At the young age of 22, Molly Myers has opened her second dance studio in Zachary.

On Oct. 1, the New Orleans native moved from her first studio, located in the Amazon Shopping Center at 6363 Main St., to a much larger one with 3,000 square feet of additional space to accommodate the more than 250 students she now teaches.

The new studio of Molly Myers Dance Academy is still located in the same shopping center on Main Street but is now in the former Anytime Fitness suite.

Myers' dance studio has tripled in size since first opening in 2009. A huge accomplishment for anyone, but especially for such a young business owner.

"I feel very blessed," Myers said. "I couldn't have done this all without the support of my family...but especially my mom, Jill Myers."

Dancing since the age of 2, Myers said her parents would bribe her to dance by tempting her with french fries, she recalls.

Her training from the Mari Milnar Dance Academy began at 2, and at the age of 13, she began taking a course to become certified to teach dance. She studied with Milnar all while studying her regular courses in the private school she attended.

When her family made the decision to move to Zachary, she told her parents she would agree to the move only if she could continue her training with Mari Milnar. So her dad, Scooter, and brother, Carey, made the move first. Molly and her mom, Jill, would follow later.

Molly and her older brother Carey, who she says is her best friend, were transplants at Zachary High School.

"After getting out of class at ZHS, I would drive to New Orleans three afternoons a week to continue with my dance instruction and then make the return trip at night back to Zachary," Myers remembers. "It was so hard, but it was worth it."

Myers teaches about 17 classes each week of tap, ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary and hip/hop dance. She has the help of three co-instructors: Taylor Rossi, Lori Hart and Chynna Anderson, two of them old friends from high school in New Orleans. "They are so awesome," Myers said.

Her students range in age from 2 -19 and all call her 'Mother Molly.'

"My first love before anything else was always dancing - before boys, books and anything else - dancing came first. Then I opened my studio, and my love for my students soon overcame my love for dancing. Their excited faces, hugs and shouts when they see me each day are what motivate me now," Myers said.

Molly Myers Dance Academy's schedule parallels that of regular school. Classes begin in September and run through May. There is a year-end recital in June, then the students are off the rest of the summer.

Myers says her recitals are a lot of work, and she admits to being a perfectionist. "There can be no kinks in my shows," she said.

In the summertime, Myers says she's mentally exhausted and does nothing but rest. "In July, I start back with seminars, conventions and workshops to enhance my education. By September, I'm ready to return with more material to teach my girls," said the ZHS graduate.

A member of the Zachary Chamber of Commerce, Molly Myers Dance Academy has participated in past years by having a float in the annual Zachary Christmas parade.

But this year, Myers and her students will be marching instead.

Besides dance, Myers says she also tries to instill a good work ethic in her students and teaches them to set goals.

"If my students don't learn one dance move here, then they'll at least learn the love of Christ," said the young business owner, who believes she's in her students' life for a reason.

Contact Molly Myers for more information at (504) 714-5205.