LOCALadk Magazine

LOCALadk 30 More Than Movement: Building Community Through Dance By Kaitlin Patenaude Author's note: Song suggestion to listen to while read- ing this article: Homeland by Hans Zimmer (2002). I like to suggest music to set the tone of reading, as dance and music often go together. But I'm hoping that while reading, you feel a sense of home, feel inspired, and feel affection towards your community, because that is what the Dance Sanctuary has built. The Dance Sanctuary opened its doors in 2016 for the first semester of dance, when Mandi Maiore and Vanessa Pillen came together with a shared dream — one rooted in collaboration, support, and creativity. "From the very beginning, we knew we didn't just want to open a dance studio… we wanted to create a sanctuary," says Vanessa. "A safe, welcoming space where every single person who walked through the doors would feel deeply loved, supported, and free to express themselves through the language of dance." There were a few foundational classes in 2016 - jazz, ballet, tap, and hip hop — but a decade later, the Sanc- tuary has grown tremendously. Vanessa gives testa- ment to its growth from the support of the community and the love of dance. "The Dance Sanctuary is built on connection. It's tru- ly the heartbeat of everything we do. From day one, our vision was to create a space where people feel like they belong, and what's been so incredible is how the community has embraced that vision and made it even stronger. "So much of our mission has grown because of the people around us. Families, dancers, and supporters have joined forces with us in the most meaningful ways, especially through our scholarship fund. Be- cause of that collective generosity and belief in what we're building, in ten years we have never had to turn anyone away who has wanted to dance. "Whether it's helping provide tuition, dance shoes, or class uniforms, our community has shown up with such heart. It has allowed us to reach and uplift far more people than we ever could have on our own. That kind of love and support is what makes this place so special. It truly belongs to all of us." I have had the privilege of being a part of The Dance Sanctuary for four years now. I joined at a time when I needed connection and support — to get back to loving myself after a time of high anxiety. I danced as a child — tap, ballet, and modern, up until the studio closed and I switched to figure skating. But adult-me chose a style of dance I had no experience in. I joined the Adult Beginner Hip Hop class with a few friends, and so began my journey of finding community through dance.

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