In honor of our 25th birthday, we hosted an Awards Ceremony and Anniversary Gala that was open to all DU Dancers and their families. It was the biggest celebration in DU history and it was simply unforgettable. Below are some highlights!

Red Carpet Moments

Dancers and families arrived in style, dazzling in their semi-formal and formal attire. From sparkles to bow ties, the red carpet was alive, and we were LOVING the looks! Click here to check out some photos of all the glitz and glam!

A Celebration of Every Dancer

At DU, every dancer counts. That’s why every performer from the 2024–25 season was recognized during our spectacular awards ceremony. From our tiniest twirlers to our graduating seniors, each dancer took the stage and received their moment of applause. 

Special Honors

Special honors were given to our first-year dancers, 10 year dancers, graduating seniors, and our incredible legacy families who have supported DU across generations. We also recognized students celebrating 5, 15 years of dancing with us. On top of that, we inducted our NHSDA students and introduced our first ever Poppi Awards. Check out our previous blog post to learn more about Poppi the Panda!

Gifts, Prizes, and Surprises! 

Every dancer received a special gift as a keepsake of their unforgettable year, and lucky families took home exciting door prizes throughout the evening. Smiles lit up the room!

Dinner, Dancing, and DU Spirit

The celebration continued with a delicious dinner, a live DJ, and a dance floor where everyone let loose and partied the DU way, full of energy and pride!

What made this gala so special wasn’t just the glitz or glam. It was the shared memories and the deep-rooted sense of community. For 25 years, Dance Unlimited has poured into the lives of thousands of young people, and this event was a reflection of that beautiful legacy.

To our DU families, thank you for trusting us with your dancers. To our alumni, staff, and community partners, thank you for believing in our mission. And to our dancers, you are the heartbeat of DU, past, present, and future.   And we simply can’t wait to see what the future holds for Dance Unlimited and our growing dance family in the years to come! 

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These items will have your child rockin’ AND dancing around the Christmas tree!

Holiday Gift Ideas for Dancers: 

• Tutu Under the Christmas Tree

Have you heard about our 2023 Holiday Promotion? Enjoy our discounted dance class package that includes a beautifully wrapped tutu to put under the tree, a gift certificate for class, and other DU goodies for your child to unwrap on Christmas morning! Your dancer will have a brand new class to look forward to in the New Year. To purchase your gift package, contact us at info@dance-u.com. 

• Take 25% Off Items in Our Store

All our leotards, tights, dance shoes, dance crock charms, water bottles, dance bags are 25% Off for the holiday season! Take advantage of our sale and grab some dancer essentials or stocking stuffers. 

• Branded DU Squishmallow 

Also sold in our store, we have special DU Squishmallows that are the perfect huggable, fluffy friend for your child’s bedroom!

• Hair Wax Stick

This product is awesome for the slicked back ballet look that our dancers need for class. If your child doesn’t like using hairspray for class, or wants a quicker, more portable way to get ready for dance, this is a great gift! Click here to purchase on Amazon! 

• Dancer Make-Up Bag with Taylor Swift Lyric

When we saw this makeup bag, we knew it would be a hit with all of our little swifties! If your dance loves Taylor as much as we do, you’ve got to get them this. Click here to purchase from Amazon! 

• A Subscription to Dance Magazine

Dance Magazine has so much valuable information for dancers in training. From injury prevention, summer intensives, and interviews with professionals, your child will look forward to reading it every month. Subscribe here! 

• Massage Tool Kit

Perfect for our older dancers who often have sore muscles, this kit comes with a foam roller, a massage stick, and more. Gift this to your dancer for injury prevention and pain relief! Click here to purchase it on Amazon! 

Happy holidays from all of us here at Dance Unlimited. We are thankful for your support year-round, but this time of year always makes us feel a little extra love for our dance families. Have a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year! 

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If you know Poppi, you know that he brings out the best in others. He reminds us all about what it means to be a member of the DU Family, exemplifying our studio’s core values. Passion, Acceptance, Nurture, Development, and Achievement are the values we hold onto with pride as we create our programs and opportunities for young dancers. 

