From professional careers to personal achievements, our alumni share how their time at DU helped shape their paths and set them up for success. These stories not only celebrate their growth as dancers but also the lasting relationships we’ve built along the way. We are proud to watch our students evolve into incredible adults!

Meet our Dance Studio Alumni and check out what they are up to now!

Lindsay S.

What years did you dance at DU? 1999-2014

What are you up to now? I moved back to Maine in 2019 after college. I’m a Registered Nurse at the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care. I care for patients newly diagnosed with Head & Neck and Esophageal cancers.

Did your time at DU teach you any life lessons or help set you up for success? My time at Dance Unlimited taught me so much more than choreography, costumes and stage presence. I learned discipline and what it meant to be part of a team. I am most thankful for the friends I gained during my time at DU, many of which are now considered family. Some of my favorite life memories were during my DU days. 

What advice would you give current DU dancers? Enjoy every moment because it goes faster than you think. Support your teammates; check on them, laugh with them, get to know them. Embrace challenges and change, for that is how we grow as people and as dancers. Show your teachers how much you appreciate them. They work harder than you will ever realize. Chase your dreams and be true to yourself!

Have you stayed in touch with any dancers from DU? I sure have. Many of my friendships have only grown since our last year dancing together. We have stood by each other in weddings and many other special moments in the last 10 years. I’m now a proud Auntie of several second generation Dance Unlimited dancers and look forward to bringing my future children someday.

What’s next for you? I plan to enjoy married life with my husband and we hope to have children in the future. I would love to get myself back to Dance Unlimited for adult classes in the future. I hope to be bringing my own children to Dance Unlimited in a few years.

Dana J.

What years did you dance at DU? 2004-2008

What is your favorite memory at DU? Being backstage at competitions! 

What are you up to now? I am a stay at home, homeschooling mom of five!

Is dance still a part of your life? Dance will always be part of my life but for now, it’s just dance parties with my kids.

Did your time at DU teach you any life lessons or help set you up for success? Yes! Always do your best. And don’t forget to stretch! 

What advice would you give current DU dancers? Enjoy this time. You’ll never forget your dance friends. 

Have you stayed in touch with any dancers from DU? Not as much as I’d like but I am so thankful for social media! 

What’s next for you? In a few years, I’ll have graduated my first child! I see more time spent enjoying the people I love most.

Jessica D. 

What years did you dance at DU? 2003-2009 (And adult classes since 2013)

What is your favorite memory at DU? Dancing to Thriller at the Celtics game.

What are you up to now? I am a Stay at Home Mom.

Is dance still a part of your life? Yes! Now I am a dance mom. And I take adult classes at DU. 

Did your time at DU teach you any life lessons or help set you up for success? My time at Dance Unlimited taught me so much. It helped break me out of my shyness, taught me the importance of determination and perseverance, and introduced me to some great friends. 

What advice would you give current DU dancers? Don’t compare yourself to others, just focus on challenging yourself and being the best dancer you can be.

Have you stayed in touch with any dancers from DU? I originally met my best friend when we danced at Dance Unlimited in school and then we reconnected when we were both taking adult classes at DU. She was in my wedding and my kids call her “auntie.”

Isabella C.

How long did you dance at DU? 15 years

What is your favorite memory at DU? Dancing with Bailey Roes, we had so many good memories.

What are you up to now? I’m attending KVCC for radiology.

Is dance still a part of your life? It’s not ever since I had my knee surgery, but I wish it still was. 

Did your time at DU teach you any life lessons or help set you up for success? That no matter what happens you just have to push through it and that’s what Miss Bri taught me.

What advice would you give current DU dancers? If you can’t do something just work harder and harder till you get it, nothing is impossible. 

Have you stayed in touch with any dancers from DU? Yes! 

What’s next for you? I see myself graduated from college working at a hospital and helping people. 

Bailee R. 

What years did you dance at DU? 2009-2022

What is your favorite memory at DU? A couple of my favorite memories from my time at DU would probably have to be when my dad and I did dads and dancers for the first time. As well as, when I did my senior solo and I felt so much love before but especially after I finished my dance.

What are you up to now? I attend KVCC and study Psychology with a focus on Childhood Trauma. I currently work in childcare while continuing my college degree. 

Did your time at DU teach you any life lessons or help set you up for success? Yes, dance taught me discipline and responsibility.

What advice would you give current DU dancers?. Enjoy every minute that you get to dance. Soak in the feeling of the stage lights on your face and never take it for granted. Most of all, have fun! 

What’s next for you? I am hoping to be continuing to get my PhD in Psychology and working in childcare. 

Brianna C.

What years did you dance at DU? 2005-2014

What is your favorite memory at DU? Special performances with the Performance Company, such as Celtics pre-games and our Disney trip my senior years. I also loved competitions, and Rizzo weekends! 

What are you up to now? Teaching at DU of course! And I am the director of the Dance Unlimited Performance Company and our Elite competition team! Passing on the passion of dance! 

Is dance still a part of your life? Besides teaching at DU, my two girls dance at DU, one on the Elite competition team (age 8) and other is in Kinderdance and getting ready to compete for her first time in a few months! 

