SPORTS WRAP
Unlimited Possibilities Dance Studio in Owatonna quietly celebrated its 10th anniversary earlier this year. Dance has always been part of owner Sara Johnson’s life.
“I’ve been dancing since I was three. I can’t even put a time on it. I knew I always wanted to open a studio and teach dance. So, I started helping my local dance studio when I was 14. Then I opened up the Albert Lea location when I was 20,” said Johnson. A Faribault studio was recently added.
“We really encourage our studio to be family-based. We love to come together and support each other. We have recreational students and competition students. We offer a lot of competition,” she said. An information meeting on the competition program will be held on Wednesday, June 25 at 5:30 p.m.
Six years old is usually the minimum age for competition, but dance starts for some at age three and those tykes offer their own brand of energy. “Well, you hope they stay on the stage. You do prep them as well as you can. It’s just fun to see their personalities on stage. And to see a little three-year-old have the guts to stand up there in front of so many people. So, it’s a huge accomplishment for them. They’re just so fun,” said Johnson.
They have an active adult clientele. “The love for dance. A lot of these ladies have been dancing their whole entire life and didn’t want it to end after high school,” Johnson told Owatonna Live’s Business Talk. “It’s fun that they can come back and they can move and start to feel that same movement as they did in high school.”
The next generation of dancers is being inspired by the high school team. “It’s fun that they’re able to use their passion year-round and be able to do different outlets through dance. It’s great that we can cross over and learn from each other that way. Because it’s a totally different world for dance team than it is for studio.”
The success of the University of Minnesota program is felt locally. “It really inspired a lot of our dancers. It’s fun to see them inspired by something that’s so close to home.”
She loves experiencing each dancer’s success. “It’s hard to put into words. When you see their faces and it finally clicks there’s no other feeling. It’s amazing.”
Unlimited Possibilities hosts a spring and winter show at OHS and participates in the community showcase hosted by the high school team.
Registration for summer classes and camps can be found at www.updsdance.com. Watch the full interview with Johnson at OwatonnaLive.com.
Time to Chat
The third annual Chatty 5K run/walk to support the Owatonna High School cross-country teams is Aug. 16 and starts at the high school at 8 a.m. The event honors Dave Chatelaine who spent 35 years as the Huskies’ coach.
This continues the tradition of a run during the week of the Steele County Free Fair. Search Chatty 5K on Facebook for a sign-up link.
OwatonnaLive.com schedule
Thursday, June 19:
Owatonna Community Band, 7 p.m.
Friday, June 20:
Aces baseball vs. Rochester Roadrunners, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, June 23:
VFW baseball vs. Rochester Lourdes, 5 p.m.
Tuesday, June 24:
Legion baseball vs. Albert Lea, 7 p.m.