FAIRHOPE, Ala. — Every week, Mia Guzlas steps into the studio ready to shape the next generation of dancers. But after decades of performing, choreographing and instructing, the teacher recently found herself embracing a familiar yet long-forgotten role: student.
For Guzlas, earning her Dance Choreography Essentials Certificate through The Juilliard School Extension wasn’t simply another professional accomplishment. It was the realization of a childhood dream, made possible by a 75% scholarship and pushed by the belief that the best teachers never stop learning.
“It is a reminder that growth never stops,” Guzlas said.
Guzlas, who teaches at Creative Outlet Dance Academy in Fairhope and South Baldwin Dance Center in Foley, officially earned the certificate July 10 after beginning the program in April. She learned she was accepted into the extension program on April 24 and immediately applied for scholarship assistance, ultimately receiving 75% of her tuition.
“Oh my gosh, this is the ultimate dream,” Guzlas said. “Growing up, especially being at a performing arts school, everybody wants to go to Juilliard.”
Unable to relocate to New York to attend the world-renowned performing arts school, Guzlas said the extension program offered something she never imagined possible: the chance to study with Juilliard faculty from home while continuing to teach the young dancers who fill her classrooms across Baldwin County.
Although the five-module program was designed to be completed over a much longer period, Guzlas immersed herself in the coursework, finishing the certification in less than three months. She often spent hours each day completing lessons, choreography exercises and projects — even continuing while recovering from shingles — and plans to revisit the course throughout the next year to gain an even deeper understanding of the material.
“I was so fired up,” she said. “They were like, ‘Oh, that’ll take like three months per module.'”
The coursework challenged Guzlas to rethink choreography, encouraging her to see movement in places she never had before. “The one thing Juilliard is teaching me is that everything is choreography,” she said. “You brush your teeth, you get up out of bed — any kind of movement can be choreography.”
Instead of simply creating movement to music, Guzlas said the program inspired her to focus on storytelling through dance. “It made me go deeper into telling a story as opposed to, ‘Let me just do movement to a song,'” she said.
Those lessons have already found their way into the classroom. Working with students from ages 3 through high school, Guzlas said she began quietly introducing new ideas from the program long before earning her certificate, using her dancers as willing “guinea pigs” while experimenting with fresh choreography and creative exercises.
Those creative ideas will soon take center stage. During Fairhope’s First Friday Art Walk on Aug. 7, Guzlas will debut “The Other Side of Fine,” her first original choreographic work since completing the Juilliard Extension program. The performance, scheduled for 6:45 p.m. at the Eastern Shore Art Center, will combine dance with live music and a live painter, giving audiences a firsthand look at the storytelling approach she developed through the certification. The Eastern Shore Art Center has long served as a hub for visual and performing arts along the Eastern Shore, hosting gallery exhibitions, classes and live performances throughout the year. Those interested in attending are encouraged to contact the center directly for ticket and seating information ahead of Friday’s performance.
Her motivation, she said, wasn’t earning another credential. It was to become a better teacher. “I love learning and getting inspiration,” Guzlas said. “I wasn’t necessarily getting stagnant, but maybe bored. The dance world has changed so much, and I wanted to get back to the fundamentals and foundation.”
She believes today’s dancers often become consumed by increasingly difficult tricks while overlooking technique and artistry. “I think teachers should always remain students,” she said. “Being able to take stuff in and then share it with others is super important.”
That philosophy is one she credits in large part to Zoe Todd, owner of Creative Outlet Dance Academy. Long before Guzlas taught alongside Todd, she was one of her students. “Zoe has been an incredible inspiration to me, reminding me that even after all these years of teaching, there’s always room to grow, learn and create,” Guzlas said.
Todd remembers seeing Guzlas’ passion years before she became a dance educator herself. “As a young dancer, Mia was a delight to teach,” Todd said. “She was always happy and full of energy with a good work ethic.”
Today, Todd said those same qualities define Guzlas as an instructor. “She brings an energy to the classroom that is infectious,” Todd said. “Her students feed off her positive energy. She always goes above and beyond to be prepared for her classes and performances and helps keep things running smoothly.”
For Todd, Guzlas’ decision to pursue the Juilliard certification reflects one of the most important qualities a dance educator can possess. “It is such an important quality for dance educators to be lifelong learners,” Todd said. “The Juilliard Extension program is an amazing opportunity for Mia to enhance and expand her knowledge of creating choreography. The certification gives Mia the opportunity to push herself in new ways and grow her teaching skills.”
Watching her former student accomplish a dream has been rewarding both personally and professionally, Todd said. “Mia is an inspiration to me and all of her students. She is a great example of how essential it is to push yourself beyond your wildest dreams. For many people, training with Juilliard is merely a dream. Mia put in the work to make her dream come true.”
Although Guzlas now holds a Juilliard Extension certificate, she said the accomplishment is really just another step in a lifelong journey of learning. “My goal is just being the best teacher I can be,” she said. “I forgot how vital feeding my own creativity is. I want kids to be happy, and I want them to love dance as much as I do.”