Lindsey Spanner, 18, of Marietta, has been dancing under the instruction of Jill Ruff since she was in fourth grade, and she's served as an assistant teacher at Ruff's studio, Marietta Dance Academy, since she was in eighth grade.
Her last dance recital at the academy is Sunday.
"It's a weird feeling; I'm definitely going to miss it," Spanner said. "I've had an annual recital every year since I was 3 to look forward to."
Article Photos
ASHLEY HILL The Marietta Times
Stacey's Dance Studio owner Stacey Heaton stands with a group of 3- and 4-year-old dancers . The studio’s recital, “A Decade of Dance,” will be held June 12 and feature 170 dancers ages 2 and older.
Such annual performances are on tap for a number of dance studios in the region.
Spanner started dancing under the instruction of Ruff's mother, Sherry Burkhart, at a studio in Bellaire. As an assistant teacher at Marietta Dance Academy, Spanner said she's watched other dancers grow and progress, and she'll miss that, too.
"I've been watching them dance and get ready for recitals, so it's weird to be leaving them," she said.
Fact Box
If you go:
Marietta Dance Academy recital, 6 p.m. Sunday, Marietta High School auditorium, $10 per ticket.
Stacey's Dance Studio, "A Decade of Dance," 6 p.m. Saturday June 12, Marietta High School auditorium, $10 for adults, $5 for students.
Ruff said there will be 175 dancers in Sunday's recital, ranging from 3 years old to high school age, and they've been practicing choreography for the big show since January.
Ruff said this year, Marietta Dance Academy's recital will feature music from the '70s, '80s and '90s, and several different dance styles, including ballet, tap, jazz and hip hop.
"I find it is important to remember who is in the audience," Ruff said. "It's usually parents and grandparents, and I try to keep that in mind when picking the theme of the show."
Spanner said classes are held once a week, and they usually last between half an hour and an hour per subject.
"I'm in ballet and jazz and production," she said.
In addition to practicing at the studio, Spanner said she takes a CD of the songs she's dancing to home with her so she can go over the choreography on her own.
In total, Ruff said Spanner will perform in five numbers during the recital, one of which is a jazz duet with her younger sister, Haley, 7. Spanner said they'll dance to Beyonce's "Single Ladies."
"It models the (music) video," she said.
Dancers at Stacey's Dance Studio in Marietta are also gearing up for a recital, scheduled for 6 p.m. on June 12 at Marietta High School.
The show will be a special one for Stacey Heaton, owner and director of the studio, because it is her 10th recital.
It is appropriately named "A Decade of Dance," and Heaton said alumni dancers will participate, as well as 60 mothers of children who will be in the show.
Heaton said about 170 dancers ages 2 and up will appear in the show, and Broadway, hip hop and classical ballet are just a few of the styles that will be incorporated.
"It's like a show you would pay to see in New York," she said. "I put some real entertainment in the show."
She said the dancers have been planning for the show since December.
"By the time we get to dress rehearsal, they have their costumes and dances ready and it's incredible," she said.
One of the dancers at Heaton's studio, Regina Newsad, 13, of Beverly, will perform in 10 or 11 numbers. She said she's looking forward to the recital.
"This year we're doing a really cool hip hop dance and bringing back alumni," she said. "It's gonna be exciting."
Newsad noted that's she's danced under Heaton's instruction since she was 10 years old.
"Stacey makes dance so fun," she said. "She's a really good teacher and everyone loves her."
