About Us
Alla Ilyasova - Founder, Teaching Artist
Alla is a theatre artist with over twenty years of teaching experience.
She's all for dressing up, dancing around, reading books, telling stories, getting messy, appreciating mistakes, and sharing kindness.
She is deeply committed to creating an environment where kids always feel seen; and to making each Story Builders class a celebration of individuality, a lesson in teamwork, an exercise in empathy, and an opportunity for even the shyest, quietest kids to find their voice in a group setting.
Alla is a graduate of the Actors Studio Drama School's MFA playwriting program. Her plays have been produced for the NY International Fringe Festival and presented at Dixon Place. She has performed in various productions and staged readings in NYC, at the Wyoming Theatre Festival, and Guild Hall.
She feels at home both on stage and in a classroom, and treasures her time with her tiny, storytelling friends.
Laura King Otazo - Teaching Artist
Laura is an actor and teaching artist who is consistently delighted by what kids have to say. She enjoys facilitating environments where everyone feels safe to speak and be silly and loves nothing more than shared laughter.
Laura received her BA in Theatre & Dance from Trinity College and has also studied with Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, UCB, Stella Adler, and The Barrow Group in NYC.
Studio Classes
In-School Classes
In-School Classes
- 60 and 90-minute classes September-June
- for ages 3-5 and 4-6
- in Jersey City
In-School Classes
In-School Classes
In-School Classes
- 30, 45, and 60-minute morning enrichment and after-school classes
- for ages 3+
- in Jersey City and Hoboken
In-Home Classes
In-School Classes
In-Home Classes
- 4-8 class sessions of 60-minute classes
- for ages 3-6
- in Jersey City, Hoboken, and Weehawken
Fall, 2024
Adventure Stories
Nimbus Arts Center (Studio B)
Mondays, September 9th - November 25th
4-5pm
for ages 3-6
$30 per class
Click HERE for more info.
Adventure Story Playshop
Andco (The Imagine More Play Space)
Wednesdays, September 11th - December 18th
4:30-6pm
for ages 4-6
$40 per class (get $10 OFF our September classes with ASP24)
Click HERE for more info.
Our Enrichment & After-School Program
We've had an absolute blast bringing our classes to The Step by Step School, Tessa International School, and Garden Preschool Cooperative! We've shared a ton of laughs, created unforgettable stories, and made fantastic friends along the way. We can't wait to continue our adventures at these wonderful schools and are excited about the possibility of bringing our classes to even more places.
If you'd like to bring Story Builders to your school, feel free to reach out to us with any questions. Some of the benefits of hosting Story Builders in your classroom:
- By working together on stories and adventures, kids develop teamwork, communication, and social skills.
- Playing make-believe helps children build self-confidence as they take on different roles and share their ideas.
- Storytelling and dramatic play enhance vocabulary, comprehension, and verbal expression, contributing to overall language development.
- Our classes provide a safe space for children to explore and express their emotions through characters and stories.
- Engaging in imaginative play stimulates critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
"School is where you go to learn, but Story Builders is where you go to dream."
- Alma (4)
"It has been so amazing! My son talks more about the hour of Story Builders he goes to each week than the preschool he attends all day, every day. Alla is fantastic!! She is engaging and warm, flexible and understanding, and most importantly, imaginative! Kids need opportunities for play, imagination and socialization. I am so grateful Story Builders has given us that outlet! My son always leaves smiling and excited to tell me about whichever story they built. I can't recommend Story Builders or Alla enough!!!"
- Melissa and Alden (3)
"I cannot say enough wonderful things about Ms Alla. She absolutely encourages the children to come out of their shells and to use their imagination. My daughter's free play has improved at home. She makes up stories and incorporates her little brother. She's always so excited to go to class, and is the last kid to exit the yoga studio. We can't wait for Ms Alla's next session."
- Theresa and Tiffany (4)
Private Classes
If our classes do not work with your schedule, and you'd like to host us in your home, please contact us with the following info: ages and number of children interested in the class, location of the class, and time and duration of the class.
A minimum of 5 students is needed to create and run a private class.
All in-home classes are free for one child in the hosting family.