Studio Pulse Center for Dance + The Annex Yoga & Dance Fitness - Anchorage, Alaska

Sarah Bethany Baird

I started dancing at age 26 and I've been going to classes at Studio Pulse for several years. All the teachers are wonderful professionals. They are especially great at tailoring classes to the students and taking care of beginners.

Stephanie, the founder and artistic director, is so inspiring. She’s an incredible artist and generous with her talent. Her enthusiasm is infectious; her classes are so much fun. When I tried to drop out of the student company recital, she helped me push through the worst stage fright of my life. She's also incredibly down-to-earth, humble, and kind.

The environment is nurturing and collaborative, not competitive. I feel inspired by other dancers, not intimidated.

Dancing has helped me feel comfortable in my own skin for the first time in my life. I feel grounded and present in my body. My chronic depression and anxiety are better controlled than they’ve ever been. I feel much more powerful in my life. I am even more in touch with and better able to communicate my feelings. I'm so grateful to Pulse for helping me improve my relationship with my body.

Dancing has helped me learn from my mistakes. I can even enjoy making mistakes because I know I learn from them. It’s made me more courageous. Dancing is exactly what was missing in my life and I am so happy I found a wonderful, nurturing place to learn more! It genuinely feeds my soul.

Maria Randle

Excellent studio! My 6 year old has attended for 1.5+ years and she loves it. The studio is beautiful and clean. Everyone I have interacted with so far is professional yet friendly, and the classes have had perfect balance between fun and discipline. As a result, young kids are actually learning about dance without it being a chore. I also feel like I always knew what to expect and when, there is good communication from the office to the parents and students. I wish all extracurriculars were run half as well as Pulse does. The owner is invested in the success of the studio and it's dancers. The recitals have been very engaging and entertaining too! In the 1.5 years there has never been a situation where my daughter's instructors were late, or a "no-show". One emergency cancelation was followed by an apology from the front office and a variety of ways to get a make-up lesson. When a pre-ballet instructor moved halfway through the year, pre-jazz teacher had to take over right away and did wonderful. I feel like this speaks to the quality of relationships between the teachers and the owner, and the quality of teachers invited/selected. It's my favorite place for sure!

Emily Jensen

I loved my modern dance session! This was my first dance class in many years and I am so glad I chose the Annex. The studio itself is clean, spacious, and comfortable. Stephanie is highly knowledgeable, motivating, approachable, an all-around wonderful instructor! As a plus-sized person I am happy to report this class was accessible and comfortable. I highly recommend the Annex and classes with Stephanie. 🙂

Kiley Glazier

I took my first class at The Annex last night and I am OBSESSED! The class was Fit & Flexy and it was the perfect mix of yoga, cardio, and strength training with some mobility. The studio vibe is incredible, the playlist was perfect, and our instructor (Stephanie) was encouraging and super friendly! Check them out if you want to feel good while moving your body!

Erinn Dirth

The Annex is my favorite place in town to take any kind of movement class. The atmosphere is is inviting, the offerings are engaging, and each teacher has a clear love of whatever class they are teaching. The classes are not just expertly crafted but they are also taught in a way where modifications are normalized and everyone's individual needs are embraced. Each time I leave a class at The Annex, I feel so much gratitude to have a place like this where it's easy to find joy in movement.

Amber Hahn

Anchorage is very lucky to have this studio in our community! Studio Pulse is a unique dance studio that offers classes for both adults and children. I have taken adult classes since the studio opened in 2013. My young children (ages 3 & 5) have taken classes for the past year and are continuing this upcoming year. Both the adult and children's classes are a wonderful mix of focus on technique, precision, and mastery while at the same time being fun and inviting.

Studio Pulse has a friendly atmosphere that makes everyone, regardless of experience, feel welcome. The adult classes operate on a drop-in basis and no matter how much time has passed since I last attended a class, I am always warmly welcomed back. The drop-in format for adult classes works perfectly for fitting in a class when I can on top of working and parenting. The adult classes offer both combinations that build from week to week and new choreography. Therefore, you won't feel bored if you attend classes regularly but you also won't feel lost if you do not attend classes regularly.

The children's classes are on a regular schedule with a variety of times offered during the school year. The instructors are beautiful dancers with great technique that provide wonderful demonstrations for the children to follow. The instructors provide discipline and have appropriate expectations while also making the classes very fun for the kids.

Stephanie, the owner, is extremely friendly but also professional and listens to feedback about classes that are offered at the studio. The schedule and classes offered change based on that feedback.

I cannot speak highly enough of Studio Pulse and would recommend it for anyone interested in dancing, whether you are a new beginner, a previously experienced dancer wanting to return to dancing, or a currently experienced dancer looking to progress further.

Jeremy Sivitz

I first tried a few drop in classes at Studio Pulse because of how close it is to my house, but it is hands down one of the best studios I have danced at! Good adult dance classes are so hard to find, but Pulse does it right: the adult ballet classes at the main studio are well paced and accessible, and the dance workout classes at the Annex are so much fun!!! What really makes Pulse special are the amazing teachers, especially owner Stephanie Wonchala, who makes it her business to not only provide top notch dance and workout instruction, but also to cultivate a positive and welcoming energy for each class.

Suzann Speckman

Both my son and daughter dance at Pulse, in the Youth II and Youth Senior levels. Both kids are super happy and comfortable at Pulse. There is a wide variety of classes available, including ballet, jazz, modern/contemporary, hip-hop, and even tap. Pulse just opened a second studio so the offerings have expanded and more class times
are available.

The instructors are excellent with kids and very patient, and also teach to a high technical level. The Pulse recital this spring was phenomenal; there was so much joy and happiness, and the quality of the dancing was truly remarkable.

Most importantly, my kids feel very self-confident dancing at Pulse. We all appreciate the welcoming atmosphere there, which fosters and supports their development as dancers in such a positive way.