Malia Williams warms up at Turning Point Dance in Medford last Wednesday in preparation for the studio's upcoming showcase, "10 Seasons of Thanks." 

Celebrating a decade in operation and 10 seasons of dance with their upcoming fall showcase, instructors and students with Medford’s Turning Point Dance Studio are preparing for performances displaying their passion and dedication to the agile art form, along with showing gratitude to the surrounding community.

“Dance can be one of the most important languages you can ever learn, because no matter where you go, no matter what language you speak, people can tell you a story with their bodies,” said Aimee Chamberlain, owner and master teacher at Turning Point Dance Studio. “It’s just a way that you can really express who you are without having to find the correct words for it.”

While practicing her moves at the dance studio on Court Street in Medford, Malia Williams, high school senior and director of Turning Point’s Student Teacher Education Program, said she agreed with the passionate power that dance evokes.

“Since I was little, I’ve never really been good with words, but when you dance you can express your emotions through that, which I think is my favorite part,” Williams said. “My favorite style is contemporary, because it’s a very emotional dance, which I love.”

With three performances scheduled Saturday, Nov. 4, the “10 Seasons of Thanks” showcase will bring out dancers ranging from preschoolers to adults, all demonstrating what they’ve learned throughout 2023.

“Some of the dances are choreographed by guest artists that came to the studio and some are by the teachers, and everybody’s showcasing what they’ve learned this season and sharing their gifts,” Williams said.

The preschool preview starts at 10 a.m.; the grades 1 through 3 showcase begins at 2 p.m; and the teen and adult show starts at 6 p.m., with all three performances occurring at the Craterian Theater, 23 S. Central Ave., Medford.

Tickets are $20 per person for the grades 1 through 3 show and teen and adult show, and $15 for the preschool preview.

Tickets can be purchased at craterian.org.

“What’s really special about this concert is you’re going to get to be able to see a lot of different voices, a lot of different styles, a lot of different techniques, a lot of different stories that come together to create this really beautiful body of work,” Chamberlain said. “You get to see their passion just come alive.”

While Turning Point Dance Studios is keeping the central themes and subjects of the performances a secret until the shows start, hints and clues on the subject matter can be accessed at the studio’s Instagram account at instagram.com/turningpointdancer.

For Chamberlain, teaching the art of dance goes beyond instructing on technique,. It’s also about providing a positive atmosphere and looking out for the wellbeing of her students.

“[It’s about] focusing on using dance to create good humans instead of using humans to create good dance,” she said.

Dancing since she was 3 years old, Chamberlain attended the California Institute of Arts, teaching along the West Coast before starting up Turning Point 10 years ago.

“I taught all the way through California and Southern Oregon, and as I was building my philosophy as a teacher, I never really found a culture that fit with my philosophies of not only looking at the dancer as far as the art form, but also looking at the whole human,” she said.

With students ranging from toddlers to 80 year olds, the owner and instructor aims to provide a space for all types of dancers, regardless of age, background or physical characteristics.

“We are a completely inclusive space, so for anybody who wants to dance, we will find a way to have them dance,” Chamberlain said. “It’s not just for certain body type. It’s not just for a certain social status. Dance is for everyone.”

“It really does build a good family. I think we have a really strong sense of community here,” Chamberlain added.

Using that philosophy, Chamberlin’s studio grew over time, with the owner currently teaching approximately 370 students.

Williams hopes to provide a similar dance space of her own after learning from Chamberlain. She would like to become an instructor herself.

“I specifically want to study dance education, because I really want to go and open my own studio, too, and create an environment similar to this and give back to the community,” Williams said. “I think I’ve danced in every dance studio in the Rogue Valley before I came here, and I love it here.”

Chamberlain also has big plans for next year. The studio is relocating to a 7,000-square-foot space off Table Rock Road in 2024 to bring more studio space for the ever-growing group of dancers.

“Being able to share the space with the community more is something that we’re super excited about, and having a home to call our own,” Chamberlain said. “As soon as the city [of Medford] will let us in, were ready.”

To learn more about Turning Point Dance Studio and to register for dancing classes, visit turningpointdancer.com.