‘Never going to give up’: Woman forced to close performing arts studio in St. George stays optimistic

ST. GEORGE — After the forced closure of her performing arts studio, Maria Vaccaro knows firsthand the personal heartache of losing a business in the wake of a worldwide pandemic. 

Dancer, choreographer and owner of Dixie Arts Conservatory, Maria Vaccaro stands in front of her home, St. George, Utah, April 21, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Dancer, choreographer and owner of Dixie Arts Conservatory, Maria Vaccaro stands in front of her home, St. George, Utah, April 21, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

Vaccaro, dancer, choreographer and owner of Dixie Arts Conservatory, with over 43 years of dance experience, told St. George News she spent some 18 years contributing to the performing arts community in Washington County before she was forced to close her studio doors due to the aftermath of COVID-19 restrictions. 

After opening her first official studio in St. George 15 years ago, she opened her latest studio, Dixie Arts Conservatory, 10 years ago, which she said had over 170 kids attending before the pandemic.

As the number of kids attending the conservatory dropped due to health restrictions in 2020, she tried teaching classes through Zoom but said since kids were doing home-school all day, attending online dance classes afterward was just too much.

During this time, her brother who owned a dance studio in upstate New York opened his Zoom classes up to the kids at her studio for free.

“He had like Michael Jackson’s choreographer come to Zoom classes, these names that are just like, crazy, so my kids who were really interested ended up taking Zoom classes from my brother,” she said. “He opened it all for free. Keep in mind that his business was suffering then, too.”

Vacarro said they tried going back to in-person classes at the studio, but the number of attendees kept shrinking. That’s when she realized her only option was to close.

Members of Dixie Arts Conservatory pose for photos, Location and Date unspecified, Photo courtesy of Maria Vaccaro, St. George News
Members of Dixie Arts Conservatory pose for photos, Location and Date unspecified, Photo courtesy of Maria Vaccaro, St. George News

“It was a very hard decision,” she said. “I can’t borrow money and even with the pandemic, I’m a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. I only got $1,000 to keep me afloat. Even if I sold everything, it just didn’t make sense.”

In December 2021, Vacarro’s son came home for Christmas but didn’t know he was coming home to help close the studio, she said, something that was extremely hard on both of them.

“It’s been since January, you know, and going into my garage is too much,” Vaccaro said, tears welling up in her eyes. “It’s tutus and costumes and ballet bars and you name it. Years and years and years of heart, soul and love.”

Training all over New York City and Chicago at a young age, Vaccaro said she had many unique opportunities over her 43-year dancing career, including training at MGM Studios with Debbie Reynolds, where she was also hired to do a fashion show that featured dresses by Elizabeth Taylor, Ann Miller and Marilyn Monroe.

After moving away from New York when she was 16, she said she stayed in Las Vegas, Nevada, for five years, where she taught at two different dance studios. At that time, as a single mother going through a divorce, she decided to move to St. George to provide her son with a better environment in which to grow up.

When Vaccaro first arrived in Washington County 23 years ago, she said she taught dance and choreographed at many dance studios, including Encore, Terry Talent Agency and Westside Studio. She also worked at the St. George Musical Theater, where she was the resident choreographer for five years, choreographing every show and performance they put on.

She also ran the St. George Musical Theater’s center stage program while working two other jobs and being a single mother of two young children under the age of 5.

“It was home, absolutely home,” Vaccaro said about St. George Musical Theater.

Members of Dixie Arts Conservatory perform on stage, Location and Date unspecified, Photo courtesy of Maria Vaccaro, St. George News
Members of Dixie Arts Conservatory perform on stage, Location and Date unspecified, Photo courtesy of Maria Vaccaro, St. George News

In 2009, the St. George Musical Theater closed and the building was demolished, she said, adding that they gave her the right to keep the center stage program and she decided to run with it.

She then opened her first dance studio, located on a hill behind Wendy’s in St. George. She said she loved both the location and the studio and that everything was going great until a sewage flood occurred. 

“It caused one whole floor to be ruined and part of another floor,” she said. “I had to gracefully bow out of the contract because it wasn’t safe for kids to be there anymore.”

She said she remembers breaking down and crying as she drove away from the studio she loved with her son, who was just under 1 year old at the time.

“My little sweetheart said, ‘Mommy, it’s OK’ and gave me a big hug,” Vaccaro said. “He got out of the car and pointed at a building and said, ‘Sign.’ Sure enough, it was a for-lease sign on a dance studio.” 

The studio already had mirrors and decent flooring, and it was everything she needed to get her studio back up and running. She said she was amazed at the outpouring of love and support from local dance parents, who even came together to paint the studio.

Dixie Arts Conservatory wasn’t just a regular competitive studio, she said, it was everyone’s home, where they all looked out for one another. She said her students still come to her house now to chat or hang out and watch movies.

“It’s one of those connections I’ll never lose and DAC is never going to die,” Vaccaro said. “The doors have been forced shut temporarily, but I feel like it will happen for me and the community again. I’m never going to give up teaching.”

Members of Dixie Arts Conservatory perform on stage, Location and Date unspecified, Photo courtesy of Maria Vaccaro, St. George News
Members of Dixie Arts Conservatory perform on stage, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Maria Vaccaro, St. George News

Since the closure of the Dixie Arts Conservatory, Vaccaro said she choreographed “Descendants” for Encore, a production that included 40 youth. And during this time, she said parents asked her where her studio was and how to enroll their kids, which she said was good to hear but also disheartening.

She also is choreographing a musical for Stage Door with her best friend as the director and a cast of 52 people. Rehearsals are set to begin in a few short weeks.

Vaccaro clarified that she only puts on full productions and never dance recitals. She referred to “Neverland” as an example, in which part of the stage was turned into a ship and performers used trampolines to fly.

While still uncertain about the future, Vaccaro said she is extremely grateful for the youth she has taught over the years and the amazing community created at both her studios and through various other opportunities she’s had to teach.

“Dixie Arts Conservatory was never about the money,” Vaccaro said. “I never once received a paycheck and I offered my studio space to be used for free to anyone who asked. The money was never as important as my passion and love for teaching others and watching them succeed.”

Dixie Arts Conservatory has set up a GoFundMe page for those interested in donating to the studio’s reopening. Donations can also be sent via Venmo. For more information on past performances and the studio’s closure, see their Facebook page.

Ed. Note: When making charitable contributions it is advisable to consult with professionals for tax advice and investment risks.

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