2018 was a very exciting year for Dance Connection!
Thank you for sharing it with us!

Dance Connection’s Year in Review:• We produced our 29th annual recital production, attended by over 2,000 people.

• We welcomed Emily Civitella and Kellyann Campisi to our staff this year.

• Lilly Scholl was promoted to Assistant Teacher in the Teacher Training Program.

• Allison Bradley, Melissa Kinnear, Jessica Manziak, & Stephanie Manziak were promoted to Student Teacher in the Teacher Training Program.

• Four new student helpers joined the Teacher Training Program – Amelia Boschen, Gabriella Dirosse, Brooke Lynne Martin, & Lindsay Quesada.

• Dance Connection joined the Wingman League.

• We celebrated three engagements – Teacher Miss Molly & Johnny, Teacher Miss Christina & Nick, and Faculty Emeritus Miss Samm & Nick!

• Dance Connection’s first-ever TV commercial premiered on News 12, Nickelodeon, HGTV, Investigation Discovery, Oxygen, and VH1.

• The competition team performed at the Islip Street Fair & Main Street Festival.

• The competition team performed to standing ovations aboard the Royal Caribbean Adventure of the Seas.

• The competition team won the Association of Dance Competitions and Conventions (ADCC) Studio of Excellence award at Beyond the Stars competition.  The Studio of Excellence Award is given by participating ADCC member competitions to a studio of their choice that best exemplifies the values of The ADCC, which include working together and striving for excellence.

• Emily Civitella won Dancer of the Year at Dancers Inc’s Nationals.

• Thomas Henderson won Teen Mr. Dancers Inc at Dancers Inc’s Nationals.

• Emily Civitella won Senior Miss Beyond the Stars at Beyond the Stars Regionals.

• Thomas Henderson won Teen Mr. Beyond the Stars at Beyond the Stars Regionals.

• Kiara Zeledon won Petite Miss Beyond the Stars at Beyond the Stars Regionals.

• Nyomi Jurado won Junior Miss True Talent at True Talent Regionals.

• Ginger Mastrosimone won Teen Miss True Talent at True Talent Regionals.

• Allison Bradley won Junior Miss BravO! at BravO! Regionals.

• Thomas Henderson won Teen Mr. BravO! at BravO! Regionals.

• The Competition Team was invited back to perform at the LI Ducks Game for the 10th year in a row.

• Mr. Joe was appointed to the Board of Directors of Robin Becker Dance, a professional modern dance company in NYC.

• Dance Connection was the presenting sponsor for the 2nd annual Making Wishes Grow concert – the show raised over $6,800 for Make-A-Wish.

• Our dancers performed for the seventh year in a row at the Make A Wish Foundation of Suffolk County’s Holiday Party.

• Miss Mary and Mr. Joe were on the faculty of the 2018 Energize Conference in Chicago, Miss Mary taught a seminar on Teacher Training Programs and Mr. Joe taught a seminar on Studio Communications and another on Pre-Registration to dance teachers and dance studio owners from across the world.

• Through the generosity of our dancers, parents, and staff we were able to help grant the holiday wishes of local families through our Giving Tree.

• Our dancers danced in the Town of Islip Holiday Parade and performed for the Town of Islip Tree Lighting.  Dance Connection won Best Float at the parade!

• Mr. Joe’s book Standby in the Wings: A Behind the Scenes Guide to Producing the Perfect Dance Recital was published.

• Our dancers performed in “Step into Christmas” at CM Performing Arts Center raising money for Gavin’s Got Heart! 

 Thank you for your support over the past 365 days. We look forward to sharing many performing arts memories with you in 2019! 
 Have a very happy and safe New Years,
Dance Connection Staff