By Becky Holland
COCHRAN — For Ana Bateman, Tippie Toes Dance Studio was never intended to be simply a place where children learned dance steps.
She wanted it to be a family.
A place where girls could learn, laugh, make friends, build confidence and know there were adults in their corner.
“A place for girls to feel Jesus in a safe place,” Bateman said.
Ana, 30, and her husband, Wesley Bateman, 29, are the owners of Tippie Toes Dance Studio in Cochran. The couple married in January, and together they are building a business centered not only around dance, but also around faith, encouragement and community.
For Ana, dance has long been part of her life. She danced competitively and professionally and said dance became an outlet for her.
That experience eventually grew into the dream of having a studio of her own.
Tippie Toes now has approximately 65 students ranging in age from 2 to 13, with students learning ballet, hip-hop and jazz.
The response since the studio opened its doors has been overwhelmingly positive.
Earlier this year, Tippie Toes held a dance recital at the City Auditorium in Cochran. It was Wesley’s first experience with a dance recital, and he said he was surprised by the turnout.
There was not an empty seat.
Ana said people were standing as families and supporters filled the auditorium to watch the dancers perform.
For Ana, that kind of support reflects the community she hoped to build around the studio.
“Being a girl isn’t easy,” she wrote on Facebook months before our interview when explaining the heart behind Tippie Toes. “There are so many different expectations to meet, standards to uphold, and an image to carry.”
Her own experiences growing up helped shape her belief that young people need strong support systems and trusted people willing to listen.
Her Christian faith is woven throughout the studio’s mission.
“My desire for Tippie Toes Dance Studio is to be a place where people feel the love of Jesus,” she said. “It is a place where girls walk in to be loved on and walk out feeling more confident.”
That does not mean the dancing takes a back seat.
Students are taught dance technique, choreography and musicality, and some also have opportunities to compete. But Ana wants the lessons learned at Tippie Toes to extend beyond what happens on the dance floor.
She wants students to know they can be heard, advocated for and mentored.
She also wants them to have fun.
Tippie Toes is a place for laughter, friendships and the everyday memories that come from growing up alongside other children who share an interest in dance.
The studio offers classes during the week, and Tippie Toes has also expanded beyond traditional dance instruction. Its Facebook page promotes birthday parties and event-space rentals in addition to classes.
The studio’s motto captures that broader approach: “Where little feet take big steps.”
For Ana, however, perhaps the biggest steps are the ones that cannot be measured during a recital or competition.
They happen when a shy child gains confidence. When friendships form. When a student realizes someone is listening. When a dance teacher becomes another trusted adult in a child’s life.
“My prayer is that when you meet me, come into my studio, and meet the few girls that work for me, you see the love of Christ through us,” Ana said, “and that your child will have a dance family, a safe haven and another place to call home.”
That is what Ana and Wesley hope Tippie Toes can continue to be.
Not just a dance studio.
A family, a safe haven and a place to belong.
For information about Tippie Toes Dance Studio, visit the studio’s Facebook page or email tippietoesdance@gmail.com.
Leave a Reply