Photos by Sandra Marquez and Marie Mccolm The Purple Moon Rising Studio in downtown Monte Vista will be hosting performing arts classes with Kayla Smith. Members of the OptiMystics Citizens Action Network Adam Lock and Ken Hamko attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Kayla Smith to host performing arts classes

MONTE VISTA — A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at Purple Moon Rising Studio in downtown Monte Vista.

Children laughed and danced all over the studio. Owner Ramone Isaacs was excited about the studio opening.

“This will be a great chance to network many businesses together here as one,” Isaacs said. “I am excited about the kids getting in here and having fun and having something great to do in the summer. This studio is for the people and children and will help get the people together in our community.”

The Purple Moon Rising Studio will be hosting performing arts classes with Kayla Smith. Smith, who is originally from Indiana, attended a performing arts school for 15 years, before moving to Colorado in 2010.

Smith said that she was excited to use the studio to open a business called Mrs. Kais Performing Arts Academy.

“We are going to be offering all types of performing arts,” Smith said. “We are offering classes for children ages 3 and up all the way to adults. For our summer sessions, we will be offering classes in, dance, singing, and acting for children. For the summer, I am excited to announce that kiddos who join our classes will also be in a performance in the Ski Hi Stampede Parade. We are also planning on hopefully having a musical at the end of each of our programs and we want to squeeze in a Christmas program as well.” 

Smith said she was excited about working with children and residents from the San Luis Valley, and she believes she will be unique to the Valley as there are not a lot of other programs like hers here.

Smith said that registration for the kids will be $175 for the program, which will include either dance, singing, or acting, and the fee includes the t-shirts that the children will be wearing in the parade. The classes are four days a week, with a possible need for two nights a week as well. There will be a specific theme to the parade.

“We are going to be honoring breast cancer survivors,” Smith said. “We would be honored if survivors would be willing to ride in our float for the parade. My mom is a breast cancer survivor as well. So, our class has also got a theme for a cause. Also, if anyone would like to buy a t-shirt, they are $30, and half of the proceeds will go to breast cancer survivors.”

Smith said parents and anyone registering along with residents have the option to buy a t-shirt and support this cause as well. 

Members of the OptiMystics Citizens Action Network Adam Lock and Ken Hamko attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“This is just going to bring more of our community together, and this will be a ton of fun for the kids out here. It is really nice to see something positive like this opening up in our town,” Lock said. 

For more information on Purple Moon Rising Studio or to register for performing arts classes, visit Ramone Isaacs or Mrs. Kais Academy of Performing Arts Facebook page.