One of the ways we live out our studio mission is by giving back to our community. There are so many opportunities to get involved with community service in Augusta, and we can’t wait to share how DU gives back each year! 

3 Ways that DU Gives Back:

1. Have a Heart Food Drive

Each February, our studio celebrates Valentine’s Day by extending our hearts to those in need. We collect food and personal care items that are distributed to the Augusta Food Bank. Year after year, we see how much of a contribution we are able to make when our studio families all come together to give. This year, we were overjoyed by yet another successful Food Drive!

2. Valentine’s Day Cards for Health Facilities 

To make the season of love even sweeter, we also encourage our dancers to create Valentine’s Cards patients at local Healthcare facilities. This year, we had enough cards to give to not one, but two facilities. We love making others feel a little extra love on Valentine’s Day! 

3. Live Performances in our Community

During the holiday season, our DUPC dancers perform at the annual Augusta Tree Lighting. It’s one of our favorite events of the year as we share our passion for dance with the community. We treasure the smiles, laughter, and joy we get from the audience and it reminds us of how dance brings people together. 

Our studio vision is about more than just great dancing. It’s about nurturing young spirits, accepting others, fostering passion, and so much more! Giving back to our community is one of the ways that we teach our students the value of community. 

Community service in Augusta is so valuable for young minds. Our dancers are shaped by the goals we set for them and the opportunities we give them. We love showing them that #DanceUCares! 

We love our Augusta community and we love giving back! Thank you to all our families who participated in our charity events this February!

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Today on the blog, we’re talking about the Benefits of Adult Dance Classes! Dancing is truly for all ages. If you ask any of our instructors, they’ll tell you that their love of dance has only grown with age. We have a several classes on our schedule that are for you, and we can’t wait to tell you why this is an amazing opportunity to move with us!

4 Benefits of Adult Dance Classes:

1. Endorphins

Especially as we head into the season of Winter blues, we are all running low on Vitamin D and endorphins… two crucial contributors to our happiness!  Endorphins are proven to lower symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and pain. And what releases endorphins? Dancing, of course! But don’t take our word for it, click here to read more about how endorphins work!

2. Community

Especially for our busy dance parents who are always thinking about their kids, it can be hard to find time for a social life! When you sign up for an Adult Dance Class, you gain a built-in, weekly time in your schedule for connecting with other adults who have a similar interest. Our adult dance classes offfer a supportive, welcoming environment for all levels and abilities. We’d love to get to know you and dance with you each week!

3. Fitness

Aren’t the best workouts the ones where you don’t even realize you’re working out because you’re having too much fun? That’s exactly what our adult classes are like! Come join us as we get lost in the music, while also getting our heart rates up and breaking a sweat. Pencil our classes into your fitness routine and you won’t regret it!

4. “Me” Time

Every hardworking adult deserves a chance each week to unplug, get away, and do something for themselves. When you’re spending so much time worrying about others, signing up for a weekly dance class is a great way to prioritze yourself. We find joy in dancing for ourselves each week, and we know our adult students do too! 

So what kinds of Adult Dance Classes do we offer at DU? Here’s our complete list of dance styles and times to pick from!

Adult Ballet – Thursdays 7:45-8:30pm
Adult Hip Hop – Wednesdays 8:30-9:15pm
Adult Jazz – Wednesdays 7:45-8:30
Adult Tap – Thursdays 7:00-7:45

Are you ready to join us?! Visit our website here and register today! We can’t wait to see you on the dance floor!

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Finding the perfect summer activity for your child is about more than just giving them a chance to play! It’s their 3 months of a free schedule and the ability to let loose without the added pressures of the school year. We adore the amount of positivity and carefree energy that we see in our students during the summer, which is precisely why we see summer dance as SO beneficial for them!

Dancing through the summer is great for kids of all ages, and we can’t wait to share the many reasons why! 

