Second Chance Dance Staff and Faculty

Founder & CEO of Second Chance Dance

Dance has been the language of Alyssa Bowser’s heart since she was three years old. What began as a quiet child finding her voice through movement has evolved into Second Chance Dance—Philadelphia’s first full-service, adult-only dance studio committed to giving adults a real second chance at dance.

Alyssa began her training at Brenda Lee’s Dance Studio at just two years old, discovering early the joy and discipline of movement. She continued nurturing her artistry at the Young Performers Theatre Camp (YPTC), where she explored dance and performance. By age eleven, she found her true dance home at The Pointe! Dance Studio, where she immersed herself and trained intensely in ballet, modern, jazz, and tap and trained in an environment that demanded excellence, commitment, integrity, professionalism, and heart. Here, she learned discipline, artistry, and the transformative power of community.

At the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA), she trained under the legendary LaDeva Davis and gained early leadership experience as a choreographer and dance captain. Mentors such as Laceda Nelson, Dara Meredith, Ali Willingham, and Charell Chestang helped shape her artistic voice and the values that guide her studio today.

Alyssa holds a B.A. in International Business and Culture with a minor in French from Arcadia University, and an MBA with a concentration in Project Management from West Chester University. Her global study experiences in London, Paris, and Cape Town strengthened her adaptability, broadened her cultural perspective, and deepened her understanding of how dance, business, and community work together.
Before stepping fully into entrepreneurship, Alyssa spent ten years in federal service—first at the Department of Defenseand later at the Internal Revenue Service. While she excelled in public service, her heart remained with dance and community. Ultimately, she made the courageous decision to leave government and devote herself completely to building Second Chance Dance.
The spark that would become SCD began in 2020, when Alyssa taught her first adult classes using the name “Second Chance Dance.” It wasn’t yet a business—just a passionate group of women who believed their time to dance had passed. But Alyssa saw the truth: adults were starving for real technique, real connection, and a safe place to rediscover themselves.
In 2022, she officially founded Second Chance Dance. What began as a small passion project has transformed into a thriving, mission-driven dance institution offering nine genres, multiple technical levels, mentorship, community events, and annual performances—all intentionally designed for adult learners.
Beyond the studio, Alyssa is a financial literacy advocate and the self-published author of three books focused on bridging financial knowledge gaps. She is devoted to helping individuals and small businesses build sustainable futures. Her leadership philosophy is rooted in the belief that with opportunity, clarity, and resilience, anything is possible.
Today, through Second Chance Dance, Alyssa is reshaping what dance looks like in Philadelphia—rigorous, inclusive, joyful, and accessible at every age, size, and stage of life. Her work challenges traditional ideas of who “belongs” in dance and creates a community where adults can reclaim artistry, confidence, and connection—one class at a time.

Chair