SALAMANCA — As the new school year begins, so does a new season at the Salamanca Dance Center.
Director Dana Crandall — or Miss Dana, as she is affectionately called by her students — has had a hand in hundreds of students learning the basics of dance since she founded the center seven years ago. On Sunday, Sept. 10, the center will host an open house to attract additional students and give the public an opportunity to learn more.
Crandall said attendance at the center varies annually between 120 and 175 students, with children coming from as far as Steamburg, Cattaraugus and Bradford, Pa.
“My girls absolutely love it,” said Sherrie Potter of Great Valley, whose daughters, Makayla and Madison, first started at the center in 2013-14. She said her daughters have gained a lot from taking the class, including better balance and coordination.
Potter said her girls love dressing up in their dance costumes for the recitals — or any time, actually — and sometimes dance around the house in their costumes.
“I don’t know how Dana does it, but she does a really good job,” she added.
Kammie and Kyra Webster are also longtime students of the Salamanca Dance Center. According to their mother, Tara Secor, Kammi has been in dance classes since she was 20 months old and Kyra started at 18 months.
Because the girls go to a different school district, the center has allowed them to meet other kids and make new friends, said Secor.
“They’ve learned a lot of coordination, a lot of confidence and lots of moves,” she said. “They love Miss Dana and they love coming to dance class. If they don’t have dance, they beg to come even if Dana is just in her office working.”
Crandall purchased Neighborhood School of Dance, then held at the Ray Evans Seneca Theatre, in 2010 and changed the name to the Salamanca Dance Center to avoid confusion with Neighborhood School of Dance’s location in Olean. The center was moved from the theatre to the former Dietrich Hardware and Gran Prix Auto location on Main Street.
The Salamanca Dance Center now makes its home in the Head Start Building in the former St. Patrick’s School on River Street. Classes are held Monday through Thursday and Saturday, or by appointment.
Crandall herself was a student at Neighborhood School of Dance and became an instructor there before purchasing the business. She has also taken classes at Jamestown Community College and has taken the required Dance Masters of America teacher training courses.
Assisted by instructors Stephanie Hersh and Allissa Breazeale, Crandall offers about 30 classes for children 18 months and older, including adult classes if there is interest. She has several middle and high school-aged assistants to help younger students.
The dance styles taught include ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, cheer dance and modern. Lyrical is included in the ballet class and the older, more advanced kids do pointe classes that is also part of ballet.
The Salamanca Dance Center will host an open house from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10 at its location on River Street. During that time, the public can tour the studio, meet Crandall and her staff and enjoy refreshments.
The dance season begins the week of Sept. 18, and potential participants who have not yet registered for classes may do so at the open house. The event will feature giveaways, discounted dance wear and shoes, games and more.
Children will also have the opportunity to paint rocks with the Salamanca Dance Center name imprinted on them; if enough rocks are painted, Crandall will send every child home with one during the first week of dance so they can hide it somewhere in their community for someone to find.
“A lot of businesses are doing that now — it’s sort of an advertisement,” she said. “When someone finds the rock, they tag the studio. It’s just a neat little thing kids and teenagers are doing.”
For additional information on classes, schedules and performances can be obtained at the open house or by contacting Crandall at 244-0147 or visiting facebook.com/salamancadancecenter.
(Contact reporter Deb Everts at salpressdeb@gmail.com.)