Former dance teacher-student duo to open studio in Horizon West

A new dance studio soon will open in Hamlin, making owner Cariliz Berrios’ dreams come true. 

More than just making her dreams come true, she is doing it alongside Kristin Kehley, her longtime dance teacher who played a pivotal role in making it all happen. 

Berrios was born in Puerto Rico, and when she was 5 years old, her mother put her in dance classes. Berrios was learning ballet and belly dancing. 

But the passion wasn’t there. 

She was doing it because of her mom. 

One year later, Berrios and her family moved to Florida, where Berrios decided to take a break from dancing. 

Another year later, her mom put her back in dance classes, at NYC Dance Co. in Ocoee, which Kehley owned.

Berrios was taking weekly recreational classes, but she still didn’t have a passion for dance. 

But that changed when she entered the company’s competition team.

“I was just doing it because my mom made me, but then as soon as I (made) the team, I saw what I could become, and I fell in love with it,” Berrios said. “I was like, ‘I want to do this forever.’ Ever since then, I’ve never wanted to let it go.” 

Seeing other dancers compete and convey emotions through the art to audience members inspired her, and she wanted to become like them. 

PUTTING IN THE WORK

Kehley knew from the moment Berrios walked in the studio she was talented. 

Although Berrios didn’t have the interest in dance as her mom would have liked, she did have natural skills. 

From remembering choreography to implementing corrections to giving it her all, Berrios was set for success — even if she didn’t quite see it coming. 

The first year she joined the competition team, Berrios was part of two dance routines. 

“I made it a goal to keep getting better,” she said. “I just wanted more.” 

By setting goals for herself, along with practice and Kehley’s support, Berrios was part of 10 dance routines the following year. 

“I was just so in love with practicing and putting in the work,” she said. 

But she wasn’t the only one setting goals for herself. 

As a leader, Kehley also set goals for her students. She wanted to ensure her students were consistently learning and skills such as triple turns or leaps were acquired before advancing to a higher-level dance group. Those goals pushed Berrios to be better, learn new skills and stay focused. 

By 12 years old, Berrios was assisting Kehley at the studio, teaching choreography and skills. 

By 14, Berrios was asked to choreograph routines for an entire competition. 

“She choreographed everything on her own, and she even won choreography awards on her own,” Kehley said. 

Kehley was beyond proud and had no doubts Berrios would make an impact in the dance world. 

She was a natural leader, a great dancer and a big helper. 

“There were times she needed a little push to get going, but she was always like, ‘I got this,’” Kehley said. 

One of Berrios’ favorite memories was when Kehley pushed her to be better for a solo. 

“I was rushing through it, going through the movements too fast, and Kristin stopped the music and was like, ‘You’re rushing your music; you need to do it again,’” Berrios said. “I stepped out and I teared up a little bit, because (to me) she was essentially telling me I needed to fix it or we couldn’t be friends anymore. … I was sad, so I said, ‘I’ll do it better.’” 

Those situations are the ones Berrios cherishes the most, because those are the moments that pushed her to improve. 

Because of Kehley’s leadership, Berrios discovered her love for teaching. At 16 years old, she decided she wanted to pursue a career in dance — whether it was professionally dancing, teaching or assisting. 

“Dance has always been a very important part of my life,” she said. “It not only put me in a safe space because I had somewhere I had to be, (but) it also built that character of, ‘I have to be responsible, remember my dances, bring all of my shoes.’ It builds all these characteristics of being responsible (and) becoming a leader.” 

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But COVID-19 hit, and NYC Dance shut down permanently. 

Berrios, having recently graduated high school, started to think about what she should do as a career — not only to generate income but also to fulfill her life. 

She said she always desired to open her own dance studio but never pursued it or took it seriously, believing it was unattainable. 

“I would talk about it sometimes but not take action,” she said. “I didn’t know one thing about owning a business and how it worked, but I had a cute little notebook that I’d write company names on if I were ever to open my studio.” 

For the next few years, Berrios worked at a dance studio. While she was happy, she knew she could do more, like Kehley always had told her. 

‘JUST DO IT’

Even though NYC Dance had closed, Kehley and Berrios remained close friends, cheering each other on through the years. 

They had a built a bond over the years at the studio, and they didn’t let the studio’s closure end their friendship. 

Six years later, Berrios had a conversation with Kehley about her desire to open a dance studio and was told, ‘Just do it.’ 

Kehley always was supportive of Berrios and said she would back her up every step of the way. 

While those words scared Berrios, she knew she had the necessary tools and support system to be successful.

She filed for an LLC, District Dance Co., and asked Kehley to not only assist her through the process but also in teaching. 

“Kristin never left me hanging,” Berrios said. “I’ve always looked up to her, not just as my dance teacher. … She’s always been a very confident, uplifting woman in my life. She’s always been a role model for me.” 

Kehley considers the new studio’s opening the beginning of even greater success for her former student.

“It makes me so proud,” Kehley said. “It’s just a full-circle moment. It doesn’t get any better than this.”

To Kehley and Berrios, this is a dream come true. 

“When I started the dance competitions, I started to see more than just the dancers,” Berrios said. “I also saw the dance teachers and how much they love it, how much they care and how much they’re there for their kids. I was like, ‘I want that one day. I want to be a teacher with my kids at a competition, cheering them on.’” 

That culture she grew up with is what she hopes to provide for others. 

Together, Berrios and Kehley are working behind the scenes to ensure the studio is as comfortable and welcoming as possible, while providing classes that tailor to students’ interests and requests, such as K-pop and other popular styles. 

For Kehley, it means teaching a second generation of students with one of her former students. It means providing services and teaching lessons to her former students’ children, nieces and nephews. 

Since announcing the opening of District Dance Co., more than 300 families have shown interest — both from former NYC Dance students and newcomers. 

Berrios and Kehley currently are offering classes at Hamlin Middle School while the studio is under construction. They wanted to get their feet in the door as soon as possible, providing what they love and are most passionate about. 

“We weren’t ever supposed to stop dancing and stop creating things, and stop teaching these kids in the community,” Kehley said. “We still have life left in us to give. It was supposed to happen this way. This is what was supposed to happen.” 

Berrios agrees. 

She is grateful she took that leap of faith. More than that, she is grateful to have her former dance teacher and lifelong friend help her make her dream come true, creating a tight-knit environment that allows dancers to comfortably grow. 

“I want this to be like their home,” Berrios said. 

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