When Amy Holt sees a shy little girl clutching her mom’s leg in fear on the first day of class at Popstar Performers, she can certainly relate. When Holt was a teenager, her mother enrolled her in a performance group in Friendswood in an attempt to build confidence. It worked. “I cried the first several classes because I was so freaked out by it,” Holt said. “But I ended up loving it and performing and [eventually] teaching the classes.” Holt said her passion to help other shy children open up is what inspired her to take ownership of Popstar Performers in January 2013. Holt had been teaching performance classes under the previous owner before taking over. She said her own children had reached an age where she felt comfortable getting involved in a business venture. While Holt said her training strategy is hard to describe, she uses a slow approach to connect with shy children and help them open up. “I really haven’t had any kids who have come in who haven’t become good performers or able to go in front of people,” she said. “Everybody [who] has come in has gotten over their fear and has performed. Even if it starts with tears, they’re still going to do it.” Popstar Performers offers classes for children age 3 and up. Groups learn song and dance routines set to music, which is themed each year. Some classes perform for local festivals, and Popstar Performers has done shows at Disney World and Six Flags Over Texas. On Saturdays, Holt hosts birthday parties, where children can dress up and learn short routines for their parents. Like all Popstar Performers classes, Holt teaches the birthday parties as well. “To see how [shy kids] start and how they end up—the growth and how they change—I think I’m addicted to it,” she said. “I just love to watch these kids.”
Popstar Performers has a traveling group, which puts on shows at a variety of venues across the country. The group will perform at Disneyland this summer.

Past destinations

  • Walt Disney World
  • Six Flags Over Texas
  • Pleasure Pier
  • Kemah Boardwalk
  • Houston Children’s Festival
  • Texas Children’s Hospital
  • Houston Aeros hockey games