It may sound a little bit crazy, but even though we haven’t even started trying on costumes for this year’s recital we are already planning for next year’s classes, holiday parties, and recital! There is one BIG difference about the plans for next year though…Dance Connection will be celebrating our 30th Year!! Thirty years is a huge milestone for any business, and a lot of us (especially those on the staff who have been with the studio from the beginning) have been thinking about what it really means to have Dance Connection turn 30.

Everyone here has some great memories of their first days working at the studio, but mostly our staff has been thinking about how many students have come through the doors. A majority of our students have started as two year olds and grown up right here in these rehearsal rooms, some even becoming teachers themselves! You can see a small collection of smiling faces with the adorable photos that are up on the walls, but that is just a fraction of the students who have danced here over 30 years. This year alone we have almost 600 students registered, so over the years you can imagine the thousands of dancers who have been a part of the DC family!

Whether you are a student that we see once a week or if you practically live here (as a lot of us do!) we are so fortunate to be able to have you with us and to be able to pass on our love of dance. Miss Mary has always believed that dance is more than being able to perform the movements that you are taught in class. It is a passion, something that you love to do, that can make you feel better when you have had a less than perfect day. Through dance our students can learn responsibility, accountability, creativity and self-expression, social skills, and the value of persistence. They make life-long friendships and may come in contact with a teacher that inspires them and makes a big impact on their future.

We have so many reasons to celebrate Dance Connection’s 30th year, and we will be doing all sorts of special things to commemorate this milestone next year. We’re planning some extra special surprises as we speak, and will even be bringing back some favorite routines for recital next year! It’s looking like an extra special, extra fun year, and we cannot wait to welcome everyone back after the summer to experience it with us!