Music, arts center opens on celebratory note

A new neighbor would like to introduce itself to the community with a free festival, and it will provide the entertainment.

The Landero Learning Center for Music & the Arts is planning a grand opening celebration with food, giveaways and live performances from 5-8 p.m. Sunday at its new location, 9620 Las Vegas Blvd. South.

The event is free and open to the public.

The studio opened June 14, and about 100 students take part in group classes in piano, violin, martial arts, drama, modeling and multiple varieties of dance offered by founder Gina Landero .

Landero started piano lessons in her southwest home three years ago, and her small business was the latest edition of her lifelong love affair with the piano. She started playing at age 5 and studied the instrument in college. She was a concert pianist before her teaching days.

Parlaying passion into business from home and then taking it to her new 4,300-square-foot location took commitment.

"I decided to stay home or go big," she said. "I'm expanding, and I want to reach the other part of town."

Her classes vary in price, and Landero said she keeps them low but competitive. She also offers private lessons.

Coupons and discounts for new students are scheduled to be offered Sunday.

Landero also welcomes her business neighbors to the festival to check out the fun and hopefully form relationships, she said.

Many of the current students and professionally trained instructors will take the stage Sunday.

"I love teaching kids," she said, "e specially when I see they have benefited from my way of teaching."

Southwest resident Marina Shabelnaya learned about the Landero Learning Center for Music & the Arts about a year ago when she was pregnant and on leave from her job as a performer in the Cirque du Soleil's "O."

The 31-year-old native of Russia was looking to rekindle an interest from her younger days.

"Since I was little, I wanted to try piano," she said. "I did start for a little bit, but my mom told me to decide what I wanted to do more -- music or acrobatics. I chose acrobatics."

Shabelnaya takes weekly private lessons with Landero and practices on a keyboard at home.

There have been sessions in which Landero holds Shabelnaya's infant daughter on her hip while her pupil practices.

Shabelnaya won't be playing Sunday but will likely perform in a recital within the year. She said performance is just icing on the cake.

"I don't have a goal. I just play for myself," she said.

For more information, visit landero
learningcenter.com or call 407-2787.

Contact Centennial and Paradise View reporter Maggie Lillis at mlillis@viewnews.com or 477-3839.