Did your time at DU teach you any life lessons or help set you up for success? Of course it did. It pretty much built who I am as a person and dance teacher! 

What advice would you give current DU dancers? Live in these moments, it comes to an end too fast! But don’t forget that dancing is hard work, so put your best effort forward every time you step into the studio! 

Have you stayed in touch with any dancers from DU? My current closet friends I met at DU! I am in touch with my entire graduating class! I was in 3 of their weddings, and am “auntie” to my best friend’s daughter, whom I met at DU! 

What’s next for you? Not going far! Staying right here at DU and leading our Performance and Competition team! 

Abigayle W. 

What years did you dance at DU? 2002-2017

What is your favorite memory at DU? Disney in 2014, and the NYC trip!

What are you up to now? I am an LCPC-C, and work in a public school setting as an outpatient mental health clinician!

Is dance still a part of your life? A huge part! Getting to come back and teach here at DU is another big part of my career, and I’m so thankful that dance will forever be with me! 

Did your time at DU teach you any life lessons or help set you up for success? DU gave me the lessons of resiliency, hard work,  and how I could work toward any goal I set for myself. I learned time management, determination, and the value in being surrounded by some of the very best friends and adults! 

What advice would you give current DU dancers? These times go by so fast, and soon it’ll all be memories. Soak in the everyday moments; enjoy them! Remember why you dance and let the artistry be what pushes you in every single class. Feel the love from your friends and teachers, and let the studio be a place that feels like home! You only get these moments once, and they could be some of your favorites to look back on. So be kind, make life-long best friends, have fun, work hard, and enjoy this journey- we are SO lucky to be part of it with you! 

Have you stayed in touch with any dancers from DU? Yes! Some of my best friends are DU alum! And I get the privilege of working with some of them too- like Mrs. Bri, Miss Kiara and Miss Brooke! My DU friends are some of the most fun- we dance, laugh, and get to be our truest selves around each other! 

What’s next for you? This is a great question! Regardless of where I see myself in my career, I know I’ll be dancing! I am thankful to have some of the best students and work with amazing teachers here at DU. I see myself growing alongside them all! 

As you can see, we’ve taught some pretty special dancers over the years. From chasing big dreams to making an impact in their communities, these alumni have incredible stories to tell. Best of all, most of them have made lifelong friendships during their time at the studio. It makes us feel so warm and full of joy to know that we’ve made such a positive impact on their lives. 

Thanks for joining us for our first ever Dance Studio Alumni feature. We hope to feature many more DU alumni as the years go on!

To get more involved and DU and experience more performance opportunities, learn more about our Dance Unlimited Performance Company here!

The post Where Are They Now? appeared first on Dance Unlimited, LLC.

When it comes to signing your child up for activities, we know you’ve got tons of options! We may be biased, but we think dance is one of the best activities in Augusta. We’d love to tell you about what your child gains when you sign them up for one of our weekly dance classes at Dance Unlimited! 

5 Surprising Benefits of Dancing With Us This Fall:

1. Creativity

While dancing is incredibly athletic, it is primarily a performing art. Our students learn how to express ideas and emotions while making music come to life. In a typical school day, most students use their logical and analytical skills disproportionately to their artistic, emotional, or imaginative skills. We love watching our students flex their creative muscles in our classes!

2. Social Skills

Dance friends are the best friends! Many of our students can thank DU for giving them some of their closest friendships. Spending time with family at home is important, but after-school activities are one of the best ways for kids to make friends and become social butterflies. Sign your child up for dance class and they may even meet their greatest life-long friend! 

3. Discipline

One of the biggest jobs of educators and parents is to teach children how to be productive and responsible members of society. They learn this by following through on commitments, following rules, and learning how to work hard in order to meet their goals. Dance class teaches them all of those skills! They make a commitment to their class and use teamwork to perfect their dance for recital. They become responsible for their dress code, costumes, and remembering their recital choreography. AND they work hard to perfect their skills in class. 

4. Confidence

Each and every year, we see dance work wonders for our students’ self esteem and confidence. Moving your body and performing in front of other can feel vulnerable, so pushing through fears and insecurities can really help a child learn how to step out of their comfort zone. Not to mention performing on stage, which will light your child up in ways you’ve never seen before! By signing your child up for dance class, you’re giving them a confidence boost that will trickle into whatever they tackle next.

5. Stress Relief

After long days at school, kids need a chance to get up and moving! That’s why participating in activities in Augusta is so important. Joining us as we dance and groove to our favorite tunes will be a sure way for your child to release endorphins every single week. We have loads of fun in class, which goes a long way during a child’s school week. 

So what are you waiting for? The benefits of our weekly dance classes are endless! When it comes to activities in Augusta, we’re the best option for your child this Fall! We are currently accepting enrollment for our 2023/24 Dance Season, but classes are filling fast! Don’t wait to register! Click here to view the class schedule and save your child’s spot online. 

We’re kicking things off on September 11th, will we see you there?! We can’t wait to dance with your child this school year and watch as they grow, learn, and soar at our studio! 

The post 5 Surprising Benefits of Dancing With Us This Fall appeared first on Dance Unlimited, LLC.