Today we’d like to introduce you to Liza Domingo.
Hi Liza, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve danced all my life. I started to taking dance lessons at 3 years old in Southern California. In high school I got into musical theatre, and after college I worked as a professional dancer, singer, actress for well over a decade, performing in a bunch of theatre, Nationals tours, at Disney, and performed on Broadway.
We moved to Utah for my husband’s job, and we had space in our basement for a gym. We were trying to make ends meet as new parents in a new state, and my husband suggested that I start teaching dance in our basement. I started teaching 2-3 dance & theatre classes. Through the years more students kept coming, and soon it wasn’t just teaching some classes, it became a studio that our students in the neighborhood came to. After 10 years of teaching in my basement, we opened what is now Yellow Stage Door in the South Jordan/Daybreak area in the summer of 2024.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t been a smooth ride at all. When I started to teach dance and musical theatre, I didn’t know if anyone would want to take from me in my home basement. It took awhile to gain that trust and earn some creditability.
Just when I started to actively search for a studio space outside of my home, Covid hit. we had to teach about 22 classes on Zoom which looses the connection students get when attending a class. The following year, I was limited to how many students I was able to take in my home. Luckily, my studio families were very supportive and stuck with Yellow Stage Door during this challenging time.
When I opened the new Yellow Stage Door location in the Summer of 2024, I was so scared that I was a small fish in a big pond. There are several amazing dance studios in our area, and I was so afraid that I couldn’t complete. Right now I’m staying focused on our studio culture, environment, customer service for the parents and student’s studio journey for the students. Our goal is to continue with our studio’s mission to provide dance & theatre training with a nurturing environment that empowers students to achieve new levels of artistry and performance.
As you know, we’re big fans of Yellow Stage Door. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Yellow Stage Door is a performing arts studio that offers classes starting from the age of 18 months to adults. We specialize in dance education through a non-competition program. We also offer singing, acting, tumbling & musical theatre classes, private voices lessons, we do musicals for kids and teens, and we offer adult dance classes as well.
Our mission is to provide dance & theatre training with a nurturing environment that empowers students to achieve new levels of artistry and performance. We strive to continue the love of the arts for aspiring dancers, singers & actors of the next generation.
What sets Yellow Stage Door apart is that students come to us for a genuine love of the arts. We’re a non-competition studio, and our program goes beyond dance, offering singing, acting, and tumbling to help students grow in multiple disciplines. Whether a student wants to take just one class or train as a triple-threat performer in our kids and teen musicals, Yellow Stage Door is an inclusive, welcoming home for artists of every age and every level.
Our studio is unique because we’re proud to be part of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA). Beginning in middle school, students can join our chapter and earn recognition for their commitment to dance, leadership, and community service. Throughout their journey, they contribute time both in the studio and through service projects, building a meaningful record of achievement. By the time they graduate high school, dedicated students can earn their Honors in Dance—a distinction that reflects not only talent, but character, discipline, and a genuine commitment to the arts.
Our Dance Crews are one of the highlights of Yellow Stage Door. These Jazz and Contemporary performance teams represent our studio at exciting events throughout the community, bringing creativity, teamwork, and passion to every stage they step on.
Our studio also offers a program called JAM (Junior Assistant Mentorship) that we’ve created. Starting at age 10, students can begin assisting our instructors in class, learning how to support younger dancers and contribute to a positive learning environment. As they grow, JAM participants gradually take on more responsibility and eventually gain the skills and confidence to substitute or even lead a class of their own by the time they’re a Junior or Senior in high school. The goal is to give our JAMmers meaningful, real-life work experience they can proudly include on a future resume.
I named the studio Yellow Stage Door a couple of years into teaching in my home basement. A stage door at the theatre is the entry door for all the performers and crew of a show. I wanted my students to feel like stars when they came to my house, and my front door is yellow. So, it became Yellow Stage Door where everyone is a star.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
I’m happy when I can balance my family life and work life. As many entrepreneurs know, a business takes a lot of your time. It’s so gratifying to see my business grow, and it’s also the best when I can have quality time with my husband and kids and be supportive of them when they need me. There are times when the balance is challenging, but when I can make it happen it’s the best of both words.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.yellowstagedoor.com
- Instagram: @yellowstagedoor
- Facebook: Yellow Stage Door
- Other: Free Trial Class: https://yellowstagedoor1.dncestudios.com/get-started-2726
