Welcome to the Dancers’ Workshop
The Dancers’ Workshop has been training Baton Rouge’s dancers since 1973 and we are the official school of the Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre. Thousands of dancers have come through our program. Many have done it simply for the enjoyment of dance, while others have gone on to prestigious careers in professional dance companies and even on Broadway.
All classes are developmentally appropriate, technique based, and progressively paced. Our pledge to you is to provide the highest quality dance instruction available at an affordable cost.
We love to dance and you will too.
Our Facility
State of the Art
We have three studios under one roof with enough size to accommodate all levels . Parents can use either our indoor or outdoor waiting areas, depending upon the weather. Our studio is located in a neighborhood with a number of restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores, and shopping areas within several blocks of the studio. The office is staffed during most class periods to help with registration or scheduling issues and for dropping off payments.
Schedule and Class Information
Upcoming Events
February 20 – 21: Mardi Gras, Studio closed
March 25: Youth Ballet Auditions 9:00 – 10:30 am
Meet our Directors
Molly Buchmann (Co-Artistic Director) is co-owner of The Dancers’ Workshop, co-artistic director of BRBT, and retired Head of Dance for the LSU Department of Theatre where she developed the current dance minor program. She has choreographed over 60 musicals for professional, community and university theatres as well as ballet and modern works for BRBT, LSU, Western Oklahoma Ballet, and San Antonio Metropolitan Ballet. Her choreography has been recognized by a Choreographic Fellowship from the State of Louisiana and by gala recognition from Regional Dance America Southwest for her works set on both BRBT and San Antonio Metropolitan Ballet. She holds a master’s degree in dance and taught choreography, dance history and dance performance at LSU. In 2001 she received an LSU Tiger Athletic Foundation Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching. For the State Department of Education, she has written dance and fine arts curriculum guides and served as a dance clinician for teachers throughout the state. She has studied and performed with ProDanza Italia and, along with Ms. Mathews, received the Mayor-President’s Award for Excellence in the Arts. She is an American Ballet Theatre Certified Teacher who has successfully completed all levels of the ABT National Training Curriculum through the ABT Teacher Training Institute.
Sharon Mathews (Co-Artistic Director) is co-artistic director of BRBT and co-owner of The Dancers’ Workshop. From 1976 to August 2014, she served as Director of Dance for Baton Rouge Magnet High School. She holds a BS in Education and an MS in Dance from LSU. She has been named Outstanding Dance Educator in the state by the Louisiana Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Regional Dance America Southwest, the Superintendent’s Task Force for Arts in Education and the State Arts Contents Standards Committee and has written curriculum guides for dance at the state and parish levels. She was resident choreographer for the BR Opera and has choreographed for the Gilbert and Sullivan Society, LSU Opera, LSU Theatre and Theatre Baton Rouge. Choreography includes Carmen and The King and I for LSU and Oklahoma! and West Side Story for Theatre Baton Rouge. In 2003 she was inducted into the University High School Hall of Distinction and Baton Rouge Magnet High School Hall of Fame. She is an ABT Certified Teacher who has successfully completed the ABT Teacher Training Institute in Primary through Level 7 and Partnering of the ABT National Training Curriculum.
2022 Graduating Seniors
Carolyn Herman began training at the Dancers’ Workshop at the age of eight and has also trained extensively through summer intensives at the Houston, Washington, Sarasota, Indianapolis, and Nashville Ballets. She has enjoyed featured roles in the Nutcracker – A Tale from the Bayou, Rapunzel, Cinderella, Midnight Magic, and Homecoming Dances. Dancers in the Nutcracker will remember Caroline’s incredibly successful program “Clara’s Closet”, a financial assistance program for dancers in need. Caroline has maintained a 4.0 GPA at St. Joseph’s Academy and is a National Merit Finalist. She will attend the University of Texas next year as a Health Science Scholars Honor student, planning to major in neuroscience with a minor in dance. Congratulations!!
Maeve Zelden has been dancing at the Dancers’ Workshop for 13 years and has been featured in prominent roles in The Nutcracker – A Tale from the Bayou (performing for an astonishing 10 straight years), Rapunzel, Coppélia, and Midnight Magic. According to Maeve, “Ballet has been her heart and soul, meeting her very best friends and making her fondest memories at the Dancers’ Workshop.” Maeve is an honor student and an AP scholar at St. Joseph’s Academy and is also a National Merit Commended scholar. She will accept a scholarship to attend the University of Alabama, planning to major in biochemistry with an aim to apply to medical school. Congratulations!!
The Dancers’ Workshop
10745 Linkwood Court
Baton Rouge, LA 70810
225-767-5814
dancersworkshop@bellsouth.net