In March this year, the Ibiza Dance Academy Troupe (IDA) showcased a breathtaking performance entitled Beyond the Mask at the TEDx conference. The show opens with a haunting scene of a masked girl of no more than eight or nine years old telling the audience: “If you knew me, you would know that I don’t think I’m enough,” before ripping off her mask and declaring, “but I am capable.”
The show builds with the young dancers moving effortlessly and hitting every beat with the precision of absolute professionals, dispensing with their demons and growing stronger until, finally, they stand together to form a collective heartbeat for the finale.
The essence of this performance is the students’ journey at the Ibiza Dance Academy –from when they take their first shy steps in the studio to the moment they perform on a national stage. “The change in the children in just a few months from when they start is fierce,” says Yaima Arias, founder and director of Ibiza Dance Academy and the driving force behind it.
Passionate about performing and teaching from a young age, Yaima left her native Cuba at 19 after studying at one of the country’s schools of art. Her introduction to Ibiza came in 2011 when she accepted a position to dance at the Lío club in its inaugural year. Fast forward to May 1, 2017 and her dream of owning her own dance school finally came true with the help of her family as she turned a former bookshop into the laboratory of movement she had always known would one day be hers.
On the one hand, IDA prepares students for competition while, on the other, it offers ballet, hip-hop, break dance, modern dance, modern jazz, contemporary and tap to youngsters from age three. Yaima explains that the school welcomes those who just want to dance for fun as well as those who want to shoot for the stars and compete at the highest level.
What they don’t do at IDA however, is employ the oldschool technique of screaming at the students until their positions and movements are perfect. “We don’t share this teaching philosophy,” smiles Yaima. “The team here teach the methodology beautifully and we give a lot of love and boost confidence. Our goal is that everyone can achieve what they want through lots of motivation and support.”
