Centralia Ballet Academy Plans Move to Downtown's Oldest Building

Talk to Mick and Nancy Gunter about Centralia Ballet Academy and one common theme quickly emerges — their students.

While they have had many accomplishments over the last six years, they rarely talk about themselves. Rather, they are quick to point out what their students are doing, where they are going and how proud they are of them.

So it should come as no surprise their latest move, buying a new building to create a larger studio space, should be all about their students as well.

“We're going to be around for a while so it kind of makes sense to have a place to build into the studio we want our students to have,” Mick Gunter said.

Centralia Ballet Academy started six years ago with about 15 students. This year, the program had grown to about 80 students. Since its inception Centralia Ballet Academy has been leasing space in the lower level of The Aerie building. While the space once worked for the small studio, as they have grown its single dressing room and bathroom and parent waiting area have become too small. Minimal storage means set pieces and costumes are sometimes in the dressing room or studio area and even the dance floor has become too small for some of their more advanced dancers.

“We need the space,” Nancy Gunter said. “We had girls taken up into lifts almost go into the lights. Or we'd have male dancers who would go to do a combination and they'd say 'do you want me to do the first half of the steps or the last half because I don't have room to do them all.'”

Last year, the Gunters began the process of looking for a building to buy and create a space all their own. Mick Gunter said they had two criteria: the building must be in or near downtown Centralia; and it must be large enough for two separate dance floors. Recently, they decided on 109 North Tower, located directly across from the Olympic Club in downtown Centralia. Built in 1892 it is the oldest standing building in downtown Centralia. The Gunters, a family with two young children, are actually putting up their own money to purchase the building.

“It's scary,” Nancy Gunter said. “Exciting, but scary.”

The Gunters and families of Centralia Ballet Academy also began a GoFundMe.com account with a $25,000 fund-raising goal. Mick Gunter said the $25,000 fund-raiser will cover the cost of helping them renovate the space and “just to get our foot in the door,” he said. Among the giver incentives being offered, donors giving $100 will get a ceramic tile with their name in the front of the new building.

“One hundred dollars is a pretty small price to be part of history but also to be responsible for building a future for young people,” Mick Gunter said.

Centralia Ballet Academy’s lease at The Aerie is up at the end of July and the Gunters’ intention is to move the studio to the new building at that point. Currently, 109 N. Tower has two entrances: one that leads to the downstairs space and one that leads upstairs. One of the first parts of the renovation will be to move the front of the building back to its original location to create a single entrance.

The downstairs space has a 60-foot by 24-foot floor and high ceilings, making it perfect for their more advanced dancers as well as a performance space for smaller events. Mick Gunter said they hope to offer performances or useful space during downtown events such as Girls Night Out and other local art events.

“We want to be down here to be more involved in the downtown,” Mick Gunter said.

About three-quarters of a mezzanine at the back of the downstairs will be torn down but the rest will be used for costume and set storage. At the same time, a mezzanine that once existed at the front of the building will be rebuilt to provide a parent waiting area and changing rooms.

A second dance floor in the upstairs area is closer to the size of their current dance floor and will be the perfect size for their younger dancers as well as less space minded classes such as Pilates.

Having more space will mean Centralia Ballet Academy can add new classes such as tap, possibly martial arts and a higher level of ballet than they were able to offer before. Nancy Gunter said they will also offer a greater variety of slots for younger students to make it easier for families and expect the space will mean their enrollment numbers will continue to grow.

“What has astounded me is growth in terms of level,” Nancy Gunter said. “Given it takes four years to establish a base of teaching we’ve got some incredibly talented and determined dancers who have just taken off.”

One of those is Jacob Brein, 16, in his fifth year with Centralia Ballet. Brein auditioned for and was selected for the Oregon Ballet Theatre’s 6-week summer intensive, an incredibly competitive process. Brein, who wants to become a professional dancer, said his studies with Centralia Ballet have helped him move forward.

“It’s motivated me and helped me motivate others,” Brein said.

Another success story is Sammy Jo Myer, 23, who started classes at Centralia Ballet Academy five years ago and has taught some of their youngest students the last three years. Myer was accepted to Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London to study dance medicine and science or dance research. Myer didn’t start focusing on dance until after high school, which is considered very late for dancers and said the supportive and nurturing environment at Centralia Ballet Academy encouraged her to follow her passion.

“This was a phenomenal place to be able to learn and not feel like you’re being bombarded for being too old,” Myer said.