About Us
Alla Ilyasova (she/her) - Founder, Teaching Artist
Alla is a theatre artist with nearly 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.
Our Classes
Story Builders is a story-based, imagination-centered, adventure-filled drama class, designed to help preschoolers hone their social skills, develop confidence, and express their wonderful, creative selves.
Using dramatic play, storytelling, music, and movement, Story Builders makes space for young children to communicate their feelings, connect to their peers in a meaningful way, and to thrive both artistically and personally.
Spring, 2024: Spooky Spell Book Stories (for ages 4-6)
Get ready for a series of adventures that will have us brewing powerful potions, crafting our very own spell books, and helping magical creatures in trouble. This group of apprentice witches and wizards is sure to have a spook-tacularly fun time as they hail a broomstick taxi, track down the lost pages of an ancient book, and discover the magic within and around them!
Click HERE for more info.
Spring, 2024: The Great Hat Adventure Stories (for ages 3-5)
In this adventure series, every hat is a ticket to a new imaginary world. We'll sail the stormy seas as pirates, put out dragon flames as firefighters, solve mysteries as detectives, and cast spells as wizards and witches. There's a whole universe of characters and stories waiting to be discovered, one hat at a time!
Click HERE for more info.
Summer, 2024: Magic Portal Stories (for ages 4-6)
Step into a world of wonder and adventure this summer!
We'll brew potions in an enchanted forest, collect treasures in an underwater kingdom, and plant gear gardens in Roboville. Each week-long mini camp will be filled with fantastic stories, colorful crafts, and amusing characters (culminating in a movie montage of our favorite games). So grab your portkeys and flux capacitors and join us on an unforgettable, magical journey!
Click HERE for more info.
Our Enrichment & After-School Program
We're thrilled to bring our classes to The Step by Step School, Tessa International School, and Garden Preschool Cooperative! We’re looking forward to the joy we’ll share, the characters we’ll create, the stories we’ll build, and the friends we’ll make.
If you'd like to bring Story Builders to your school, feel free to reach out to us about our Enrichment and After-School Program.
"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
"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
Private Classes
If our classes do not work with your schedule, and you'd like to host us in your home or at your school, 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.