HEATHER LEEPER, 33 / Owner/Instructor, Little Leapers & LEAP Performing Arts Academy
Heather Leeper opened her first classes in 2012 at the YMCA with three instructors; Little Leapers has since grown to four studios and 29 staff and instructors, with 500 students and 75 classes weekly. Leeper, who studied dance for over 20 years under NYC Ballet esteemed alumni, was also a professional cheerleader and choreographer and is an active member in the community, offering student scholarships for free classes, as well as educational programming for multiple school systems, including the programs at the Moss Arts Center. She founded “Be Kind,” a community-wide anti-bullying awareness campaign uniting businesses and organizations in the area to encourage kindness. “My passion is not just for teaching young girls/boys dance,” Leeper says. “It’s about building the next leaders of our community. …This is incorporated into each one of my classes to build strong, smart, brave and tenacious individuals.”
- Performed with various companies including the New York City Ballet, Saratoga City Ballet (soloist), Ballet Regent, Northeast Ballet (soloist), Burklyn Ballet, Blacksburg Ballet (soloist), Albany Berkshire Ballet (soloist), and the Dance Company at VT
- Professional cheerleader for the NHL Washington Capitals, MLB Washington Nationals, MLL Chesapeake Bayhawks and finalist for the NFL Washington Redskins Cheerleaders
- Choreographer for the Washington Nationals Dug Out Dancers
- Voted the “Best of the New River Valley (NRV)” and featured in numerous Roanoke, NRV and Virginia publications
- Provided performances and arts demonstrations for many community events including: Steppin’ Out – Demonstration/Workshops: 2018, 2017; Performance Only: 2016, 2015; Kiwanis Wilderness Trail Festival, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014; Downtown Blacksburg Parade, 2013 – Current; VT women’s basketball games; Salem Red Sox baseball games; 2018 Cherry Blossom Festival Parade in Washington, DC; and numerous elementary and middle schools
- Founded Be Kind, Blacksburg, a community-wide anti-bullying and kindness awareness campaign uniting businesses and organizations in the area to encourage kindness
- 2017 Women’s Leadership Conference, Breakout Session Speaker
- 2018 – Foundations of Business at Virginia Tech on Entrepreneurship
- 2017, 2018 – Radford Governor’s School, on Entrepreneurship and the Arts
- 2017, 2018 – Helped lead leadership arts day for MCCC
- 2017 – Arts panel for MCCC Leadership Class Arts Day
- 2017 – Tech Pad and Studio 2.0 Panel discuss on Entrepreneurship in Blacksburg
- 2017 – First Year Seminar Honors class at Virginia Tech on Entrepreneurship
- 2017 – Management Theory and Leadership Practice class at Virginia Tech – Entrepreneurship
- 2016 – Women’s Center and Women Influencing the Arts speaker
- Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce: Small Business of the Year Award, 2018
- Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce Nominee: Emerging Business Woman of the Year, 2017, 2018
- Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce Nominee: Small Business of the Year, 2015, 2016 & 2017
- Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce Nominee: Outstanding New Member, 2014
- Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce Nominee: Young Business Woman of the Year, 2014
- Macaroni Kid Daisy Award Nominee 2014
- Best of NRV, Roanoke Times 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
- Southwest VA Living Magazine: Best of: 2019, 2018
From the Nomination: “Heather Leeper’s achievements have been extraordinary. Little Leapers (LL) has … achieved 536% growth since 2012 … Heather has extensive community involvement including membership in the MCCC and numerous arts and business organizations. She established a scholarship program to recognize outstanding students each year that provides a free year of unlimited classes. In addition, LL offers community productions and showcases. LL strives to provide an opportunity for all children, not just LL dancers. As a result, they invite students from other local community dance schools to participate in their large stage productions so they are a complete community production. LL teaches dance in such a way that it invites and empowers their students to explore and express their creativity and voice through movement, improv, affirmation of bravery, intelligence, strength and focus, demonstrating teamwork, compassion, and caring for others. Leeper is a juggernaut of creativity and productivity. But what is most special is not her own legacy or accomplishments … Leeper’s accomplishments are seen not in her own life, but in the multitude of incredible lives she has influenced. Like ripples in a pond, the young people Heather Leeper teaches are teaching the world.”
What do you love about Roanoke?
Leeper: “I love that we are a small enough community that as a young business owner I was able to thrive, but forward-thinking and big enough to sustain a business. Because of that, I am able to make a huge impact on my community and the children in it.”
