Butler student to open new dance school

Owner Piper Wise, right, and instructor Autumn Lind stand at the main entrance to El Dorado School of Performing Arts, located at 112 S. Main St.

One of the newest businesses to grace El Dorado's downtown district promises to give young dancers a new home. Tucked in the South Main Suites alongside Amy K Designs and E-Town Nutrition, El Dorado School of Performing Arts is set to open its doors in January 2026. When I spoke to owner and director Piper Wise, the crew at El Dorado School of Performing Arts, or EDSPA, was gearing up to put down the Marley floor, flooring specifically designed for dance rehearsal spaces.

Wise is a lifelong El Doradoan, having graduated from El Dorado High School and currently an elementary education student at Butler Community College. Now Wise is working to create a learning environment for dancers to grow and thrive in, just like she had as a young dancer.

El Dorado has been home to a handful of dance studios over the past two decades. Wise recounted studios such as Mizelle's School of Dance, a Wichita Children's Theatre branch, and El Dorado Dance Studio. Wise says she found her roots at Mizelle's School of Dance, and she was dismayed when the school closed. She continued her dancing career with the El Dorado High School Dance Team and at Butler Community College, along with friend and fellow elementary education major Autumn Lind. Now with the support of family and friends, Wise is fulfilling a dream of opening her own dance studio in El Dorado. Since July, the EDSPA crew has been hard at work to make this dream a reality.

"Autumn is my right hand and my mom is my left," says Wise. Indeed, during our conversation, Wise's mother, Andrea Wise, unpacked boxes and considered where in the office to display a dance-themed clock and artwork depicting pointe shoes.

The physical studio isn't the only part of the school Wise has been developing. Wise spent the fall stocking the school with a staff of her Butler peers, all of whom she met through dance classes at the college. Andrea Wise will serve as office manager at EDSPA and guide the day-to-day operations. With a full team of instructors and support staff, EDSPA is equipped to offer ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary and Hip Hop to students aged 3 to 18.

Enrollment is open, and classes start January 16. Wise offers a sibling discount to assist families with multiple dancers, supporting her goal to make tuition affordable for El Dorado families. Wise's primary mission is to create a welcoming space for every dancer who comes through the doors.

"I want to create an environment where people no matter what age can come in and feel at home."

The staff at EDSPA will host an open house from 4 to 6 p.m. on January 10, offering an opportunity for the community to check out the updated space and meet the instructors. Potential students can enroll via the EDSPA website, and anyone interested in staying up-to-date in the school can do so by following El Dorado School of Performing Arts on Facebook and Instagram.

Learn more at https://edspadancestudio.com/