In honor of this milestone, we are so excited to announce a brand new initiative! Drumroll please… Introducing our Legacy Families!

After 25 years, we’ve been lucky enough to touch the lives of countless young dancers who have grown up to become adults, members of the Augusta community, and even parents! When a DU alumni makes the choice to bring their very own children to the studio, we feel honored, grateful, and elated to teach the next generation. 

So of course, we wanted to do something special for those who have shown us loyalty and treasured relationships across multiple generations! Today on the blog, we’re featuring a few of our Legacy Families – families that grew up dancing at DU and now have children of their own enrolled at the studio too! Read on to learn more about them!

Meet our Legacy Families

Legacy Family: Ashlee Dixon, mom of Charlotte (age 8) and Oliver Dixon (age 6)
When were you a student at DU? I began in 2001 when the studio opened and danced until I graduated high school in 2005.
What is your favorite DU Memory from when you were a dancer here? Dancing at the Celtics and gaining my pointe shoes my senior year.
How long have your children been dancing at DU? 7 and 5 years
What made you choose DU for your child? I knew it would enhance their passion and love for dance. Dance U was always going to be where my children danced.
What has changed at the studio since you were a child? The variety of dance styles taught at the studio and the DU performance company.
What has stayed the same?
The family dynamic and feel while being at the studio. The teamwork that you see from everyone no matter the role.
Does your child take your dance advice? Yes, I think she does. I mean I know things have changed since I danced. However the basics have not, I tell them to do their best, work hard, have fun, smile, and soak in all the knowledge they are learning from their instructors.
What is your favorite thing about being a dance parent? I love still being a part of the Dance U Family and seeing dance through my children’s eyes.

Legacy Family: Baileigh Poulin, mom of Chloe Poulin (age 4)
When were you a student at DU? I started in 2007 and danced through 2014. I stayed and danced for an additional year after I graduated high school.
What is your favorite DU Memory from when you were a dancer here? Meeting my best friends!
How long has your child been dancing at DU? 3 Years
What has been your child’s favorite memory at DU? Dancing on the big stage.
What is the best part of being a 2nd Generation family at DU? Seeing all of the alumni with their children, and watching my baby’s love for dance grow.
What is your go-to song for at-home dance parties with your child? Chloe will break out and dance to any and all songs!
Does your child take your dance advice? Yes
What is your favorite thing about being a dance parent? Knowing my child is loved every time she walks through the doors. 

Legacy Family: Jessica DeStefano, mom of Sophia (age 3)
When were you a student at DU? 2002. I started dancing at Dance Unlimited in 6th grade (after switching from another studio) and stayed until I graduated high school in 2009. And then when I graduated from college, I immediately returned to take adult classes and teach.
What is your favorite DU Memory from when you were a dancer here? Dancing to Thriller at the opening of a Boston Celtics game
How long have your children been dancing at DU? 3 years
What made you choose DU for your child? We never considered any other options. I knew Sophia would love being a part of the Dance Unlimited family as much as I have. I have so much trust in Mrs. Laura and the rest of the DU staff to give her the best dance education possible.
What is the best part of being a 2nd Generation family at DU? The Dance Unlimited studio felt like home to me for so long and I have so many amazing memories there. It’s amazing to relive those memories with my daughter.
What has changed at the studio since you were a child? So much! When I first started dancing at Dance Unlimited it was a tiny studio on Water St. and Mrs. Laura was the only teacher.
What has stayed the same? The love. Love for dance and for every dancer at the studio.
What is your go-to song for at-home dance parties with your child? The Moana and Encanto soundtracks. 

