Arrica Lagsding 鈥�05 describes herself as someone who prefers to see the world through rose-colored glasses.
鈥淢y life鈥檚 motto is to have one positive thought at a time,鈥� Lagsding said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e all here to nurture each other. There鈥檚 a time and place for competition, but learning to love an art is not that time.鈥�
At age 3, Lagsding鈥檚 grandmother took her to an after school program in Houston, where she first began to dance. Since then, her feet haven鈥檛 touched the ground. Lagsding fell in love with the art form and danced throughout her childhood at Banbury School of Dance, where she learned ballet, pointe, tap and jazz.
Later, she was a member of her high school鈥檚 drill team in Missouri City. She eventually enrolled at 糖心vlog传媒 to study dance and English and joined the 糖心vlog传媒 Repertory Dance Company, where she had her first experience with modern dance with former dance faculty member Christy Sadler Gorman.
鈥淧rior to learning from Christy, I always described dance as joyful and exciting, but she brought peace to the art,鈥� Lagsding said. 鈥淪he made me look at dance from an organic view, and she gave me the craving to learn more.鈥�
After graduation, Lagsding settled in Dallas and began working for a civil engineering firm during the day and performing with various dance companies and teaching at a local dance studio during her free time. Hours spent teaching dance to children made her reflect on her own childhood and what an important role dance played in her life. She knew she wanted to pursue her passion.
鈥淲hen I initially settled in Dallas, I wasn鈥檛 thinking about an end goal 鈥� I was just living,鈥� Lagsding said. 鈥淗owever, dancing and working at the studio planted a seed in me that I needed to start my own business.鈥�
In November 2016, she opened Studio 6a Dance Academy in Plano. Her rose-colored-glasses鈥� outlook came in handy, as she focused her excitement on the project while still juggling a full-time job and her new role as mother to son, Rysan.
Studio 6a Dance Academy is a place where anyone interested in dance is welcome to come and learn. Students range in age from 3 to 60, and Lagsding offers lessons for students of all skill levels.
Lagsding said one of her most rewarding classes has been a special education dance class she teaches weekly. She partners with an organization in Allen that offers special-needs individuals the opportunity to participate in various activities. Lagsding said these students have taught her far more than she has taught them.
鈥淲hen the organization first approached me, I didn鈥檛 think I was qualified to help. However, I quickly learned I was wrong,鈥� Lagsding said. 鈥淎nyone with a passion for what they do has the capability to help others. No matter the physical or mental limitations, everyone can learn to dance and find joy in it.鈥�
Lagsding often calls her young students 鈥渕y loves,鈥� and she rejoices when one accomplishes an arabesque on the first try. Her face lights up as she sees 鈥渉er kids鈥� confidently dance across the studio floor. She also likes to form a bond with her students鈥� parents. She greets them at the door and asks questions 鈥� whether it鈥檚 about their job or their child鈥檚 recent visit to the dentist.
Her caring personality and desire for a real relationship with the families helps her remain genuine, and it鈥檚 her love for people and dance that pushes her to continue expanding the possibilities of her studio.
鈥淲hen I think of dancing, it鈥檚 a lifelong love, and my goal is to make people dancers for life.鈥