7 Perks to Dancing Over the Summer:

Perks for little ones…

Even our tiniest dancers get a chance to dance during the summer! From Twirling Twos and Preschool Dance, to Princess and Fairytale Camps, we’ve got just what your preschooler needs to have a sensational time this summer! Here’s what they’ll gain from dancing with us:

1. A Great Way to Stay Social
Preschoolers need constant socialization and opportunities to put their social skills to the test! Taking turns, personal space, and being kind are all things we’ll be practicing this summer.

2. A Chance to Use Their Imagination
At our 2-day Princess Camp and 4-day Fairytale Camp, your little one’s summer days will be transformed into magical adventures! They’ll tiptoe through our ballroom, sing to their favorite Disney tunes, and explore the world of their wildest dreams!

3. A Refreshing Learning Environment
Visiting the studio over the summer for classes or camps reminds your child what a learning environment looks and feels like while they’re taking a break from preschool! We keep it exciting, and engaging while keeping their bodies and minds hard at work! 

Perks for older dancers…

For kids ages 6+, (and our DUPC dancers), we’ve got technique classes galore this summer! Divided up by levels that correspond with your dancer’s school year class level, we’ve got everything you need to keep your training moving full speed ahead!

1. Keeping Up With Skills All Year Round!
Our students make SO much progress during the school year and we hate seeing them lose it after not dancing for 3 months. We’ll be doing technique drills, strengthening our bodies, and building muscle memory in classes this summer!

2. Heightened Focus
Summer gives your child a chance to really hone in on their dance skills without the added stress of the school year. Our summer students are always more focused and engaged without their busy schedules and homework stress! 

3. Intensive Experiences
Every summer we offer 3 Summer Camps that are jam-packed with amazing training! Our Diva Camp, Shooting Star Camp, and All Star Experience camp will help your dancer take their dancing to the next level!

4. A Leg up for DUPC Auditions
While dancing over the summer is required for our DUPC Dancers, it’s also a great way to really tighten up your skills before auditioning. We KNOW you’ll be ready for all the exciting things the DUPC has in store after training with us for the summer!

Are you ready to join us on the dance floor this summer?! We can’t wait to dive in and get moving! Click here to view the schedule and save your child’s spot today!

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Does your child never stop practicing their skills and recital routines around the house? Do they start grooving every time they hear music? Is our year-end recital something that your child looks forward to ALL year long? 

If you answered yes to any of those questions, we’d love to tell you about the Dance Unlimited Performance Company (DUPC). Made up of roughly 40 dancers ages 8-18, DUPC rehearses, trains, and performs throughout the year at various community events and competitions. It’s the number one way to get more opportunities to perform, train, and grow!

So today on the blog, we’re breaking it down by answering some of the questions we hear most often. Join us below for a quick Q&A that will give you an idea of what DUPC is all about! 

How is DUPC different from your School-Year Programs?

DUPC dancers train and rehearse weekly in addition to their dance classes. They also get the opportunity to perform in several extra performances throughout the year aside from our annual recital. It’s a way to perform more and really take a students’ dance training to the next level!

What kind of extra performances does DUPC do?

Performance opportunities can include but are not limited to the Maine Redclaws halftime, Boston Celtics prime time performances, Walt Disney World performances, local holiday performances, and attending dance competitions and workshops each year. Lastly, DUPC dancers perform in our recital finale! Click here to check out some pictures from our most recent convention and competition! 

Who can be a part of DUPC?

Dancers ages 10 and up who LOVE to dance and complete our two-part audition process. 

What is the audition process like?

Dancers must attend our open audition night, followed by our Summer Camp Intensive. Based on their level and abilities, our staff will invite them to join the company and place them in the correct training program. Our youngest members are generally invited to participate in an introductory year to allow them to experience company with a little less commitment. 

What is the training commitment for DUPC?

DUPC dancers are driven and determined to enhance their technique and performance quality. In order to accomplish this, members are required to take a minimum of 6 – 10 classes per week, depending on the age of the dancer. Required classes include Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Modern, and Acro. On top of these classes, DUPC dancers also have additional rehearsals throughout the year to work on routines.