Legacy Family: Stephanie Robinson, mom of Eleanor (age 5)
When were you a student at DU? 2001-2006
What is your favorite DU Memory from when you were a dancer here? I vividly remember dancing to Justin Timberlake, all decked out in a glittery outfit on stage! Somehow I still remember some of the moves!
What made you choose DU for your child? I wanted my daughter to have the opportunity to gain a love for Dance, just like I did.  I knew DU was the best place from experience! 
What is the best part of being a 2nd Generation family at DU? I know she’s in good hands! It’s surreal to have her dance at the same place I did as a child! I love seeing her enjoy dance the way i always have!
What is your go-to song for at-home dance parties with your child? Ironically, Justin Timberlake- “I got this feeling”!
Does your child take your dance advice? Depends on the day but overall I’d say yes! She has been consistent all year and was so brave on stage!
What’s your favorite thing about being a dance parent? Seeing my child stay consistent and progress at something she works hard at week after week! Seeing her shine on stage is the cherry on top!

We cherish the relationships that we’ve built with these families over the years! It is impactful to hear how DU has been woven into their treasured memories as a family! We hope you enjoyed hearing from DU Alumni as much as we did!

The post Creating a Dance Legacy appeared first on Dance Unlimited, LLC.

We’ve been busy welcoming LOTS of new faces to the studio. We know that trying a new activity can be nerve-wracking. One of our goals at Dance Unlimited is to make dancing at our studio an enjoyable experience for your WHOLE family. 

In that spirit, we wanted to pass on our top tips for new Dance Unlimited families. We want you to know exactly what to expect when you arrive at the studio. Find even MORE advice for new dance families HERE. 

We recommend reading through these tips before you arrive and also taking a few minutes to discuss logistics with your child. Children of all ages (adults too!) feel more confident and empowered when they know what to expect. 

Top Tips for NEW Dance Unlimited Families: 

Tip #1

Plan to drop off and pick up your dancer. We kindly ask that all students age 7 and under have a parent or guardian bring them into the building, especially all of our new students!  Our studio lobby is open for studio business and closed as a waiting area. Our staff and the welcome committee will make sure everyone knows where to go!

Tip #2

Prep the dance bag! Your dancer should have a designated bag for their dance items. After changing into their dance shoes, they can place their personal items in their bag. Dancers will bring their dance bags into the studio. Please put your child’s name on EVERYTHING (inside dance shoes with a permanent marker is best!).

Tip #3

After getting ready for class, dancers will wait for their teacher outside the classroom door. Our teachers will open the studio doors and ask their dancers to line up. The dancers will enter the studio together. Let the fun begin!

This might all feel a little overwhelming but in just a few weeks BOTH you and your child will have the routine down. If you have any questions about classes or what to expect, you can always send us a message. We are happy to help! We also recommend following us on Facebook. Show your child some pictures from the studio and browse through our old posts. 

Our teachers are already seeing students make huge strides in their technique and begin to form friendships with their classmates. We can’t wait to see what the rest of the year has in store! Registration is OPEN in classes with availability. If you haven’t registered for dance classes yet, it’s not too late! 

View the schedule and register HERE. 

We recommend registering soon as many of our popular classes WILL fill. We don’t want your family to miss out on any of the exciting things we have in the works for our 23rd dance season! 

The post What to Expect When You Arrive at Dance Unlimited appeared first on Dance Unlimited, LLC.

So what is V.I.P. Week? Well here at Dance Unlimited, V.I.P. stands for Very Important Parents! We love our dance families which is why we dedicate an entire week to appreciating YOU! It’s our chance to let you know how much we’d love to have you back in the Fall for another great year of dance.

V.I.P. Week 2022 will happen from May 9th – 13th. It’s going to be filled with fun perks, but also tons of convenient benefits for our current dance families. Here’s what you can expect!

