AUSTIN -- The first African American ballet company in Austin will move out of their space at the Highland Mall on Thursday when Austin Community College's expansion plans begin.
Tucked inside the second floor of the mall, China Smith creates ballerinas out of the least likely little girls. Girls who don't lack talent, but access.
"As children start off in school programs, there's limited access to the arts," Smith said. "But then as they grow older, there's more access, whether it's through their high school program or their junior high program. But what ends up happening is that students from particular neighborhoods or particular income, low income families, they don't have those opportunities to participate in the arts early so when they transition to high school, they are less likely to participate in arts programs."
Smith evened the playing field when she created Ballet Afrique.
"I started it because I had a dream to bring the arts to my community," Smith said.
After studying dance at Austin Community College, Smith opened the academy. She now teaches 142 students.
"We have a scholarship program that does not turn any child away," she said.
The Oprah Magazine named Smith a local hero in 2012. Like all heroes, she is facing a big challenge: losing her dance studio.
"I really had no idea that I would be leaving this soon," she said.
Four years ago, Smith was searching for a larger space for her growing academy and Highland Mall was the perfect fit. It is centrally located, CapMetro has bus lines to the mall so her students can easily attend and rental rates are reduced because Austin Community College owns the mall.
Smith says the location on the second floor has wood floors with a natural spring in them and her dance company raised money over the span of two years to purchase mirrors to add to the walls. It had become the ideal space.
In November 2014, voters approved a bond for phase two renovations of the mall. That is when the "mom and pop" shops left in the mall learned they had to get out.
"It's really a complete do over," said Neil Vickers, Austin Community College's vice president of finance and budget. "We have to completely replace the roof. It was built in the early 70s, so it has asbestos that will have to be completely abated before we can do any major renovations. So basically, we have to close the mall."
Once renovations are complete, the ACC campus will expand into that side of the mall with space for media and arts, IT and flexible work space for companies to rent out. The businesses there now will not be able to come back.
As of now, Ballet Afrique does not have a new place to go.
"I could, you know, raise up my prices but I don't want to do that," said Smith. "I want to be able to continue what I'm doing, at the rates that I'm giving so that these families can continue."
Smith's students have a recital in June.
She said she has tried to work with ACC to use space at the college and AISD to use space in the new performing arts center, but has not been able to reach an agreement with either.
Smith said she is hoping someone in Austin will learn of her story and help her students.
