DaySpring School of the Arts

Opens Facility in Crestwood

By Jim Day

DaySpring School of the Arts was created in September of 1993 by a group of Christian artists who were seeking a different kind of arts education for their children. Remembering their own struggles as young artists, they dreamed of a place where their children could receive quality technical training in a secure and nurturing environment that would prepare them to deal gracefully with the realities of life in the competitive world of the arts. It was an impressive vision. Sixteen years later, it’s a vision that has become a reality, as DaySpring opens a second location to meet an increasing demand for quality arts instruction.

In 1993, DaySpring School of the Arts consisted of a handful of performing arts classes taught by a small group of friends, with their own children and church families as their primary audience. New Covenant Church served as the school’s home for the first five years of its existence, with church members providing much of the school’s leadership.
One of the keys to the school’s early success was its popularity with the rapidly growing homeschool community in St. Louis. As homeschool students began flocking to dance and drama classes, teachers and staff alike were impressed with their families’ commitment to education and pursuit of excellence. Soon DaySpring began offering performing arts and academic enrichment classes specifically for homeschooled students. Gradually, through word-of mouth and personal recommendations, the school began to attract other teachers and families who shared a similar vision for the arts and DaySpring began to build its own identity.

In 1998, DaySpring incorporated as a separate tax-exempt nonprofit, with its own board of directors. The following year, the organization acquired its own building in Maryland Heights. Today the school is home to nearly 750 students, with a structured multi-disciplinary arts program that emphasizes the importance of technical excellence and character training. From three classes, the program has expanded to include six distinct departments (Dance, Art, Music, Drama, Musical Theatre, and Backstage), which maintain individual policies and standards, while sharing a common vision and common resources.

Homeschoolers continue to feature prominently in the life of the organization. Since 2000, DaySpring has been home to the Academy, a program for homeschoolers that offers a structured, creative approach to core academic subjects. Additionally, DaySpring continues to offer homeschool enrichment classes in academics and the performing arts.

For Nancy Schaaf, DaySpring’s Executive Director, the key words that encompass DaySpring’s mission are ‘excellence’ and ‘discipleship.’ As Christians, she believes, we have a duty to display excellence in everything we do as a reflection of God’s glory and excellence. At DaySpring this goal of excellence is seen in the quality of productions, as well as the behavior and professionalism of the students. “We want to teach students how to make the most of the gifts that God has given them,” Ms. Schaaf explains.

This leads to the second part of DaySpring’s mission—discipleship, or, if you prefer, mentoring. (“I personally like the word ‘discipleship,’ “ Ms. Schaaf notes, “because it has the root of ‘discipline’ in it. That’s important when you’re talking about the arts!”) This emphasis on character training and mentoring appeals to families from many backgrounds who want to see their children instilled with clear moral values.

Arts education presents a natural venue for this kind of training. Whether in a dance class or a private music lesson, the bond between teacher and students is important. In addition to modeling good technique, teachers also impart lessons about life, including perseverance, teamwork, setting and meeting goals, and maintaining a teachable attitude. Because of this, a piano or a drama teacher can have a profound impact on the worldview and character of a student. That’s one of the reasons that DaySpring believes that arts training can be life-changing even for those students who never plan to pursue the arts professionally.

Ms. Schaaf believes that this commitment to excellent and personal training is what sets DaySpring apart from other arts organizations in St. Louis. It has also led to the success of DaySpring graduates, many of whom are now pursuing higher education and professional careers in the arts as Christians with strong foundations as well.

With success, of course, have come new challenges. As the Maryland Heights facility has become more and more crowded, DaySpring has been considering various possibilities for growth and expansion. With the current economic climate, however, opportunities for expansion seemed limited. That’s why everyone was so thrilled last November when they heard about ArtSpace.

ArtSpace is a new initiative launched by Crestwood Court (formerly Crestwood Plaza) in partnership with the Regional Arts Commission to provide affordable space for local arts groups. DaySpring is one of several arts organizations chosen to lease store space in an empty wing of Crestwood Court.

DaySpring believes that this is an invaluable opportunity to reach families in the South County area. The location of the new satellite—in the midst of a community of artists and professional arts organizations at Crestwood Court—will help to raise the school’s profile and attract new students as well as further the mission of DaySpring.

In February, DaySpring will begin holding classes in their new space, in the east wing of Crestwood Court between Sears and Dillards. The Crestwood location will offer many of the same classes as the Maryland Heights location, including dance, drama, and art classes, as well as private music lessons and various homeschool enrichment classes. In addition, the new space will allow for some new programming, including classes in circus arts. The spring semester will run from February through May, with a series of summer camps being offered in June through August.

While DaySpring is thrilled to be reaching a new audience, they remain committed to the Maryland Heights community. In June, DaySpring will be collaborating with the City of Maryland Heights to present the First Annual Shakespeare Kids Festival. DaySpring will host a three-week drama workshop for young children and teens to learn and stage a kid-friendly version of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. On June 27-28, the students will give free performances of the play in Maryland Heights’s Vago Park. Both performances will be accompanied by a festival of Renaissance activities, including juggling and fencing demonstrations, madrigals, circus arts, face painting and more. Students and teachers are excited about this opportunity to share the arts with their community.

In spite of current economic challenges, Ms. Schaaf and the Board of Directors are optimistic about the DaySpring’s future. As long as St. Louis families continue to value education and the arts, excellence and beauty, and the high values of character inherent in our Christian worldview, they are confident that the school will continue to grow. And they’re convinced that one day, in the not-too-distant future, they’ll be talking about expanding again—this time, hopefully, into a brand new building of their own.

For more information about DaySpring classes in Maryland Heights or Crestwood, please contact the DaySpring office at (314) 291-8878 or visit their website at www.dayspringarts-ed.org.