Xpressions fine arts center sets grand opening

Xpressions Center for the Arts had a soft opening Tuesday, with a grand opening scheduled 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Owner Julie Stanfill said she already has had to add more classes to a schedule that includes modern-contemporary and jazz dance, martial arts, photography, voice, cheerleading, ballet, guitar, and hip hop, among other classes.

Stanfill said she and her husband Thad – who teaches martial arts – wanted to start a business in Maricopa since moving here four years ago.

“But the recession hit and the rents were high,” she said.

After hearing about Ak-Chin Indian Community's Santa Cruz Commerce Center at Murphy Road and the Casa Grande Highway, she said, “we jumped at the chance” to rent space there.

Free 45-minute workshops in cheerleading (4:30 p.m.), contemporary dance (5:15 p.m.), and jazz (6 p.m.) will be offered during Saturday’s event.

Stanfill said she chose the name for her business “to reflect the passions people feel for martial arts to cheerleading to photography to dance.”

This year, the new studio plans to offer several musical performances and a Christmas show, as well as an photography art show in September to honor Stanfill’s sister Kellie Moore, who committed suicide two years ago. Proceeds from that show will go to Maricopa’s Empact Suicide Prevention Center.