About Us
A Mission of Movement
At Studio 9 Academy, our mission is to provide the children of Slaton and the surrounding communities with quality, year-round instruction in dance, cheer, and tumbling. Through your registration fee and monthly tuition, your child will have a reserved place in class where they can learn, grow, and thrive in a positive and encouraging environment.
We are incredibly excited to offer our community an outlet where children can not only develop their athletic and artistic abilities, but also build lifelong qualities such as determination, responsibility, discipline, confidence, teamwork, and passion. Our goal is to help every student discover their potential while creating lasting friendships and a love for movement that will stay with them long after they leave the studio.
Thank you for trusting us with your child. We are honored to be a part of their journey and look forward to watching them grow both inside and outside the classroom.
Taught from Experience
I want to first, and most importantly, express my love for Jesus Christ. Without my Lord and Savior, none of this would be possible. Every blessing, every opportunity, and every dream fulfilled is because of His grace, and I give Him all the glory.
Hello! My name is Bethanie Schaefer, and I am the proud owner of Studio 9 Academy. I am a wife to my wonderful husband, Harrison Schaefer, and a mom to our four incredible children. My greatest passions have always been dancing and teaching children, and those passions led me to begin this amazing journey.
I have so many dreams for the children and families of Slaton and the surrounding communities. My hope is to provide a place where every child feels loved, encouraged, and inspired—a place where they can express themselves, build confidence, discover their talents, and grow both as performers and as individuals.
My dance journey began at the age of three. At nine years old, I received my first dance scholarship from Tremaine Dance Convention, which fueled my passion even more. I continued my training in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, and Pointe under Sully Norris at Mrs. Sully's Dance Studio in my hometown of Lamesa, Texas. During high school, I expanded my training in Hip-Hop with Terry Lynn Hunt Lane at Legacy Elite Athletics in Midland, Texas.
As a senior in high school, I had the incredible opportunity to compete at the World Championships in Los Angeles with my competitive dance team, where we earned a second-place finish. I later received a dance scholarship to Howard College before continuing my education at Texas Tech University.
Over the years, I have been blessed to continue teaching at my hometown studio whenever possible, and those experiences have only strengthened my love for sharing dance with young people. Now, I am beyond excited to bring that same passion and dedication to the families of Slaton through Studio 9 Academy.
It is truly an honor to be entrusted with your children. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to be a small part of their lives and to help them grow through dance, movement, and the friendships they build along the way.
If you ever have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. I look forward to getting to know each of you and welcoming your family into the Studio 9 Academy family.
Thank you, and God bless!
"Let them praise his name with dancing…"
Psalm 149:3