New owner has special love for, long ties to Copeland Dance studio

Marie Bolson just couldn't let her friend's dream fade away.

And eight years after her mentor's death, Bolson finds herself carrying on Ellen Copeland's love for dance. Two weeks ago, Bolson finalized a deal to take ownership of Copeland Dance Academy, which was once run by Ellen Copeland, who died in 1999 from breast cancer.

"I just couldn't let it go away," said Bolson, who first met Copeland while the two taught dance classes at the St. Charles Park District. "I remember putting the tile down on the floors in the studio. I remember teaching alongside Ellen as we developed many dance companies. It was magic."

Though Bolson has moved the dance academy out of the white house on Main Street the two taught out of for years, she hopes to continue the magic. Dance classes now are in a studio at the Arcada building. That same studio had once served as a second studio for Copeland Dance.

"It's a beautiful studio," Bolson said, who noted that Copeland's family had kept the studio running after Ellen's death. "I'm just so pleased that we're actually here and that we did it."

In the years after Copeland's death, her family ran the business and had dance teachers manage the studio. During that time, the dance studio lost several students. Bolson is hoping to bring people back.

"So many people had thought we had closed," she said. "We're here and we're alive and we're going strong. We welcome everyone."

Though Copeland is no longer teaching with Bolson, Bolson imagines her friend in the studio encouraging her and saying things like "You go girl," and "I knew you could do it." On the dance studio's Web page, Bolson signs off a letter about the studio with "This one is for you, Ellen!"

"I feel that she is with me here all the time," said Bolson, who also works as a human resources director.

Others say they are certain Copeland would approve.

"I definitely think she would be happy that it's still going and that her original dream and her legacy is still here," said Angela Beckman, who was a student of Copeland's and now teaches at the dance academy.

The dance studio offers classes in ballet, tap, jazz, modern dance and hip-hop. The studio also offers Tiny Twos classes for toddlers. Bolson also teaches cecchetti ballet, a graded program that teaches technique and theory for more serious ballet students.

Though she teaches six classes a week, Bolson also is focused on developing the talent in her younger teachers -- some of whom were Copeland's students -- so they can take over the studio one day.

"I want to keep it going so that younger students can take it over when I want to move on," she said.

"I don't want it to disappear," she added. "It's been a well known dance studio out here for years and it's produced so many dancers and affected so many children around here."

Students will put on a holiday show, "Holiday Express," at 6 p.m. Dec. 16 in the Arcada Theater.

For information about the dance academy or to purchase tickets for the show, call (630)377-1144. For information about the dance studio, visit www.copelanddance.com.

Copeland Dance is located at 12 S. First Ave. and offers classes Mondays through Saturdays.