Our Story

Subletting spare space in a karate studio in Wilmington,  Derek and Cami Capps founded 'Glory Academy of Dance Arts' in the fall of 1998. Their desire to combine passion with purpose was born. Starting with a handful of students they quickly grew to a thriving studio of dancers of all ages and abilities. Derek and Cami always emphasized the importance of everything being done to the Glory of God from the classroom to the stage, and thus began our continued tradition of the "Production". Not a recital, but a full length narrative show demonstrating God's love and truth in a unique way not seen any where else.  They would leave their mark on Wilmington, and in larger Christian dance circles, in a major way that we still lean on today. Upon their departure in 2005, the studio was handed into the faithful hands of Abbye McGee as Director and Melanie Dubel as Artistic Director. It was under their combined tutelage that Glory Academy of Dance Arts was renamed to Glory Academy of Fine Arts and to ultimately, GAFA Studios, the name we still bear today.  The eight years spent at the Rock were ones of great technical improvement and solidification of vision. In 2013, GAFA found a new temporary home for two years in a makeshift studio, rebuilding from scratch, and discovering resiliency and determination in the process. Alison Dutka Jones, an original student of Derek and Cami Capps,  assumed the role of Director at this time, and still serves in this capacity today with the help of the best staff in Wilmington. God's hand and undoubted providence led us to our current studio home in 2015. GAFA needed a better studio if its journey was to continue, but where to start? Resources were limited and GAFA was working with a very meager budget.  But, with God's kindness, a mutual friend called only days after deciding we would need a new studio to ask, "Do you by chance need a new studio space?" And to all the glory of God, we landed on our feet at 4209 Oleander Dr. A turnkey studio equipped with mirrors, barres, and sprung floors.

Our story is a testimony to the faithfulness and goodness of a loving and intentional God. He is the reason we tell His story through our shows. The reason we incorporate His truths in our classroom. The reason we continue down this path. He's not done with us yet, and we believe the best is yet to come. We invite you to be a part of the story, and to participate in the joy and experience that is GAFA Studios.