Ovation Dance Academy

Ovation Dance Academy has been in business for 10 years in Mission, Kansas. The studio was named because the founder believes every dancer deserves a standing ovation. It is owned and operated by director and instructor Alex Hess, who began her own dance training at four years old in a pink tutu and developed a passion for all styles of dance. As a high school student, she took on roles as a dance teacher and choreographer while serving as a captain of the Shawnee Mission South Varsity and Junior Varsity dance teams. At Baker University, she captained and choreographed the dance team to their first NAIA national dance championship, and she holds a degree in Exercise Science. After university, Alex taught, choreographed, and coached across the Kansas City area, serving as head coach of both the Shawnee Mission South Pacesetters and the Blue Valley Southwest Glitter Girls, with her choreography featured at local and national competitions and musicals.

The studio offers five competitive and non-competitive academy programs across six main categories: Preschool Academy (ages 2 through Pre-K), Lower Academy (K–2nd grade), Upper Academy (3rd–12th grade), Tumbling Academy (K–12th grade), and both adult classes and elite performing troupes. With 17 qualified instructors on staff, ODA structures its approach around individual student goals rather than whole-class targets. The studio recognises each child's unique learning style and potential, aiming for every dancer to leave feeling confident they've reached their own best.

The Preschool Academy teaches the youngest students through creative movement and introductory classes including Itty Bitty Ballet (ages 2–3), Bitty Ballet (ages 3–4), Pre Tumbling, Pre Combo (tap and ballet for Pre-K), Tot Hop and Roll, and Hippity Hop (hip hop for Pre-K). Lower Academy offers combo classes that blend two styles in a single hour for early elementary students; Combo classes teach tap and ballet together, while Hop and Roll classes pair hip hop with tumbling. Upper Academy classes for 3rd–12th graders span Ballet (levels I–VI), Clogging (levels I–II), Hip Hop (levels I–III), Tap/Jazz (levels I–III), Lyrical (levels I–III), Modern (levels I–IV), Musical Theatre Dance (levels I–II), Jazz technique classes including Leaps and Turns and Stretch and Strength, and Dance Team Prep. The Tumbling Academy operates on a progressive, skill-based curriculum from beginner to advanced, with Tumbling I, II, and III classes for ages K–12th grade.

Competitive performing opportunities exist across three main troupes. The ODA Company is the elite intensive team for ages 5–18, selected by audition in June, performing at three regional and one national competition plus the Company Showcase, recital, and community events. Squad troupes are invitation-only performing groups that compete at two local dance competitions and appear at Company Showcase, recitals, and other community events; all Squad members must also enrol in at least one additional Academy class. Within Company, dancers progress through age and skill divisions including Mini Company (ages 5–8), Petite Company, Junior Company, Pre-Teen Purple, Pre-Teen Teal, Teen Purple, Teen Teal, and Senior Company (ages 7th–12th grade), each with specialist technique and performance classes in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Leaps and Turns, and Combinations.

The school year runs from September 14, 2026, with registration opening July 27, 2026 at midnight. Classes do tend to fill quickly. Adult classes include Adult Beginning Tap, Intermediate Adult Tap, and Adult Hip Hop. A parent who is a Company Parent describes the studio as a place where "your child can build a strong foundation in dance skills as well as strong relationships with their coaches and fellow classmates."

Classes are structured by age and experience level, from tiny preschoolers in creative movement through advanced competitive dancers. Expect detailed dress codes, clear skill prerequisites, and instructors who tailor goals to each individual dancer rather than treating the whole class as one unit.

The studio employs 17 qualified instructors. Founder and director Alex Hess oversees the academy and teaches; other named instructors on the schedule include Lisa Fosse (Ballet), Gloria Twitch (Jazz, Strength, Dance Team Prep), Andrea Simone Biles (Tumbling), Lauren Peg Leg (Hip Hop, Lower Academy), Kate K. (Preschool), and Heather (Tumbling). Alex Hess began teaching and choreographing as a high school student, captained and choreographed the Baker University dance team to their first NAIA national dance championship, and has served as head coach for competitive high school dance teams.

The studio explicitly welcomes beginners in Preschool Academy (ages 2+), Lower Academy combo classes, and introductory Upper Academy courses; students new to dance or with completed Pre-Combo can enrol in Combo I.