Every day when Christine Fossemalle arrives and parks across the street from her dance studio, she sees her name on the sign. It never gets old, even though the studio is about to turn 40 next summer.
“When I look at my sign, Fossemalle Dance Studio, I smile every time,” the owner told the Sun. “How fortunate I am to be doing what I’m doing.”
Ballet, jazz, and tap
Fossemalle Dance Studio is located at 3595 Numancia St. in Santa Ynez. Call the studio at (805) 688-8494 for the current class schedule. Visit fossemalledancestudio.com or @fossemalledancestudio on Instagram for details about the studio and the Santa Ynez Valley Performing Arts Company.
Originally from France, Fossemalle began ballet when she was 7 years old and never stopped dancing. At the time, it was the only class available to her because ballet is largely seen as the foundation to all other styles of dance. That’s why ballet is mandatory at Fossemalle Dance Studio, even though it can be tedious.
Eventually she got her diploma from an art school in Paris, but at 18, she injured her Achilles tendon. It forced her to put a pause on ballet and pick up jazz, which wasn’t too popular in France at the time. Having made connections with dance companies in New York and Chicago, the young dancer moved to the U.S. when she was 22.
“I was fortunate enough to have really good, inspiring, enthusiastic teachers from the very beginning,” she said. “That’s, I think, crucial to instill in you the passion for dance.”
Now, she feels her responsibility is to teach the next generation. Fossemalle passes along insight from her instructors and what she learned from her own experiences.
“In ballet, or dance in general, you transmit your knowledge from one generation into the other,” Fossemalle said.
The studio is intergenerational, with students ranging from 4 to 80 years old. A small team of dedicated teachers helps Fossemalle, too. She said she couldn’t do it without them.
Usually, the classes are capped at 12 so students can receive careful instruction. They can learn jazz, tap, hip-hop, and ballet.
“At the beginning ballet is a little hard, but when you pass the foundation, it gets more and more exciting,” Fossemalle said. “Of course, any little girls or boys like to tap because you get instant noise. It’s kind of fun right away.”
Some students return from college or other dance training to teach at the studio themselves. One instructor started as a student at the Fossemalle Dance Studio when she was 4 years old. Now she’s been leading classes there for three decades. Another returner teaches jazz and tap, and a third focuses on hip-hop.
“It’s really full-circle,” Fossemalle said. “It’s a very heartwarming feeling.”
Some dancers start at 4 years old and continue until they graduate from high school. Watching that progression is the most rewarding part for Fossemalle.
Most of the students she teaches won’t go on to dance professionally, though, which is alright with her. What’s more important is the discipline and posture. Fossemalle tells her students, who she views as her own kids, to find something they’re passionate about in their professional future.
Shortly after opening the studio, Fossemalle started the Santa Ynez Valley Performing Arts Company in 1987. Dancers have the option to join, and many of them do, but it’s a significant time commitment as opposed to just attending classes. The company performs at events in the community.
“Class is fun, and it’s enjoyable, but the outcome, the reward, is the performance and the audience’s reaction and the applause,” Fossemalle said.
Up until recently, she was teaching all the ballet classes herself. A few months ago, Fossemalle hired another teacher to help minimize her load. The studio owner still choreographs the company’s routines, picks out the costumes, and chooses the music.
Looking back, Fossemalle can’t believe it’s been 40 years because she’s always kept busy, looking forward to the next thing. At this point, she’s happy to have organized a parent committee to take care of some of the performance details like tickets, photo sessions, and front-of-house ushering. The committee will begin next year, allowing Fossemalle to focus more on the costumes, choreography, and music selections.
“I’m so fortunate,” Fossemalle said. “I’m so happy, and I have a lot of people who really appreciate what I’m doing, so it’s very rewarding.”
Reach Staff Writer Madison White at mwhite@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Dec 18 – Dec 25, 2025.