Janet Dunstan's Dance Academy Video Story

What you need to know:

• Janet Dunstan’s Dance Academy performed at Lewiston’s 2023 Trick or Treat on Center Street event.

• The performance was at 12:15 p.m. on Sunday, October 29th.

• This was the Academy’s first time performing at this event, as well as its first ever Halloween performance.

• The performance was made possible by teachers Serena Gross and Courtney Glenn.

• The Academy also performs at other community events throughout the year.

• The studio enjoys doing the community performances.

Janet Dunstan’s Dance Academy is a well-known name around Lewiston, New York, as dancers at the studio perform at numerous community events throughout the year. The dancers put in a great deal of time and effort to prepare for these performances, but none of it could happen without the dedication and commitment of the teachers as well.

Serena Gross has been dancing at Janet Dunstan’s Dance Academy almost her whole life, from the age of three to her first year of college. She is now a teacher at the Academy, currently instructing dancers ages three to twelve in the styles of tap, hip hop, and acrobatics. Gross also plays an additional role at the studio, working with the music and helping put the community performances together.

Most recently, Gross helped dancers at the Academy prepare for the studio’s first ever Halloween performance. 

“I am always happy to be involved in any and every way I can with our dancers, for each and every performance,” Gross says. “For this upcoming Halloween performance I am in the process of getting our music together and I’ll be there on the day of getting the dancers ready to dance their very best,” she continues.

The performance took place at 12:15 p.m. on Sunday, October 29th, during Lewiston’s Trick or Treat on Center Street event. During this event, children dress up in costumes and trick or treat at businesses on Center Street. To get everyone in the Halloween spirit, a few local studios, including Janet Dunstan’s Dance Academy, perform at the event.

The Academy’s performance consisted of dancers ages 6-18 showcasing their talents in a mix of different styles.

“We just try to make it that everyone who wants to be involved is having a good time, is seen, so we can move around our formations and get everyone equal time in the performance,” says Courtney Glenn, owner and director at the Academy. 

Glenn shares that although this is their first performance celebrating Halloween, they always do something in classes to get everyone excited for holidays. She feels that celebrating the festivities helps to break up the monotony of dance, giving students something different to experience during the dance season.

“Throughout the year, dance can be intense, so this is a fun way to let loose,” Glenn shares. 

She believes that the community performances are fun for the dancers, stating that it offers them a different venue to showcase their talent and skills. Gross shares that when she was a student she always looked forward to the community performances, as they are extra events that the dancers get to do outside of their weekly training. 

Now that she is a teacher, Gross feels a different kind of excitement about the performances. 

“Our favorite part of these performances is seeing our dancers go out there and express themselves and see the community being there to support them and seeing them interact with their dancing and seeing the joy that it brings them,” she states.

Glenn adds that what makes the community events enjoyable and fun for the dance studio is seeing how the community rallies around something positive. 

While the Academy is currently in its 41st season of dance, it’s only the second season being located in Lewiston. 

“I think that’s what's most exciting for us is to be down here in Lewiston, to be part of the events. There are so many events throughout the year that happen, and to even just be a little piece of it is so enjoyable and rewarding for us as teachers and as the studio,” Glenn shares.

Dancers at Janet Dunstan’s Dance Academy also perform at numerous other community events throughout the year, including the Peach Festival Parade and Showcase, the Niagara Falls Firefighters Toy Telethon, and the Electric Lights Parade. 

In an effort to ensure that the Academy can continue to provide enjoyable and quality entertainment for the local community, Gross and Glenn work diligently year-round, providing nothing but the best instruction to their dancers.