SLO Movement Arts Center
SLO Movement Arts Center, 2074 Parker St, Suite 100, Suite 100, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
About
SLO Movement Arts Center offers conservatory-style, leveled dance programs that follow a curriculum including ballet, modern dance technique, contemporary dance, contemporary repertoire, jazz, jazz/lyrical, creative movement, and basic ballet. Classes also include pre-pointe, pointe, and variations for dancers who are ready for that level of training.
• Ages: 4–18 years old
The Movement Arts Conservatory programs at SLO Movement Arts Center use placement based on age and ability, with conservatory programs for dancers ages 8–18 and a Pre-Conservatory Program for children ages 4–8. The conservatory program is designed to be taken as a whole, with each level acting as a cohort. Level 3 dancers may earn their first pair of pointe shoes when ready, as demonstrated through commitment, physical and mental maturity, and proprietary testing. Dancers at Level 4 are invited to audition for the Movement Arts Collective for additional performance experience, and Level 5 is designed to complete the dancer's pre-professional training and prepare them for further study in college or at nationally recognized programs.
All instructors have professional experience and/or higher education degrees in dance. Founders Maartje Lawrence and Ryan Lawrence are highly trained ballet professionals with degrees in dance from The Juilliard School and Het National Ballet Academy of the Netherlands, respectively. Faculty member Micaela Anderson trained and performed with Capitol Ballet Company in Sacramento under Stuart Carroll and Sharon Newton, pursued a professional career with Ballet West and the Kansas City Ballet, and received a degree in Mathematics/Economics from UCLA. Faculty member Catherine Russel Barnickel trained and performed with The Pennsylvania Ballet, Massachusetts Youth Ballet, School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and San Francisco Ballet School, and danced with the Kansas City Ballet for 12 years. Faculty member Emily Schwartz grew up in the competitive dance world, trained extensively at the School of Dance and Music for 12 years, studied under Angel Tyson of the Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Company as a member of Movement Dance Company, and is pursuing degrees in Child Development and Sociology at Cal Poly.
The stated mission of SLO Movement Arts Center is to inspire a lifelong interest in the performing arts, create ballet dancers of a recognized caliber, and develop model young individuals by encouraging commitment, dedication and the sustained pursuit of excellence in the art of dance. The Movement Arts Center was created in 2015. SLOMAC dancers perform at the Cuesta College CPAC. One parent, M. Shirley, said, “The care they give their dancers to succeed is wonderful. The directors are extremely knowledgeable and the technique they teach is very strong. I would highly recommend this studio.” Another parent, M. Wilson, stated, “The training at Movement Arts Center is the best we have found anywhere!”
Last updated June 24, 2026.
• Ages: 4–18 years old
The Movement Arts Conservatory programs at SLO Movement Arts Center use placement based on age and ability, with conservatory programs for dancers ages 8–18 and a Pre-Conservatory Program for children ages 4–8. The conservatory program is designed to be taken as a whole, with each level acting as a cohort. Level 3 dancers may earn their first pair of pointe shoes when ready, as demonstrated through commitment, physical and mental maturity, and proprietary testing. Dancers at Level 4 are invited to audition for the Movement Arts Collective for additional performance experience, and Level 5 is designed to complete the dancer's pre-professional training and prepare them for further study in college or at nationally recognized programs.
All instructors have professional experience and/or higher education degrees in dance. Founders Maartje Lawrence and Ryan Lawrence are highly trained ballet professionals with degrees in dance from The Juilliard School and Het National Ballet Academy of the Netherlands, respectively. Faculty member Micaela Anderson trained and performed with Capitol Ballet Company in Sacramento under Stuart Carroll and Sharon Newton, pursued a professional career with Ballet West and the Kansas City Ballet, and received a degree in Mathematics/Economics from UCLA. Faculty member Catherine Russel Barnickel trained and performed with The Pennsylvania Ballet, Massachusetts Youth Ballet, School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and San Francisco Ballet School, and danced with the Kansas City Ballet for 12 years. Faculty member Emily Schwartz grew up in the competitive dance world, trained extensively at the School of Dance and Music for 12 years, studied under Angel Tyson of the Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Company as a member of Movement Dance Company, and is pursuing degrees in Child Development and Sociology at Cal Poly.
The stated mission of SLO Movement Arts Center is to inspire a lifelong interest in the performing arts, create ballet dancers of a recognized caliber, and develop model young individuals by encouraging commitment, dedication and the sustained pursuit of excellence in the art of dance. The Movement Arts Center was created in 2015. SLOMAC dancers perform at the Cuesta College CPAC. One parent, M. Shirley, said, “The care they give their dancers to succeed is wonderful. The directors are extremely knowledgeable and the technique they teach is very strong. I would highly recommend this studio.” Another parent, M. Wilson, stated, “The training at Movement Arts Center is the best we have found anywhere!”
Last updated June 24, 2026.
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