A note from Dinah, DP Director

I will never forget my first recital.  A red gingham tutu and two big giant bows styled in my pigtails.  The excitement, the buzz, the colorful costumes all swirling together backstage.  My mom was a parent volunteer and I can still see her smiling and chatting it up with the other adults backstage. I remember playing London Bridges and when the teenagers came to join in I was smitten with their make up and hair.  I instantly was in love with the community.  We traveled through the backstage area in lines with my teacher and anxiously waited in the wings for our turn to take the stage.  Standing in the wings was also a thrill, knowing that just beyond the curtain an audience of my family and friends were waiting for me.  Then the lights, the applause, the pure joy and exhilliration of being on that stage!  Oh sure I was nervous, but WOW, the feeling of performing was pure bliss...I was hooked.  Then after, the sweet hugs my family and friends gave me...their congratulations and endless kisses...I was beaming because I knew I had just done something super special...and you know what I did!!!!  I got on stage after a year of learning and practicing with a group of friends and performed my little heart out in front of a large audience.  I worked hard, I was brave, and I had so much fun! 

The opportunity to perform in a recital is an exciting, empowering and confidence-building part of a dancer's journey.  At our professionally run recital production, your children will be able to showcase their hard work, dedication and artistic expression while family and friends can celebrate their achievements.  

We love giving our students the chance to perform in this supportive and fun environment and encourage even our youngest and newest performers to be involved.  Our recitals are a true celebration of DREAMS, milestones, talent, passion, and the joy of dance! 

Thank you for choosing The Dance Project for your child's dance education and journey, 

Dinah

About this year's production "BEYOND THE BRIDGE"

A Unique Dance-Theatre Experience

Beyond the Bridge is not your typical end-of-year dance recital. This original production is a fully immersive theatrical experience where every dance is woven directly into the narrative, advancing the plot with emotion, movement, and storytelling. Our students don’t just perform—they become storytellers, embodying characters that grow, struggle, and triumph. The audience is invited into a journey with a beginning, middle, and end, making this recital feel more like a stage play or musical—only told through the universal language of dance. It's a rare and magical blend of choreography and theatre that offers something truly meaningful for both performers and audience alike.

Show Synopsis

When Ainsley moves across the country and leaves everything she knows behind, she turns to her imagination to cope with the overwhelming change. On a quiet bridge in a new town, she begins writing a story—one that becomes a vivid, whimsical adventure filled with stormy seas, enchanted islands, soaring hot air balloons, and magical kingdoms.

At the heart of her story is a courageous sailor who, after being swept away by a storm, must find her way home. Along the journey, she befriends a sea turtle longing for more, a nervous princess discovering her bravery, and a charismatic but directionally-challenged swan. Each character is a reflection of Ainsley's own hopes, fears, and need for connection.

As the adventure unfolds, the story becomes more than fiction—it mirrors Ainsley’s emotional journey, helping her face her loneliness and rediscover her strength. In the climactic storm in the sky, imagination and reality collide, and a new friendship in the real world gives Ainsley the courage to finish her story—and find her place in her new life.

Beyond the Bridge is a celebration of resilience, friendship, and the power of storytelling to carry us through life’s greatest transitions.