Mrs. B. Olanrewaju(Wednesday, 15 September 2010 12:49)
For many years we faithfully traveled from Chester to Brandermill so that my daughter, Britney Olanrewaju, could attend the dance center of her choice. There was none other like Chesterfield Dance
Center according to Britney O. We passed multiple dance studios and there were many days I thought, this is just ridiculous. Nevertheless, from the age of 7 to 17 one of the family vehicles was on
Rt. 288 for as many as 3 to 5 days per week.
In Britney’s early childhood her focus was playing soccer and basketball. She was an awesome competitor in both sports. I enrolled her into the first dance class at the age of 7 simply to balance her
activities. Miss Carrie, as she was affectionately known, was Britney’s first teacher. We would have never thought that our daughter would give up both sports to focus on dance. However, at middle
school age Britney decided that “dance” was her activity of choice.
Britney excelled in jazz, modern, contemporary and hip hop dance styles. Dancing became her #1 love. She was accepted into the Specialty Center for Performing Arts at Thomas Dale High School. Right
away it was apparent that her technique was very advanced compared to many other dancers in the program, which can be contributed to the training she received at CDC. There were numerous dance
opportunities afforded to Britney during her high school tenure, which can be attributed to her CDC training.
Currently, Britney is in her 2nd year at George Mason University majoring in Performing Arts/Dance and Business Management. Also, she is a member of the GMU Urbankowlogy Hip Hop Dance Team. During
her freshman year they were selected to audition for America’s Got Talent. I hear the excitement in her voice every time we speak. The excitement that comes from dancing! Thanks to the great CDC team
for the many years that you provided love, encouragement and mentoring to our daughter, BRITNEY OLANREWAJU.
Mrs. B. Olanrewaju
#7
Sabrina Nordan(Saturday, 29 May 2010 09:56)
As the first student to detail my experience at CDC here on their website, I hope I might offer potential dancers insight as to how Chesterfield Dance Center works. I've been dancing at CDC for four
years, and now as a senior looking back, I can truly understand that CDC is a home to me and how much of an impact the faculty and dancers there have made on my life. Before I started classes I was
downright awful. I didn't know a pirouette from a calypso (One is a turn, the other a jump--kind of a big difference). But over four short years, Chesterfield Dance Center and its staff molded me
into the dancer I am today: a member of Cosby High School's award-winning dance team, Titania, who nailed her double pirouette in her Jazz routine in the recent recital. Some may not realize what I
big accomplishment this is; most dancers train from the age of three and never stop. Yet, in four years CDC has brought me up to par with those who have danced all their lives. Throughout my four
years, my teachers encouraged me rather than treating me like a hopeless case who started too late, which was honestly what I felt like. There was a communal belief in me between all the teachers
there, even those who did not have me as a student. And when you're the oldest in all your classes by at least 3 or 4 years, having someone treat you nicely is refreshing to your ego. My junior year
I decided I would try out for CHS' Titania, "just for fun." When I told Miss Liz I was trying out, she offered to help me with a few technical skills I needed to tweak. On her own time, off payroll,
she helped me perfect my axle, Russian, and turns. With Miss Liz's help, I made it on the dance team, and was probably its proudest member. The great thing about Chesterfield Dance Center is that any
teacher would have done that for me, for any student. At Chesterfield Dance Center it's like we're a family, constantly helping each other. CDC encourages an environment where dancers are friends,
not competitors, and teachers are there to help you, not babysit you. Dancing has taught me grace, poise, strength, identity, and confidence, all traits any young person should have. Looking back at
myself four years ago desperately trying to find a dance studio, I'm thankful I picked the right one. Chesterfield Dance Center has become my home, through its family like environment, professional
staff, and willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty. If you or your child is considering Chesterfield Dance Center try a class, talk to the staff and I guarantee you'll find your home here
too.
#6
Shannon Moeller(Monday, 24 May 2010 21:45)
Carrie-
Thank you and the staff of CDC. As a music teacher, I understand all that goes into putting on a show like this weekend, and you did an outstanding job. But more important than the great show, is the
love of dance that you instill in your dancers. Madeline LOVES coming to dance each week, and was so excited about the performance this weekend. Thank you and Lauren and Katelyn for developing this
love of dance in her. You are all amazing!!!
Shannon
#5
Shawn Senning(Sunday, 23 May 2010 13:22)
Beautiful recital!!!!
#4
Mrs. D(Saturday, 01 May 2010 23:01)
Although my daughter, Kelsey, has only been dancing with you for one year, I would like to say that I am quite impressed with the dance training my daughter received at Chesterfield Dance Center. I
think it is amazing that you give the dancers so many opportunities to perform throughout the year as well as bringing in awesome teachers for Master Classes. You have definitely helped to prepare my
daughter for her college experience as she works toward her BFA in dance next year. And for that, we thank all the teachers at CDC!
