Kathleen Connolly

At seven years old, Kathleen’s destiny was set. “I can tell you the exact moment I wanted to become a dancer. My best friend D’Lee Dunn was taking ballet and tap classes at Linda English School of Dance, and I was so jealous. I couldn’t wait to run home and ask my mom and dad for dance lessons,” said Kathleen Connolly Aguilera. Kathleen started her classes and has never looked back. After teaching for her mentor for several years, Kathleen opened her own dance studio, Connolly Dance Arts (CDA), in 1990. The studio has become a family tradition for many of Kathleen’s former students, who are now sending their little ones to dance at CDA.

Students not only relish the experience, but they also grow up and bring their children. Katrina Duranski told us she danced at CDA from the age of three until after high school and now sends her two daughters to the studio. “Kathleen was like a second mom,” she said. “My kids love being there too. Right now, my oldest dances there about 10 hours a week, and my youngest started when she turned three. She just loves it. The teachers make it feel very welcoming, and the kids have a great time.” Celebrating 35 years in business, Kathleen talked to us about how she got to lead one of Katy’s favorite dance studios.

Appreciate Your Blessings

One of five children, Kathleen recalls the year that her parents had to hit pause on all of their extracurriculars due to finances. It became a life lesson on learning to appreciate how precious those activities were and that not everyone could afford them. “Once I was able to return to dance, my dad said he felt bad about not being able to provide the lessons because he could see how much I missed dancing,” she told us.

“I had heard about an arts high school as a young dancer and had always wanted to attend. My dream became reality when D’Lee and I both were accepted into the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. We danced alongside each other for four years, until high school graduation in 1984,” she said. She is proud to be part of the first graduating class that had been there all four years and will celebrate her 40th high school reunion this summer.

Giving Back

Each year, CDA spearheads a campaign as a service project for the year. This allows her students to learn the importance of helping others by giving back to the community. The annual Connolly In The Community has helped out organizations such as Clothed by Faith, Goodwill, Toys For Tots, Houston Food Bank, and Casa de Esperansa.

Ashton Blevins, Kathleen’s daughter, shared that, “growing up at the dance studio helped me gain an appreciation for the arts and my community. It has allowed me to freely express myself in a safe environment free of judgement. I am so excited to be able to share my love of dance with my own daughter. It is an inspiration to have a role model that has made such a huge impact on my community.”

Marissa Abssi, another former student at CDA who now sends her two young daughters and son to the studio, also praised Kathleen for helping kids have a good balance in their focus between life and dance. “We’re not pushing them to be ballerinas,” she said. “Recreational dance still offers heaps of fun while letting children still be who they are.”

Working with such young children is always an adventure. Her students become family, sometimes inviting Kathleen to weddings and graduations. “My favorite thing about being a dance teacher is seeing the kids grow up and have families of their own,” she said. “My goal is to help young people develop into outstanding citizens and great people. I care about who they are as people and who they’ll become. Hopefully, they’ll have the manners and discipline we taught them in dance their entire life.”

Paying It Forward

“I want the studio to be a very welcoming environment where kids feel comfortable and confident,” Kathleen said. “A place where they can come and deepen friendships with their peers, work hard at something they love, and learn to support one another.” Her studio is inclusive to all, and all are welcome.

Teacher and lifelong CDA member Kendra Fernandez states, “Connolly Dance Arts was truly my home away from home growing up. It was a place where I could not only dance, but also feel confident to express myself. Growing up at CDA I learned how to be the strong, independent, young adult I am today. While teaching at Connolly, I hope to teach my students the same core values I learned from CDA. I want to give a safe environment where my students can feel confident.”

As a certified member of Dance Masters of America, she furthered her dance training by graduating from their Teacher Training Program. Kathleen has worked hard fine-tuning a dance program for children as young as age two to learn and love the art of dance. As the owner of Connolly Dance Arts, she is living her dream of “a legacy of dance, and a lifetime of memories.” Kathleen’s hard work and dedication over the last 35 years have made the studio the success it is today.