storytelling and drama classes for children
Building a world of wonder.
One story at a time.
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
enrichment & after-school
enrichment & after-school
- 60 and 90-minute after-school classes
- for ages 3-6 and 4-6
- in Jersey City
enrichment & after-school
enrichment & after-school
enrichment & after-school
- 30, 45, and 60-minute enrichment and after-school classes
- for ages 2.5 and up
- in Jersey City and Hoboken
private Classes
enrichment & after-school
private Classes
- 4-8 class sessions of 60-minute classes
- for ages 3-6
- in Jersey City, Hoboken, and Weehawken
Fall & Winter, 2025
Adventure Stories
Asana Soul Practice in Jersey City
Mondays, September 8th - December 22nd (OFF on 10/13)
4-5pm
for ages 3-6
$35 per class
Click HERE for more info.
Adventure Story Playshop
Andco Grove: The Imagine More Play Space
Wednesdays, September 10th - December 17th (OFF on 11/26)
4:30-6pm
for ages 4-6
$40 per class
Click HERE for more info.
Our Enrichment & After-School Program
We're having a blast in our classes at The Step by Step School, Tessa International School, and Garden Preschool Cooperative, where, over the past few years, we've created unforgettable stories, shared a ton of laughs, and made fantastic friends along the way.
We work alongside teachers to create playful, collaborative experiences where all kids - from the quiet thinkers to the bold performers - can find their place in the story. We’re not replacing what’s already happening in the classroom, we’re adding a dedicated time where play takes center stage, every voice matters, and kids surprise themselves (and us) with what they create together.
In our sessions, children:
- Work together to solve story problems in creative (and often hilarious) ways.
- Use movement, sound, and expression to bring characters to life.
- Discover new ways to listen, respond, and build on someone else’s idea.
- Surprise themselves with what they can do, and who they can be, in a story.
- Leave with new ideas for pretend games they can keep playing long after we’re gone.
If you'd like to bring Story Builders to your school, feel free to reach out to us with any questions.
"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)
"Yara absolutely loves Story Builders, beyond any other activity or class we do. She will remember activities from class and will bring up the class or Ms. Alla in conversation. Every time we got to class, she would run in smiling, with a kind of joy that I really don't see for other classes she does. It's clear that she absolutely enjoys her time with Ms. Alla and the other kids, but more than that, I see that being in such a playful, creative, and dynamic atmosphere once a week has helped her develop so many important skills at her age, from thinking and playing imaginatively to socializing and taking turns with friends. We sometimes will watch the videos of class from a few months ago and she loves reminiscing on the wonderful play she had with friends."
- Sofia and Yara (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 (min 5), your location, and time and duration of the session (min 4 classes).
All in-home classes are free for one child in the hosting family.