#3
Julinda Lewis, Richmond Times Dispatch(Friday, 30 April 2010 12:41)
4/5/2010, review of rva dance collective's evening length show, 'breakthrough'
"The Chesterfield Dance Center's student dance group, dELIRIUM were the evening's special guests, and performed a stark, eerie and intriguing work, "Parameters," set to an Ani DiFranco song of the
same name, that begins with a lesson about coming home to find a strange man sitting in your bedroom. The young group's message was quite compatible with that of their mentors."
#2
Amy Pritchard(Friday, 30 April 2010 12:39)
My daughter has taken dance at CDC for 4 years and she loves it! The knowledge of the instructors and support given to my daughter by the CDC staff is what makes the difference in encouraging a love
of dance. CDC’s flexibility in allowing my daughter to try more challenging classes provides another benefit that I haven’t found with other dance studios. They focus on assessing the individual’s
strengths rather than just trying to fill a class. It’s gone so well, that I enrolled my 4 year old this year too!
#1
Irma Faszewski(Friday, 30 April 2010 12:38)
As the mother of four girls, dance has been a very importan part of our lives for a long time. We have been part of the Chesterfield Dance Center family since it opened in 1998 by Liz Venini. Before
that my children had been taking dance classes from another studio in the Richmond area. My eldest daughter Cari, 14, had been considered one of the best dancers at her old studio. When we started at
Chesterfield Dance Center, Cari quickly realized that her knowledge of dance was less than students who were younger than her and had taken classes from Liz at another studio. It was a startling
wake-up call to realize that she had not learned what she needed to learn after 11 years of dance. The level of instruction at Chesterfield Dance Center surpassed any of the instruction that my
daughters had been receiving at the old studio. As the years passed I was always amazed at how much my daughters learned in their classes. The love and dedication that they teachers have for dance
has been transferred to each of my daughters, so that their love for dance has also grown. Three of my daughters no longer take classes at CDC, but Cari takes ballroom classes at a studio in
Washington DC, my second daughter Lauren, who is studying abroad, takes dance classes and is a member of a dance team in England, and my daughter Sarah is a member of a dance company and a dance
minor at William and Mary. My youngest daughter Catherine is a senior this year and will be attending VCU, majoring in dance and choreography. When I started my children in dance, I had no idea how
much it would eventually mean to them. I know that the instructors at Chesterfield Dance Center played a major role in my daughters love of dance.
Print Version
Mrs. B. Olanrewaju (Wednesday, 15 September 2010 12:49)
For many years we faithfully traveled from Chester to Brandermill so that my daughter, Britney Olanrewaju, could attend the dance center of her choice. There was none other like Chesterfield Dance Center according to Britney O. We passed multiple dance studios and there were many days I thought, this is just ridiculous. Nevertheless, from the age of 7 to 17 one of the family vehicles was on Rt. 288 for as many as 3 to 5 days per week.
In Britney’s early childhood her focus was playing soccer and basketball. She was an awesome competitor in both sports. I enrolled her into the first dance class at the age of 7 simply to balance her activities. Miss Carrie, as she was affectionately known, was Britney’s first teacher. We would have never thought that our daughter would give up both sports to focus on dance. However, at middle school age Britney decided that “dance” was her activity of choice.
Britney excelled in jazz, modern, contemporary and hip hop dance styles. Dancing became her #1 love. She was accepted into the Specialty Center for Performing Arts at Thomas Dale High School. Right away it was apparent that her technique was very advanced compared to many other dancers in the program, which can be contributed to the training she received at CDC. There were numerous dance opportunities afforded to Britney during her high school tenure, which can be attributed to her CDC training.
Currently, Britney is in her 2nd year at George Mason University majoring in Performing Arts/Dance and Business Management. Also, she is a member of the GMU Urbankowlogy Hip Hop Dance Team. During her freshman year they were selected to audition for America’s Got Talent. I hear the excitement in her voice every time we speak. The excitement that comes from dancing! Thanks to the great CDC team for the many years that you provided love, encouragement and mentoring to our daughter, BRITNEY OLANREWAJU.
