The Dance Connection

Hello, Connecticut families and passionate dancers! Are you searching for a dance studio that goes beyond just teaching steps, offering a truly nurturing and inspiring environment where every student feels like family? Look no further than The Dance Connection in Unionville, CT. This article is your comprehensive guide to understanding what makes this local studio a beloved institution for dancers across our community.

The Dance Connection is more than just a dance school; it's a vibrant community built on a foundation of dedication, passion, and love for the art of dance. Owned by Maria Mahoney, the studio is renowned for its commitment to providing a high-quality dance education in a fun, exciting, and incredibly supportive atmosphere. As one heartfelt review from a family member highlights, "Although I may be biased because my mom (Maria Mahoney) owns this studio, this is one of the best and well ran studios in this area!... The amount of dedication my mom puts into this studio is admirable, while having her own 4 kids, she treats every single student that enters The Dance Connection like her own, with open arms and a loving heart." This powerful sentiment truly captures the essence of the studio's caring philosophy.

The mission at The Dance Connection is clear: to teach excellence through dance, develop strong minds and open hearts, and create passionate dancers. They believe that dance provides a unique way to encourage physical activity, while also instilling poise, grace, self-confidence, and teamwork – life skills that extend far beyond the dance floor. Whether your child is taking their very first steps in a combination class or aspiring to join a competitive dance team, The Dance Connection offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to help every student thrive. For families in Unionville and the wider Farmington Valley area of Connecticut, this studio represents an exceptional opportunity to experience top-notch dance instruction within a genuinely supportive and encouraging "dance family."

The Dance Connection is conveniently located at 1 Burnham Ave, Unionville, CT 06085, USA, specifically "located In the Air Tool Building." This setting in the heart of the village of Unionville offers excellent accessibility for families across the Farmington Valley and surrounding areas in Connecticut. Unionville itself is a charming and well-known part of Farmington, making the studio easy to locate.

Being situated in an established building like the Air Tool Building, The Dance Connection benefits from a clear landmark, simplifying navigation for new visitors. Such locations often provide ample and safe parking, which is a crucial convenience for parents during busy drop-off and pick-up times. Furthermore, its placement within the village means it's likely within walking distance to other local amenities, potentially including the Rails to Trails and the town center, adding to its appeal for local families. The studio is also noted as being "a safe distance from both Rt. 177 and New Britain Ave, making it worry free for drop off and pick up while still being accessible and convenient from all directions." This thoughtful consideration for accessibility and safety firmly establishes The Dance Connection as a prime local spot for dance education in Connecticut.

Services Offered:

• Combination Classes: Designed for young dancers (ages 2.5 to 6 years old, preschool through first grade), teaching fundamentals of ballet, tap, jazz, tumbling, and/or lyrical. Students perform 2-3 dances in the annual recital.
• Ballet/Pointe: Offered from beginner to advanced levels. Classes teach proper body placement, alignment, barre and center floor work, and across-the-floor combinations. Pointe is offered by teacher recommendation, emphasizing its role as the foundation for other dance styles.
• Lyrical: A dance style that uses emotion and mood of music to elicit movements, focusing on core strength, flexibility, floor work, progressions, and center combinations.
• Jazz: Fun and energetic classes including kicks, leaps, turns, splits, and isolations, with stretch and strengthening exercises.
• Hip Hop: Combines street dance with funk and jazz, teaching isolations and dynamics for pop-and-lock and funk movements.
• Acro-Gymnastics: Teaches strength, flexibility, and tumbling skills such as walkovers, limbers, handsprings, cartwheels/round-offs, and handstands.
• Tap: Focuses on rhythm, dynamics, and varying sounds, with graduated warm-ups, across-the-floor progressions, and center floor work.
• Musical Theatre: Classes designed to integrate dance with performance elements specific to musical theater.
• Jumps/Leaps/Turns and Stretch Tech/Conditioning: Specialized classes to enhance specific dance techniques and physical conditioning.
• Competitive Dance Team (Dance Corps): Selected by qualified staff, participates in Regional and National competitions (minimum age 4 years old, with age-appropriate requirements for different companies).
• Non-Competitive Classes: Offers options for students who prefer recreational dance.
• Adaptive Movement Class: Unique offering for children with special needs.
• Opportunities for Boys: Encourages boys to try dance, highlighting benefits for strength and coordination in other activities.
• Annual Recital: All students have the opportunity to perform in the year-end recital.
• Events and Awards: Includes "Student of the Month" awards and other events beyond weekly classes to acknowledge student hard work.
• "Bring-A-Friend Week": A special week where students can bring a friend to participate in class.

