Marshalltown dance studio teaches resilience through personal experience

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa — While dancing is a fun activity for some, and for others, it means a lot more.

“It’s more like my safe haven,” said Aleyna, a dancer at the Remix Dance Academy in Marshalltown.

Remix is owned by Dani Gavagan and Angie Torres, two self-described dance moms. Both no longer have children dancing in the academy, but they wanted to provide the community with this outlet. So, they bought the studio after the previous owner stepped down.

Remix accepts all dancers, looking over their ability and finances. They currently have 80 dancers, ranging from 18 months old in their mommy-and-me classes to their superstars, or adults with intellectual disabilities.

“There’s a lot of kids here that don’t have a place to go after school when they need a place to be,” said Gavagan.

They said it’s more than just dance. Outside of learning how to dance ballet, tap, jazz, and others, dancers are also learning important life lessons.

“It’s making friends, it’s learning that they’re good, they’re worth it. We really push body positivity, we really push self-awareness, self-love,” said Gavagan.

Gavagan and Torres decided to make their studio a nonprofit in order to have the resources to provide financial aid for all students to be able to take part.

Another lesson dancers learn is resilience.

Remix used to be located inside of the Marshalltown Mall, but when the owner didn’t pay the power bill, they kept dancing.

“They do it because they want to be here. There’s got to be something that they love about it because it was very cold for a long time,” said Torres.

They shut their doors in December and were on the lookout for a new location. Now, they’ve purchased a space in downtown Marshalltown.

With the help of the community, they were able to move in quickly and reopen.

“It brings that girl power back in you because we’re just a couple of moms and we were able to throw this together,” said Torres.

She said that several local Marshalltown businesses helped them during the move.

Remix is celebrating its grand re-opening on Saturday, May 4th at 11 AM. They’re inviting anyone in Marshalltown to stop by.

Remix Dance Academy is located at 204 South 1st Avenue in Marshalltown.

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