WHEATLAND — Dance Wyoming underwent some changes in October as long-time studio owner and instructor Linda Fabian officially retired, passing the baton (and the keys) to new owners Mira Taylor and Summer Whelchel. While Taylor and Whelchel are new owners, they are not new to Dance Wyoming, and have been either teaching or managing for several years. 

Performing once again in the recently refurbished WHS auditorium, the studio presented 17 dance classes ranging from Sunbeams to Hip Hop to ballet and Irish dance. Every seat was full and tiny little dancers smiled out as they searched for their families in the large audience. 

Kalyn Krotz and her crew operated lights and gave other technical assistance during the performance, which included beautifully projected scenes as backdrops for each dance class. 

The students all wore expertly-styled and professional-grade costumes, and the Grinch joined the fun toward the end of the performance while the Lyrical dance class gave a passionate performance of “The Coldest Winter.” The holiday mood swayed between dances from the Nutcracker, classic Christmas pieces, and contemporary renditions of recognizable holiday favorites.

Instructors at Dance Wyoming include Josephine Young and Sabrina Lee (Sunbeams), Ton Winter (Ballet I, II, III and Musical Theater); Winter is assisted by Rory Winter. Jessica Shcreiner and assistant Leah Eaton teach Intro Ballet, Tap I, and Lyrical; Candice Palmer teaches Cheer and Performance; and Molly Cundall teaches Irish. Summer Whelchel teaches Hip Hop and Martial Arts; Taran Whelchel teaches Martial Arts; and Katie Sherman, assisted by Gabby Nepgen and Nichole Biggs, teaches Tumbling. 

Dance Wyoming continues to make the Joe Fabian Memorial Dance Scholarship available to graduating seniors and donations can be made to the fund at Platte Valley Bank. Door admission from the recital went towards financing a new front door for the Dance Wyoming studio. Classes will resume on January 2, after the holiday break.