Features / Highlights:

• Nurturing and Inspiring Environment: Highly praised by customers for its positive, family-like atmosphere where students feel loved and cared for.
• Dedicated and Passionate Owner & Faculty: Maria Mahoney (owner) and her team are celebrated for their unwavering commitment to students' growth and love for dance.
• High-Quality Instruction: Provides technical knowledge, innovative choreography, and professional training.
• Focus on Holistic Development: Aims to build confidence, poise, grace, self-confidence, teamwork, and strong friendships, both on and off the dance floor.
• Comprehensive Curriculum: Offers a wide variety of dance styles and levels, catering to ages 2.5 through adults, from beginner to advanced.
• Competitive and Recreational Options: Caters to diverse student goals, from enjoying dance for fun to participating in nationally recognized competitions.
• Strong Community and Friendships: Students consistently form lasting friendships and describe the studio as a "second home."
• Acknowledgement of Hard Work: Programs like "Student of the Month" recognize and celebrate student dedication.
• Professional Facilities: Features two professional dance studios, each 1,400 square feet, with raised sub-floors and marley, ample barres and mirrors, a spacious lobby, and a large dressing room.
• Safe and Accessible Location: Situated in an historical brick building in Unionville, with worry-free drop-off and pick-up and ample parking.
• Inclusive Approach: Welcomes all ages and levels, including an adaptive movement class for children with special needs and encourages participation from boys.

Contact Information:

Address: located In the Air Tool Building, 1 Burnham Ave, Unionville, CT 06085, USA

Phone: (860) 673-7457

Mobile Phone: +1 860-673-7457

For families and aspiring dancers across Connecticut, The Dance Connection in Unionville stands out as an exceptionally suitable and highly recommended choice. The profound sense of family and community is consistently highlighted by those who know it best. As one enthusiastic review states, "If you’re looking for a dance studio that will make your kids feel like they are apart of a family, while getting the best quality of coaching in this area, than The Dance Connection is definitely for you!!" This powerful endorsement perfectly captures the studio's unique blend of top-tier instruction and a deeply nurturing environment.

The dedication of owner Maria Mahoney and her faculty is truly admirable. Parents commend their passion, commitment, and the genuine love they show for every student. One parent shared, "My daughter is starting her 10th year of dance at The Dance Connection... She has grown tremendously as a dancer thanks to the fantastic teachers who share their technical knowledge, passion for dance and love for their students. My daughter has had an amazing experience at The Dance Connection. She has developed confidence both on and off the dance floor as a result." This long-term commitment from families, some for a decade or more, speaks volumes about the consistent quality and positive impact of the studio.

The Dance Connection also offers a remarkably diverse and comprehensive curriculum, catering to all ages from toddlers to adults, and covering a wide array of styles including ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, acro-gymnastics, and musical theatre. Whether a student seeks recreational enjoyment or aspires to competitive dance, there's a tailored program. The availability of an adaptive movement class for children with special needs further highlights their inclusive philosophy. With its professional facilities, convenient Unionville location, and unwavering focus on holistic student development, The Dance Connection is truly a jewel in the Connecticut dance community, offering an unparalleled experience where every dancer can thrive and feel at home.

The Dance Connection

located In the Air Tool Building, 1 Burnham Ave, Unionville, CT 06085, USA