By Christine Vincent
Lori Oestreich first fell in love with ballet when she was 7-years-old after participating in a six-week dance program in her hometown of Newberrytown, Pennsylvania. After just a few short weeks, she was hooked. One year later, Lori started classes at a small dance studio where she continued until age 15. When the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet announced a production in Harrisburg, Lori pleaded with her parents to let her audition. “The company is one of the premier in the nation,” Lori says. “My parents allowed me to audition, and I was accepted.”
However, in 1983, Lori’s dance career was put on hold — but only temporarily. She had moved to Florida to marry Art Oestreich and had given birth to their son Jimmy. The busy mother didn’t have time for dance the way she used to. Eleven years and four children later, Lori and her family moved to Statesboro, Georgia, where they attended what Lori describes as “a very proper Southern Church.” It was here that Lori was given the nudge to put on her ballet slippers again.
A group of women that represented the worship committee learned of Lori’s dance background, despite the fact that Lori had never mentioned it. They volunteered Lori to perform the spiritual Sweet Jesus, allowing her only two weeks to learn the music, choreograph the performance and practice the dance. “I had not danced in 12 years,” Lori says with a laugh. “However, the ladies insisted.”
On the day of the performance, Lori says everything went completely wrong. But that was okay, because in the end, it worked. “The singer lost her glasses — she could not read the music — and improvised. I just followed her voice. Amazingly, it turned out beautiful,” Lori says.
After this successful performance, many parents begged Lori to teach their children ballet. From November 1995 to spring 1998, Lori taught young dancers between the ages of 12 and 20. Lori had dreamed of becoming a dance instructor for a long time and was happy with this opportunity.
In June 1995, Lori decided to audition for Ballet South’s production of the Nutcracker. She was accepted and danced under the direction of a famous choreographer from New York City. With demanding rehearsals and Lori’s obligations to her children, balancing ballet with motherhood was challenging, but she pushed on. “It was hard,” Lori admits, “but my kids were thrilled to have their mother perform in a professional performance. Art enthusiastically photographed the dress rehearsal. I danced with Ballet South for the entire year.”
To further her teaching skills, in the summer of 1997, Lori enrolled in Ballet Magnificat‘s Dance Teacher’s Intensive Program in Jackson, Mississippi. She also worked as a Christian counselor for students in the company’s Summer Intensive Dance Program.
All of this was preparation for the ballet school Lori knew she would someday open.
The following summer, Lori and Art moved their family to Hoquiam to live in the Oestreich’s family home. Their children were the sixth generation of Oestreichs to dwell in the historic home.
That September, Lori started a Christian Dance School at Hoquiam United Methodist Church where she taught for eight years until she lost the use of the space. While teaching ballet, Lori also choreographed musical theater at the Bishop Center for the Performing Arts. Her work has contributed greatly to the popularity of the Bishop Center’s musicals, including its most recent production, “Spamelot.”
With years of experience under her belt and a passion for all things ballet, Lori set out to look for a new space — one that she could call her own. In September 2015, Lori secured the Polish Club studio space and opened her new school, Turning Pointe. The name of the studio was inspired by Corinthians 5:17, which Lori says, “speaks of us as a new creation in Christ.” Her daughter Tiffany thought it was a great name for the studio, which further affirmed Lori’s decision. “My children had all left home,” she says, “and I was at a turning point.”
Last June, Turning Pointe’s young dancers participated in the ballet studio’s first recital, “Variations on Tolkien’s Return of the King,” which Lori choreographed herself. The recital, which included readings from J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Return of the King,” entertained all in attendance. The community is eagerly awaiting more.
Offering everything from ballet pre-pointe, ballet pointe and musical theater to conditioning and more, Lori offers a wide variety of classes at Turning Pointe. Interested in signing up your little one for a class? Children as young as 6-years-old can take lessons. Fall classes start September 8.
Turning Pointe is located at 832 West First Street in Aberdeen. To learn more about Turning Pointe or to sign up for a class, visit Turning Pointe’s Facebook page or call Lori at 360-533-3573.
