At Wake Forest Academy of Fine Arts, we believe the arts are about so much more than learning steps, hitting the right notes, or preparing for a performance. They're about confidence, creativity, friendships, hard work, and finding a place where you feel like you belong.

For more than 30 years, we've had the privilege of watching students walk through our doors and grow—not only as artists, but as people. Our professionally trained teachers bring experience and high-quality instruction into the classroom while still making sure learning feels fun, encouraging, and personal. We care about strong technique and high standards, but we care just as much about the person we're teaching.

Whether your child is stepping into their very first dance class, discovering a new passion, or dreaming of the stage, there's a place for them here. We're proud of the community we've built, the families who fill our halls, and the generations of students who have called WFAFA home. Around here, our goal is pretty simple: great dancers, better humans.

Our Story

Part 1: The Wake Forest Academy of Fine Arts opened on South White Street in Downtown Wake Forest in 1991 under the ownership of Susan Durham Lozaw. Mary Taylor Land soon became the sole owner and director until 2013. She laid the foundation for the place we call home today! 

Part 2: Alicia began as a ballet and acrobatics instructor at the Academy in 2002. Aimee joined the staff in 2008 and became co-owner alongside Mary Taylor in 2013. We became friends and quickly realized that we share a common vision for training dancers!

Part 3: After Mary Taylor’s retirement in 2019, Alicia joined Aimee as co-owner and the rest is history! We are proud that we now share our love of dance, music, and musical theater with over 400 students each week! 

Meet The Owners

Aimee: Dance has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I started dancing at just three years old, and from then on it became my whole world. If you asked anyone who knew me growing up, they'd tell you dance was all I ever talked about! I always knew that one day I wanted to own a dance studio where kids could experience the same confidence, friendships, discipline, and joy that dance gave me. That dream led me to earn my BFA in Choreography and Performance from UNC Greensboro, perform professionally, start the dance program at Franklin Academy Charter School, and travel the country as a dance competition assistant director and judge. In 2013, I got to make my childhood dream a reality when I became Co-Owner of Wake Forest Academy of Fine Arts. Today, I still get excited walking through our doors because I truly believe dance has the power to change a child's life.

When I'm not at the studio, you'll usually find me with my husband, Blaze, and our two kids, Jane and Oliver. Being a mom and running a business is definitely a juggling act, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I also love tackling DIY home projects, hunting for treasures while antiquing, staying active at the gym (I'm a little obsessed with health and wellness!), and escaping to the beach whenever I can. And if you ever ask me where I'd travel tomorrow, the answer will always be New York City. I'm so thankful I get to spend every day doing what that little three-year-old dreamed about—helping kids grow into confident, kind, hardworking humans who just happen to love dance, too.

Alicia: I began my dance training in Indianapolis at the age of nine. I graduated in 2001 with a BA in dance from SUNY Buffalo and also earned a K-12 teaching certification from East Carolina University. I hold certifications in ballet, jazz, tap, and acro from Dance Masters of America and Acrobatic Arts. I have twenty five years of teaching experience in both private studios and in the Wake County Public Schools. 

I’ve been married to my husband, Eric, for 22 years. We live in Raleigh with our 5 cats, Venus, Morpheus, Thor, Perseus, and Artemis. When I’m not at the studio, I love to travel, read, and all things Disney! 

Our Mission:
The Wake Forest Academy of Fine Arts is dedicated to offering a technical curriculum in the performing arts while maintaining a fun and exciting atmosphere. Each student’s growth and development at every age and level is important to us. We strive to offer opportunities to dancers of all ages and skill levels. 

 The Academy places great importance on hiring staff that is highly qualified through college, professional, or personal experience in his or her area of expertise. 

Our Facility
The Academy is a 5,000 sqft top of the line studio! There are 5 dance studios within our facility. Each studio has floor to ceiling mirrors and sprung floors covered in Harlequin vinyl marley. Sprung flooring helps to protect our dancers while dancing. The sprung floors act as shock absorbers when dancers jump and dance across the floor. The advanced flooring helps to prevent injuries and enhances the dancers performance!  Our studios are equipped with JVL audio systems for great music in every class. Each studio is also fitted with a camera that live-streams the class onto a television in our lobby.

