Bravo Dance Center Makes It All About Family

It's only been around for just over one year, yet the Bravo Dance Center has already earned the kind of reputation that more established studios spend a lifetime acquiring.

"The competition team was at the Groove Dance Competition in Lancaster last year," said Lauren Kulp, who opened the school in 2012 with her sister, Lindsay Keegan. "One of the organizers referred to us as 'the classy studio.' That was really great to hear."

Since opening the school, located at 1540 Campus Drive, the same building that formerly housed the Bucks County Zoo, Kulp and Keegan have placed equal emphasis not only on sharp turns and pointed toes, but also leaving ego and attitude at the door.

"We are welcoming to all kids and make sure no cliques form amongst the dancers," said Kulp. "Everybody is really happy and not trying to cut each other's throat."

Kulp says that Bravo Dance Center's anti-bullying message goes a long way toward reversing the dance world's cutthroat reputation, one that she has witnessed in action. 

"We have seen other teams at competitions where the older girls barely acknowledge the younger dancers," said Kulp. "We stay together the whole time, make signs for each other, cheer each other on. We're like a big family."

The softer touch has not taken away the team's edge, however. In order to make it on the competition team, dancers must go through a rigid audition process complete with professional judges. Once they are on the team, the dancers have to attend two practices a week to prepare for the spring competition season.

The studio also hosts regular classes for all age groups, starting with its popular Princess Ballet/Jazz classes for ages 3 to 5 years old. There are also hip hop, contemporary, tap and Mommy & Me classes, with new enrollments always accepted.

"There is a relaxed, family feel to the studio," said Mary Gracey, a Warrington mom who transferred her daughter to Bravo Dance Center from another school. "She said to me, 'Dancing makes me happy again.' She always comes out of class smiling."

Those smiles were hard to find when Kulp and Keegan first opened the doors and felt those pangs of anxiety any new business owner feels. The weeds of self-doubt can grow quickly, causing the young entrepreneurs to second-guess the decision to follow their lifelong dreams to open their own studio.

Those weeds were killed with some creative marketing events, including an appearance by four castmembers from the hit reality series Dance Moms, that helped spread the always reliable word-of-mouth, and the momentum has been building ever since.

"We had more than 300 people come out to see the girls from 'Dance Mom,'" Said Kulp. "That's when we knew this was going to work. We've doubled our numbers since then."

To learn more about Bravo Dance Center, please see the website at www.bravodancecenterpa.com.  You may also contact Lauren Kulp at the studio directly by calling (215) 957-1800 or by email at info@bravodancecenterpa.com for more information.