Mrs. B. Olanrewaju
Sabrina Nordan (Saturday, 29 May 2010 09:56)
As the first student to detail my experience at CDC here on their website, I hope I might offer potential dancers insight as to how Chesterfield Dance Center works. I've been dancing at CDC for four years, and now as a senior looking back, I can truly understand that CDC is a home to me and how much of an impact the faculty and dancers there have made on my life. Before I started classes I was downright awful. I didn't know a pirouette from a calypso (One is a turn, the other a jump--kind of a big difference). But over four short years, Chesterfield Dance Center and its staff molded me into the dancer I am today: a member of Cosby High School's award-winning dance team, Titania, who nailed her double pirouette in her Jazz routine in the recent recital. Some may not realize what I big accomplishment this is; most dancers train from the age of three and never stop. Yet, in four years CDC has brought me up to par with those who have danced all their lives. Throughout my four years, my teachers encouraged me rather than treating me like a hopeless case who started too late, which was honestly what I felt like. There was a communal belief in me between all the teachers there, even those who did not have me as a student. And when you're the oldest in all your classes by at least 3 or 4 years, having someone treat you nicely is refreshing to your ego. My junior year I decided I would try out for CHS' Titania, "just for fun." When I told Miss Liz I was trying out, she offered to help me with a few technical skills I needed to tweak. On her own time, off payroll, she helped me perfect my axle, Russian, and turns. With Miss Liz's help, I made it on the dance team, and was probably its proudest member. The great thing about Chesterfield Dance Center is that any teacher would have done that for me, for any student. At Chesterfield Dance Center it's like we're a family, constantly helping each other. CDC encourages an environment where dancers are friends, not competitors, and teachers are there to help you, not babysit you. Dancing has taught me grace, poise, strength, identity, and confidence, all traits any young person should have. Looking back at myself four years ago desperately trying to find a dance studio, I'm thankful I picked the right one. Chesterfield Dance Center has become my home, through its family like environment, professional staff, and willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty. If you or your child is considering Chesterfield Dance Center try a class, talk to the staff and I guarantee you'll find your home here too.
Shannon Moeller (Monday, 24 May 2010 21:45)
Carrie-
Thank you and the staff of CDC. As a music teacher, I understand all that goes into putting on a show like this weekend, and you did an outstanding job. But more important than the great show, is the love of dance that you instill in your dancers. Madeline LOVES coming to dance each week, and was so excited about the performance this weekend. Thank you and Lauren and Katelyn for developing this love of dance in her. You are all amazing!!!
Shannon
Shawn Senning (Sunday, 23 May 2010 13:22)
Beautiful recital!!!!
Mrs. D (Saturday, 01 May 2010 23:01)
Although my daughter, Kelsey, has only been dancing with you for one year, I would like to say that I am quite impressed with the dance training my daughter received at Chesterfield Dance Center. I think it is amazing that you give the dancers so many opportunities to perform throughout the year as well as bringing in awesome teachers for Master Classes. You have definitely helped to prepare my daughter for her college experience as she works toward her BFA in dance next year. And for that, we thank all the teachers at CDC!
Julinda Lewis, Richmond Times Dispatch (Friday, 30 April 2010 12:41)
4/5/2010, review of rva dance collective's evening length show, 'breakthrough'
"The Chesterfield Dance Center's student dance group, dELIRIUM were the evening's special guests, and performed a stark, eerie and intriguing work, "Parameters," set to an Ani DiFranco song of the same name, that begins with a lesson about coming home to find a strange man sitting in your bedroom. The young group's message was quite compatible with that of their mentors."
Amy Pritchard (Friday, 30 April 2010 12:39)
My daughter has taken dance at CDC for 4 years and she loves it! The knowledge of the instructors and support given to my daughter by the CDC staff is what makes the difference in encouraging a love of dance. CDC’s flexibility in allowing my daughter to try more challenging classes provides another benefit that I haven’t found with other dance studios. They focus on assessing the individual’s strengths rather than just trying to fill a class. It’s gone so well, that I enrolled my 4 year old this year too!
Irma Faszewski (Friday, 30 April 2010 12:38)
As the mother of four girls, dance has been a very importan part of our lives for a long time. We have been part of the Chesterfield Dance Center family since it opened in 1998 by Liz Venini. Before that my children had been taking dance classes from another studio in the Richmond area. My eldest daughter Cari, 14, had been considered one of the best dancers at her old studio. When we started at Chesterfield Dance Center, Cari quickly realized that her knowledge of dance was less than students who were younger than her and had taken classes from Liz at another studio. It was a startling wake-up call to realize that she had not learned what she needed to learn after 11 years of dance. The level of instruction at Chesterfield Dance Center surpassed any of the instruction that my daughters had been receiving at the old studio. As the years passed I was always amazed at how much my daughters learned in their classes. The love and dedication that they teachers have for dance has been transferred to each of my daughters, so that their love for dance has also grown. Three of my daughters no longer take classes at CDC, but Cari takes ballroom classes at a studio in Washington DC, my second daughter Lauren, who is studying abroad, takes dance classes and is a member of a dance team in England, and my daughter Sarah is a member of a dance company and a dance minor at William and Mary. My youngest daughter Catherine is a senior this year and will be attending VCU, majoring in dance and choreography. When I started my children in dance, I had no idea how much it would eventually mean to them. I know that the instructors at Chesterfield Dance Center played a major role in my daughters love of dance.