Wake Forest Academy of Fine Arts offers professional instruction in the following dance categories: Click the genre for more info!

• Combo and Preschool

• Ballet

• Jazz

• Tap

Dance Recital

Our year-end performance is set for May 8, 2027 at Louisburg College. It is an exciting themed showcase of our technique and competition dances! Performance is part of learning and all Academy dancers participate.

There is an annual recital fee of $100 ($20/additional child). Half is paid is March and the remaining half is paid in April. The recital fee is used to rent the auditorium for performance and rehearsal, hire a stage manager, pay staff, and rent a backdrop.. You will receive 2 tickets to each show in which your dancer performs, a digital download of the show, and a souvenir program.

Competition Teams

Here at the Academy we have 9 award winning competition teams. We have 5 groups that are a part of our “Company”. Company dancers compete at a recreational or intermediate level of competition and are grouped by grade level. Dancers are invited by their teachers to be a part of the team based on their work ethic, potential, and skill level. These dancers dance a minimum of 3 hours per week for technique and rehearsal. They attend 3 regional competitions every season. We also offer an advanced competitive team, “Ensemble”. These dancers train a minimum of 10 hours each week. They attend up to 5 regional competitions/conventions. Our competition dancers are also given the opportunity to train with guest instructors who are considered masters in the industry. These guests are brought into our studio, or we will travel to train with them at various dance conventions, Broadway Dance Center, or Steps on Broadway in NYC.

Guest Instructors and Choreographers

Dress Code

The Wake Forest Academy of Fine Arts is a uniform studio. All dancers will receive a leotard to wear to class with their paid registration.

preballet

Preballet dancers will wear a studio issued lavender or black leotard with pink or skin tone tights and Weissman pink or skin tone ballet shoes. Both tights and shoes should be ordered through the studio. Dancers may purchase a ballet skirt through the academy to wear with the leotard and tights if they choose. Hair should be pulled away from the face.

Ballet/Tap, Dance/tumble, Fairytale Ballet, Kinder Ballet, Kinder Jazz, Kinder Tap, Kinder Acro

Dancers in these combo classes will wear a studio issued lavender or black leotard with pink or skin tone tights or black leggings. Ballet skirts may be purchased through the academy if you would like. Dancers will wear Weissman pink or skin tone canvas ballet shoes and Weissman u-shell dark tan tap shoes. Jazz shoes are not worn at these levels. Shoes, tights, and leotards should be purchased through the studio. Hair should be pulled away from the face.

Leveled Ballet Classes

Female ballet dancers may wear any studio issued leotard with pink or skin tone tights and pink or skin tone ballet shoes. Ballet skirts or black lycra shorts may be worn with the leotard and tights. Dancers in level 4 or higher may wear ANY black or purple leotard. All dancers must have hair pulled back in a pony tail or bun. Buns are required for level 3 and up. Male dancers should wear black tights or shorts with a solid color black or white T-shirt and black ballet shoes.

Leveled jazz/tap/lyrical/acro classes

Female dancers may wear any studio issued leotard. Leotards can be worn with tights, leggings or lycra shorts (black, purple, gray). Close fitting tank tops (black, purple, gray, white) may also be worn. Jazz dancers will wear Weissman brand tan jazz shoes. Tap dancers will wear Weissman brand black full sole lace up tap shoes. Lyrical and acro dancers will be barefoot. Hair must be pulled up away from the face in a pony tail or bun. Male dancers should wear leggings, tights or shorts (black, purple, gray, white) with solid color close fitting T-shirt or tank top (black, purple, gray, white).

HIP HOP CLASSES, Mooves and Grooves, Musical Theater

Hip Hop dancers and Musical Theater students may wear any comfortable clothing including shorts, T-shirts, tank tops, sweat pants, hoodies, and leggings. Hip hop dancers wear black high top non-marking sneakers purchased through the studio. Musical theater students may be barefoot, in socks or jazz shoes.