Ingram School of Dance in Orange, TX | Dance Schools | Texas Catalog

Ingram School of Dance

Ingram School of Dance has a rich heritage in dance. The studio was established in the Orange community by Mary Alice Ingram Callahan. She conducted classes from 1933 to 1986 when former student, Pam Boehme Simon, returned and purchased the studio. "Miss Mary Alice" still comes to every recital, visits the studio regularly, and has even stepped in as substitute teacher for Miss Pam when necessary. Her students have experienced their own successes as a consequence of her fine instruction. Graduates of Ingram School of Dance have distinguished themselves as professional dancers in companies throughout the United States and internationally, and as dance instructors at university and professional levels. To this day, her students are actively dancing and teaching in locations from coast to coast, in Alaska, and Europe.
The studio, while founded in Orange in 1933, moved to its present location in 1954 when Miss Mary Alice built her “new” studio. It was built just as you see it now, a dance studio above, and her home beneath. It was one of the biggest open space rooms built at the time. Metal i-beams like those found in skyscrapers reinforce the building, eliminating the need for support poles in the middle of the room as was the more common practice at the time when constructing such a space.
Our Classes:
- Ballet and Pointe. Vaganova (Russian) with some aspects of the French and Cecchetti methods. Lyrical and Bournonville styles touched upon as well. Nine month course with registration in August.
- Tap. American style (very jazzy, down into the floor, a lot of heel work, strongly syncopated) taught, with English (a very light and elegant dancing style, quite classical) and Clogging styles incorporated. Nine month course with registration in August.
- Jazz/HipHop. Classic and contemporary jazz with explorations of Hip Hop, Modern, the Fosse style, and other theatrical dance forms. Nine month course with registration in August.
- Acro-Gymnastics. Acrobatic, Tumbling, and Gymnastic (Floor Exercise) skills taught. Nine month course with registration in August.
- Lyrical. The physical interpretation of the lyrics of a song. Must be concurrently enrolled in and attending a ballet class at ISD. Grades 5 and up. Nine month course with registration in August.
- Cheer Clinic. Preparation intensive for cheerleader tryouts. Work on cheers, chants, dances, jumps and tumbling. Clinic runs December through February. Grades K - 11 only. Registration forms available in November.
- Drill Team Prep. Drill Team preparation sessions are taught on a private lesson basis.
- Summer Acro-Gymnastics. Four week session taught mid-summer. Meets twice a week for a total of 8 classes.