What Current Families Can Expect During V.I.P. Week:

• Gifts for dance parents! Stop into the lobby and pick up your gift!
• Raffles every night. We’ve got some awesome raffle prizes coming your way.
• Sweets and treats at the front desk. Stop by for a little trea just for YOU!
• A personalized recommendation form. Filled out by your child’s teacher, we’ll let you know which classes are perfect for your child for the upcoming dance year. 
• Early Access to the 2022/23 Dance Schedule. Before we open it up to the public, our current dance parents are first to see our class line-up during this special week. 
• Automatic registration for the 2022/23 Dance Year. We keep it easy and convenient for our busy parents!  
• Registration Deals! When we re-enroll your child during V.I.P Week, you’ll get a discounted registration rate AND current parents can even register siblings at that same rate. And don’t worry, your first tuition payment is not due until September. 
• A Tuition Refresher. During V.I.P. Week, we’ll remind you of what’s included in our All-Inclusive tuition so you know exactly what you’re paying for! Check out our past blog post for more info!

The best part of V.I.P Week is that you get to enjoy all of these perks without lifting a finger! This week is all about making our dance parents’ lives easier by taking the stress of Fall enrollment off your plate. We do the legwork for you by finding your child’s class and getting their registration taken care of. No more mad dash in August to get your children into their favorite classes before they fill!

If you won’t be joining us next year, no problem! Just let us know at the front desk during VIP WEEK and we’ll put a pause on your Fall registration. Convenience and ease are our goal, so we’re happy to help out with all your registration requests! 

We can’t wait to kick off the festivities on May 9th! Will we see you at the studio?! Mark those calendars and get excited for another fantastic year of dance!

The post What to Expect During V.I.P. Week! appeared first on Dance Unlimited, LLC.

Now that school has started and fall sports are wrapping up… it could be the perfect time for your child to pick up a dance class! Whether your child is brand new to dance, or you’re joining back in after some time away from the studio, we welcome you to check our 2020/2021 Dance Schedule!

Today we are sharing some of our time-tested tips for easing back into dance this school year. Many of our dancers are returning to the studio after months at home, and many of them are building their dance skills for the first time. Whatever the circumstance, it is important for our dance families to practice self-care and patience while returning to the studio!

4 Tips for Easing Back Into Fall Dance Classes:

1. Create a weekly routine and post it somewhere at home

Growing up as a young dancer, it was always SO exciting to sit down with mom, pick out dance classes for the year, and choose what other fun activities to sign up for. When kids take an active role in picking their own activities, they are more likely to be excited about their schedule and committing to a new routine!

Penciling in your child’s dance classes on your family calendar, or even allowing them to create their own calendar is a great way to ease into Fall. Put it up on your fridge or in your child’s bedroom, serving as a daily reminder of their weekly routine! 

2. Establish a consistent bedtime routine

This is something that always gets a little relaxed in the summer when kids don’t have school, but it is SO important once their days get busy again. Heading to bed at the same time each night and encouraging screen-free time to wind down will make all the difference this Fall!

P.S. This one isn’t just for the kiddos! Parents, we know this time of year is busy for YOU too! One of the best self-care tasks you can do for yourself is prioritizing your sleep. Put those phones down and catch some well-deserved Zs! 

3. Stretch at home

This one is important for ALL of our dancers, but especially for those who have had months off of dance during the summer months or during quarantine. Jumping in with no time to recondition your body will be shocking for those tight muscles, causing soreness and stiffness that no dancer ever wants! 

We encourage our dancers to take 5-10 minutes at home, a couple days each week to stretch out. Taking some time to stretch before and after heading to class is also a great way to reduce the risk of injury as you ease back into dance. 

4. Don’t forget to pencil in some down-time! 

As your child’s schedule gets busier and activities are finally happening after months of cancellations, it’s easy to want to do it ALL! But without taking breaks, burnout and exhaustion becomes likely. Use the weekend to recharge and be sure to encourage your child to rest! This will make their new dance schedule sustainable, bringing them joy ALL year round! 

We hope this list helps our dance families ease back into our awesome Fall Dance Classes. We are aiming for no stress, and all smiles this Fall after a chaotic end to last year! 

It’s not too late to join us as we return to dance for our 2020/2021 Season! We still have openings in select classes. Check out our class schedule and register online today! 

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