Do DUPC members participate in activities besides dancing?

Yes! Our DUPC members serve as studio ambassadors. They assist in all community service projects, becoming leaders and role models for all of our studio values. 

Are there opportunities to do more dance competitions/routines?

Yes! The DUPCE is a brand new program that stands for Dance Unlimited Performance Company Elite. It is made up of elite level dancers who love competing. This team has a higher commitment level and grants opportunities for solo, duet, trio, and small group routines. They will travel to 3-4 additional competitions and conventions per year!

What does my child gain from being a part of DUPC?

This is by far our favorite question to answer because the benefits of DUPC are simply life-changing for our dancers. Here are just a few:

• • Leadership 
  • Discipline
  • Teamwork & Community
  • Empowerment
  • A Dance Family

Our DUPC and DUPCE grow as dancers and inspirational leaders throughout the year. With all that our DUPC members accomplish throughout the year, it wouldn’t be possible without our fabulous company director Mrs. Bri! 

Mrs. Bri has served under Mrs. Laura as the assistant director for a few years and was officially promoted into the role of Company Director earlier this year. Along with DUPC Faculty, she leads our dancers, runs rehearsals, and helps set the vision for the future of our performance company program. She is a wonderful mentor to our dancers and we are SO lucky to have her as a part of our team! 

If any of these details about DUPC sound like something your child would LOVE, we’d love to hear from you! Contact us here or reach out to Mrs. Bri with any questions. Auditions aren’t until next summer, but it’s never too early to start thinking about joining our advanced dance programs!

Looking for ways to support our DUPC dancers? Current DU families can stop by our annual. Trunk or Treat event this Friday where we’ll be collecting donations! Register HERE! 

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Watch the Facebook live reveal HERE! 

Poppi the Panda will be joining the Dance Unlimited family because he represents what we are ALL about. He exemplifies our studio’s core values: Passion, Acceptance, Nurture, Development, and Achievement. We take pride in these values throughout every aspect of our studio community. 

These 5 core values are what makes enrolling at Dance Unlimited, LLC. such a valuable experience for our studio families. We make sure all of our students feel these values as they attend our weekly classes, participate in our performances, and if they join our Dance Unlimited Performance Company. Read on to learn more about our core values and the benefits of joining our dance family!

What Your Child Gains From Joining the DU Family:

1. Passion
   The Dance Unlimited teaching staff is filled with passion not only for our craft, but for sharing it with young minds. Most of us fell in love with dance at a young age, and our goal as dance educators is to instill that same passion in our students. To find passion is to develop an interest that turns into something a child loves. For many of our students, that becomes dance!
   
2. Acceptance
   Our studio is not only a place of learning, but a place of community. When you dance together, you work together, laugh together, and best of all, you grow up together! We see this time and time again and we always welcome new dancers joining the family. Lifelong friendships are built at Dance Unlimited!
3. Nurture
   Every child needs to feel support, inclusion, and love as they try new things. We love being one of the many positive forces in our students’ lives. In our weekly classes, we encourage them and build them up to reach their highest potential.
4. Development
   How do we see our dancers develop year after year within our programs? Aside from mastering technical skills, dancers improve self-esteem and confidence in class. We emphasize positive self-talk while working in class throughout the year. Once our students hit the recital stage, they are ready to take on the world!
5. Achievement
   In DU classes, we set goals and work towards them week after week. Whether that be getting our splits down, remembering our recital dance, or nailing a pirouette, our students learn how to work hard. They feel pride in their successes and we all celebrate together!

We love sharing our core values with our dance families because they are what makes DU an amazing place to dance. Visit our website to learn more about our programs! We are currently accepting enrollment in our 2021/2022 Dance Classes! 

Poppi the Panda is SO excited to greet our new and returning dancers this Fall! Be sure to say hello and give a warm welcome. He serves as a reminder of the great things that can happen within our studio walls! 

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