Clarence Center dance studio opens as "a little piece of hope" during pandemic

As the pandemic forced countless Western New York businesses to close, one in Clarence Center along Goodrich Road opened.

TIME THIS FALL.SO MANY BUSINESSESWERE FORCED TOCLOSE BECAUSE OFCOVID-19.ONE DANCE STUDIOWAS ACTUALLY ABLETO OPEN UP DURINGTHE PANDEMIC -- ANDIS NOW THRIVINFOR THE OWNER -- ITMARKED THE NEXTSTEP ON AREMARKABLE ROADTO RECOVERY.NIKKI DEMENTRISHOWS US HOW THISDANCE INSTRUCTOR ISBUFFALO STRONG."CAR""IT'S A LITTLE PIECE OFHOPE."LINDSAY MANGIONEOWNS AND DIRECTSRELEVE DANCECOMPANY.

THELIFELONG DANCERBORROWED PART OFHER STUDIO'S NAMEFROM THE MEANINGOF THE FRENCHWORD "RELEVE.""THAT WE WILL RISE.NO MATTER WHAT YOUGO THROUGH, WEWILL RISE."IT'S BEEN IN THEMAKING SINCE LASTOCTOBER."I DIDN'T KNOW WEWERE GOING TO BEINTHE MIDDLE OF THEPANDEMIC, BUT MYHEART SAID DON'TSTOP, KEEP GOING."BLOOD, SWEAT ANDTEARS THEMANGIONE FAMILY ANDFRIENDS GUTTED THEOLD GYM AND TURNEDTHE SPACE INTO ATHREE STUDIO DANCECOMPANY."PRETTY MUCH THEWORLD SHUT DOWNAND WE GOT TOWORK."LAST MONTHMANGIONE ANDTEACHERS LIKE EMILYTHOMAS WELCOMEDDANCERS FOR THEFIRST TIME."VIDEO""IT'S VERYPERSONALIZED.

IT'SFAMILY BUILT."BALLET, ACRO, TAP,JAZZ, LYRICAL,FITNESS AND ADULTCLASSES JUST TONAME A FEW AREON THE SCHEDULE."IT FEELS LIKE ASECOND HOME TOCOME HERE AFTER AHARD DAY ATSCHOOL"YOU WALK THROUGHTHE DOOR AND YOUGET THAT WARMFAMILY FEELING ANDIT'S JUST, IT'S NICE TOSEE THE GIRLS COMEHOME WITH SMILESON THEIR FACES."MANGIONE SAYSRELEVE IS MORE THANJUST A SPOT AT THEBARRE.

SHE SAYSWHEN SHE WASYOUNGER SHE WAS"VERY SICK" AND FELTALONE.

THAT'S WHYSHE'S STARTED A"LITTLE SISTERS-BIGSISTERS" PROGRAMSO EVERYONE HAS ASOMEONE."I JUST HAVE AMESSAGE I WANT TOREACH THE KIDS IWANT THEM TO KNOWTHEY CAN BE AND DOANYTHING THEY WANTTO DO AND DON'TSTOP BECAUSESOMEONE SAYS YOUCAN'T DO IT OR YOUSHOULDN'T DO IT."THE STUDIO IS ALSOOFFERING A DANCESCHOLARSHIP FOR AFAMILY IN NEED.REGISTRATIONCONTINUES FOR FALLCLASSES STARTINGNEXT MONTH.ND, 7EWN.A MISSION TO HELPSCHOLARSHIP FOR AFAMILY IN NEED.