Our most recent interview was with Christa Campbell, the Artistic Director at Merge Dance Studio
in Philadelphia, PA. She believes there are several differences between their studio and other dance studios. According to Christa, one big difference is that they work very hard to promote a fun, encouraging, drama-free learning environment. They make sure that everyone feels welcome and comfortable coming in to take a class at their studio regardless of experience level, age, background, etc. They also offer many adult dance classes in addition to their children’s classes. They believe that dance is something that you can enjoy at any age.
Merge Dance does not participate in competitions. However, since one of their main goals is to enhance the arts in their local community, they give their dancers many chances to perform at functions throughout the community. They have a performance group, Merge Dance Company, which performs at many local community events and nursing homes. They also offer dance classes throughout the community at local libraries, schools, and events. They find this to be very rewarding for their dancers who really enjoy being a part of such an active community.
Christa likes to reinforce the fact that “you get out of it what you put into it.” Emphasizing that their students will get more out of the class and enjoy it more if they give 100% in every class is one of the ways they motivate them. She also finds that emphasizing that they are part of a team helps to 
motivate all of them to do their best for themselves as well as for the group since no one wants to be the one that lets down the team!
Trying to identify the moments when she has been the most proud of being a dance teacher is very difficult for Christa. Since there have been many moments that she is very proud of being a dance teacher, it is hard to single out just one. According to Christa, in general, it is always rewarding to see a dancer figure out and execute correctly a move that they have been working on for a while. Christa says it is just wonderful to watch children and adults experience the joy of dance for the first time or to hear an adult who has come back to dance after being away from it for a while say how much they missed it. Just being able to share her love of dance with her students makes her very happy and very proud.
Christa says that the biggest mistake she sees dancers commit when they are performing is telegraphing on their face or through their body language that they have made a misstep. She always tries to reinforce the idea that if the dancer does not show the audience their mistakes, most likely the audience will not ever know a mistake was even made! A great smile can hide any mistake and will put the dancer, as well as the audience, at ease while they are performing.
Her idea of the “must have dancewear items” every dancer needs includes properly fitted footwear, 
leotards and tights. She believes all of these items will help the dancer feel comfortable and confident while dancing.
Merge Dance Studio’s main goal for this year is to continue to offer quality dance and fitness instruction for all dancers ages 2 to, and including, adult. They are expanding their class offerings this year as well as their teaching staff and hope to continue to grow their product portfolio in order to be able to offer more fun and excitement to more people. They always strive to continue to improve their students’ technique and to make sure that they are having fun while they learn. Additionally, Merge Dance will continue to be active throughout the community and to offer their students as many performance opportunities as possible through their performance group, Merge Dance Company, and their end-of-the year recital.
Christa has been teaching and performing throughout the Philadelphia area for more than ten years 
and had noticed that the area where she lived, the Manayunk/Roxborough area of Philadelphia, was in need of a studio that offered quality dance and fitness instruction for both children and adults. She loves the area that she lives in and was moved to open a studio there to help fill this void. Christa says it is wonderful to be able to share her love of dancing with her local community. Check out Merge Dance Studio on their website at www.mergedancestudio.com and/or contact them at info@mergedancestudio.com
