

Lisa graduated from Trinity College with a Presidents Fellowship in Theater & Dance, earning Phi Beta Kappa honours. She has taught at Trinity College for over 30 years as an adjunct in the Theater & Dance department and more recently in the Human Rights Studies and Community Learning Initiative departments. She also led the dance program at St. Joseph College and taught extensively for the Hartford Conservatory.

Beyond the studio, Lisa is an Associate Artistic Director of "Moving Matters!" in the Hartford Public Schools—described as the only intensive arts integration program of its kind in the country. She teaches with the Judy Dworin Performance Project (now Justice Dance Performance Project) in the Bridging Boundaries program, working with at-risk populations including children with incarcerated loved ones, women and men transitioning out of prison, and women currently at York Correctional Institution. She also leads the I AM (Imagination, Arts, and Me) program at the WORTH unit at York Correctional Institution, which focuses on reducing recidivism in the 18-25 year old population.

Students thrive in a supportive, non-competitive, and empowering atmosphere where all dancers are inspired to meet their full potential in a joyous and positive environment.

A welcoming, non-competitive space where you'll work on technique and character development alongside other dancers of your level, guided by an instructor with deep professional training and decades of teaching experience.

Lisa Matias directs the studio. She trained under Helyn Flanagan from age five and studied with Ann Reinking, Tommy Tune, Joe Lanteri, Ronnie Mahler, Danny Hoctor, and Frank Hatchet. She has taught for over 30 years at Trinity College and previously led the dance program at St. Joseph College.

The studio offers developmentally appropriate classes designed to support personal growth in a non-competitive, empowering environment.