It’s no surprise that the past two years have been challenging for everyone: particularly parents, kids, and small businesses. With a dedication to being an artistic home families can count on, Center Stage Dance Studio made it to the other side of a global pandemic.
The ability to adapt and offer a safe place for dancers through unprecedented times continues at CSDS as new transitions come. As a family business that got its start in 1988 in a one-room studio, Center Stage now has a large facility and faculty that teaches elite dance education to children of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.
If you ask Sherry and Mitchel Federan, the mother and son duo that founded and lead CSDS respectively, they attribute the success of Center Stage to the amazing kids who dance at their studio and the incredible faculty who teaches them:
“We are proudest of our students’ tenacity and determination. In our 34 years, we have never experienced the amount of hardships that we have in the past two years, but through the collective efforts of our incredible faculty of teachers, we faced each challenge and kept our small business running. We know that keeping consistency in our dancers’ lives has been crucial for their mental health and wellbeing.”
When asked about what they learned during the height of COVID, the students they teach were a source of inspiration: “We have learned how resilient children are. They have dealt with the unimaginable at such a young age and are still showing up to the studio every day, ready to work hard and pursue their passions for dance.”
With true respect and pride in their dancers, Mitchel and Sherry have worked to offer the same passion the children in their studio bring each day. In a time when it would have been easy to cancel classes or close shop, the faculty found a way to keep offering dance to their students when they needed it most.
Center Stage adapted to the uncertain times by offering Zoom classes, transitioning to hybrid classes when it was deemed safe with fully masked classes where dancers, teachers, and parents’ temperatures were being checked at the door, and social distancing markers on the dance floors. CSDS even found a way to have their annual recital with adjustments so that their dancers would still have a place to shine. Now, as mandates change and shift, the main priority is on keeping students safe.
“CSDS will continue to follow all health and safety protocols provided by the state and Summit county. We will always stay on top of health recommendations for our students to ensure their safety. We will be a supportive environment for our students as well as the physical and emotional outlet that we know has been so important in their lives.”
In short, Center Stage Dance Studio not only made it through the pandemic, but came out the other side with re-energized programs and dedication. With a commitment to being a safe place for the families that make up their studio, it continues to be a safe place for children with a love for dance.
If your child has a passion for dance and wants to learn from a supportive and professional faculty where they can be themselves, Center Stage offers a wide variety of classes sure to fit the needs of any dancer.
With levels from recreational to pre-professional, all students have a chance to shine learning styles like Hip Hop, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Acrobatics, Contemporary, and more. There are even adult classes for mom and dad too! Check out centerstageohio.com for more information on what CSDS offers and how you and your family can get involved.
