New Studio Space Invites Palisadians to Performing Arts Classes

By LILY TINOCO | Reporter

Palisadians Derek and Cami Capps are excited to introduce their latest venture and invite community members along for the ride: The couple is opening a performing arts and fitness studio at 522 Palisades Drive.

The space was previously occupied by Ballet Conservatory West, which closed its doors after nine years due to consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an emailed statement.

The Capps bring years of experience to their upcoming space, Palisades Performing Arts & Fitness Studio. The couple shared they officially met in a dance class while attending East Carolina University, but discovered they crossed paths years before then—through an old program of theirs, the two learned they were in the same production of “Cinderella” in elementary school.

After college, the couple opened their first dance studio in North Carolina. Years later, they went on to open and operate studios in Florida, Hong Kong and Singapore.

While living in Hong Kong, Derek said he transitioned his career into fitness and worked with Pure Fitness Asia, which had a partnership with luxury fitness club Equinox in Los Angeles. Derek and Cami made the move to LA after spending five years in Asia, and now live in the Highlands.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Derek began offering classes in fitness and sports for children in Pacific Palisades and Santa Monica, as well as personal training for adults. He said these experiences inspired the couple to open their first California studio.

“We have three kids, we saw how our kids and many kids were having challenges socially, and it was because their school was on a computer … kids were to themselves, they didn’t do well socially,” Derek said to the Palisadian-Post. “I started PE programs in July of 2020 to get kids back together and socialize. Fitness, dance and PE are great mediums to help with team building skills, conflict management and to physically get their endorphins going.

“That’s what spurred this adventure, connecting with families … that said, ‘My kids need help, they need an outlet.’”

Palisades Performing Arts & Fitness Studio is slated to offer a wide range of classes, including hip hop, ballet, ballroom, musical theater, improv, piano, voice, guitar, cardio dance, sculpting, HIIT training, yoga and more.

Derek said the adult fitness classes will have a dance focus, allowing for a greater sense of self expression.

“I think it’s important in the arts and even fitness that it’s expressive,” he said. “It goes beyond the physical and really starts to affect someone in a positive way … where you get to bare your soul, find that person inside of you and express that person. Adults … get jobs, get titles, get responsibility. That part of them … can get lost sometimes.”

Official classes are slated to begin later in August, but summer camps will be offered to children from 5 to 7 years old, starting Monday, August 2, through Friday, August 13, and to teenagers from 12 to 16 years old starting Monday, August 2, through Friday, August 6.

“We want people to be able to come in and have a taste of everything to see what they might be interested in in the fall,” Cami said.

Derek and Cami said they’re most excited about meeting more of the community through their studio.

“We like to work with people, and dance and the arts and fitness is something that can’t be replaced,” Derek said. “We want to find a way to really genuinely connect with people and there’s no better way than a safe place of movement.”

The Palisades Performing Arts & Fitness Studio will be hosting an Open House on Sunday, August 1, from 2 to 5 p.m. Attendees can learn about the classes being offered, preview the fall schedule, and meet Derek, Cami and more of the staff.

For more information, directors Derek and Cami can be reached at palisadesstudiola@gmail.com.