Dance Connection in Derby, New York, is a studio specializing in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre, Lyrical, Contemporary, Acrobatics, and Pointe. They are focused on creating the greatest possible environment to encourage their students to explore and excel in the world of dance. Offering both recreational and competitive levels of dance, there is something for everyone!
In the opinion of the Owner and Director, Krista Wagner, the most important things in dance are technique and entertainment! She pushes each of her dancers not only to improve their dance technique each week but to be the most entertaining and engaging dancers that they can be! She teaches the majority of the classes herself. This is because she wants to ensure that each of their dancers is receiving the best possible experience and training at Dance Connection. Even though they have an awesome and dynamic team of teachers and assistants, Krista spends every minute she can in the dance room! She knows each of her dancers’ strengths, weaknesses, and personalities so that she can structure her classes in the best way possible.
It is hard for Krista to pick one moment that made her the proudest. Every single time a student finally masters a jump or turn that they have been working on, she swells with pride at their dedication and love for dancing. But if she had to pick one moment in particular, it would be last season at competition when her advanced teen dancers not only won an overall platinum score but also a judge’s pick award for their musical theatre routine Wild, Wild Party! According to Krista, they deserved it. They were absolutely fantastic!!
In Krista’s opinion, the biggest mistake a dancer can make is to dance without heart and confidence. Dance is a beautiful and expressive art form and each student brings something different to her studio. She wants each of her dancers to embrace their strengths and keep working on their weaknesses. When they get on stage, they should own it! Be proud of what they have accomplished and show the world!
Krista’s goals for the year are to bring a new level of technique to her younger dancers. 
Rather than focusing solely on the “fun” aspect of dance (which is so important!!!), she has adjusted the curriculum to include more techniques at an earlier age. For her competitive students, she hopes to continue the winning streak that they experienced last season and keep getting better and better! For the studio as a whole, the goal is to create a fun and entertaining show filled with creative concepts and amazing dancers!
Krista knew when she was a little girl that she would one day own a dance studio. She started assisting classes at ten, then choreographing routines at fourteen. During her junior year of college, her dance teacher, Miss Bev, announced that she would be retiring and made her an offer to buy the studio. She jumped at the chance and is now in her third successful season as studio owner! Being able to share her passion for dancing with her students is an absolute honor. Krista loves to see their talents grow, and more than that, she loves to see their confidence grow. She could not be happier.
Krista started dancing when she was two and bought the studio at age 22! After graduating from Canisius College with a Marketing & Management degree, she was able to solely focus on dance. She is so happy to be able to fill her days with what she loves and could not be happier with my studio and her fantastic students!
If you would like more information about Dance Connection, visit their website at Derbydanceconnection.com, call them at (716) 220-2679 or email them at derbydanceconnection@gmail.com. You can also “Like” them on Facebook.
Please post a comment if you have had any experience with Krista Wagner of Dance Connection.
Written By Cyndi Marziani
Owner
BDancewear.com
