The Studio of Performing Arts often known as SOPA is located at 116 W Branch Street in the Village of Arroyo Grande. We offer beginning through advanced level classes for all ages in jazz, tap, ballet, modern, hip hop, and drama. We now offer a Saturday morning tumbling program for children ages 3-7 and started the 5 Cities Youth Performance Choir in January of 08. Our students are offered many performance opportunities throughout the year, including an annual recital in July and a holiday show called “A Night Before Christmas” in December. The studio also has several competition groups that compete twice a year.
The drama department puts on 1-2 musical theater productions per year that all of our students have the opportunity to audition for. Past musical productions include, CATS, Fiddler on the Roof, Westside Story, Annie, and more. Click on the “Upcoming Performances” link above to view what’s coming up next. Our large scale productions are held at the Clark Center in Arroyo Grande and our smaller scale shows are held in house, at the “Black Box Studio Theater.”
BIG NEWS! The Studio of Performing Arts (SOPA) in Arroyo Grande, came home from the LA DanceMagic competition in Santa Clara this past January boasting 6 platinum medals as well as several high golds. The studio has competed at this competition for the past several years, competing against some of the top studios in California in the areas of jazz, tap, lyrical and musical theater. Sydni Abenido and Marisol Wilson also took home a best overall teen duo award sending them home with a check for $50.00. The groups then went back to San Jose to Holllywood Vibe taking home numerous High Gold Awards and two of our dancers came home with Scholarships. Congrats to Sydni Abenido and Catherine Davidson. Lastly, big congrats to Shelby Demott and Abbie Sandquist on taking first place in the Search for Talent Competition on March 14th. Way to go girls.
It is the goal of the instructors at the studio to give the students as many opportunities to pursue their art as possible. You will see us performing regularly in the Village during the Harvest Festival, the Strawberry Festival, and many other local events. During the holidays, we take our show on the road and travel to local rest homes to share music and dance with those who may not be able to travel to the theater.
Shannon Lowrie, owner and director of the studio since 2000 has recruited a multi-talented staff of professionals to teach, guide and motivate our students to follow their dreams.
OUR MISSION
The Studio of Performing Arts is here to motivate people to explore their talents, create new ones, and us those talents to entertain themselves as well as others. Through our instruction and performances we strive to inspire art as an expression through discipline, dedication and most of all passion!
The Studio of Performing Arts often known as SOPA is located at 116 W Branch Street in the Village of Arroyo Grande. We offer beginning through advanced level classes for all ages in jazz, tap, ballet, modern, hip hop, and drama. We now offer a Saturday morning tumbling program for children ages 3-7 and started the 5 Cities Youth Performance Choir in January of 08. Our students are offered many performance opportunities throughout the year, including an annual recital in July and a holiday show called “A Night Before Christmas” in December. The studio also has several competition groups that compete twice a year.
The Studio of Performing Arts is here to motivate people to explore their talents, create new ones, and us those talents to entertain themselves as well as others. Through our instruction and performances we strive to inspire art as an expression through discipline, dedication and most of all passion!