SNOQUALMIE – Valley parents may no longer have to drive to Issaquah for piano lessons or to Bellevue for ballet.

Artistic training of most every stripe can be found in the Valley through Superior Training Academy Region Snoqualmie, or S.T.A.R.S.

Sno-Valley Gymnastics just started S.T.A.R.S. to bring many of the types of lessons parents drive their kids outside of the Valley for right here. As of Sept. 1, Sno-Valley Gymnastics will no longer specialize in just gymnastics, but in a wide range of activities.

“I am trying to get the best quality program in town together in one location that involves three disciplines: academic, arts and athletics,” said Yoshi Nakayana, owner of Sno-Valley Gymnastics.

Arts offered will include Kindermusik, piano, voice, theater, painting and drawing. Under athletics, S.T.A.R.S. will offer gymnastics, wrestling, yoga, Tah Chi, judo, karate, cheer and dance. For academics, students may take advantage of tutoring in math, writing, reading and vocabulary. Other classes include “Kids in the Kitchen,” pantomime, magic, unicycling and juggling.

These are the classes S.T.A.R.S. has instructors for now. More classes will be added as instructors from the area are found. Nakayana has found most of his instructors and S.T.A.R.S. participants through word of mouth and is looking for more individuals to help teach classes.

“It’s a safe place for after school, a fun place and [parents] don’t have to drive around the town. It saves them time and basically saving time is the most important part and keeping children in a safe environment instead of staying home by themselves or with baby sitters,” Nakayana said.

A cafe serving healthy snacks and meals will open for parents waiting for their kids to finish classes at Sno-Valley Gymnastics. The cafe will provide after-school snacks for kids and dinner to go for the whole family.

S.T.A.R.S. membership costs $350 per person and $600 per family. Sno-Valley Gymnastics annual, lifetime and family members can upgrade their memberships to S.T.A.R.S. membership during the grace period from now until Sept. 1 and be reimbursed their membership fee at that time. Benefits to this upgrade include 50-percent off drop-in gymnastics, 50-percent off “Kids Night Out” and 5-percent off proshop items. S.T.A.R.S. members will also receive a discount membership rate, sibling discounts, early-bird discounts and a free drink with lunch or dinner at the cafe.

Age requirements vary for different activities. Many activities are open to adults. For information, call Sno-Valley Gymnastics at (425) 888-4242. Sno-Valley Gymnastics is located at 1546 Boalch Ave., next to Mt. Si Sports and Fitness.

Staff Writer Melissa Kruse can be contacted at (425) 888-2311 or by e-mail at melissa.kruse@valleyrecord.com.