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Conti dance studio marks 50th year
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Neighbors | Submitted.Judy Conti Dance Studios Jazz Line Competition team posed for their group photo. The dancers are from left; (front) Alexis Benyo, Carly Zinni, Mackenzie Tofil, Carle Tolfil, Marissa Carbon, Jamie Bogdan; (middle) Aynnalise Moore, Taya El-Hayek, Gina Stephenson, Madelyn Kist, Ashlyn Carzoo, Taylor Schmitt, Terry Guisler, Taylor Tofil, Candace Smith; (back) Kaitlyn Smith, Angela Krpicak, Olivia Gessler, Ashley Moore, Lindsey Green and Gabriella Gessler.
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Neighbors | Submitted.Judy Conti's family, daughter Kim, left, Judy Conti, husband of 48 years Dennis Katsaras and son Scott posed for an impromptu family photo recently.
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Neighbors | Submitted.Judy Conti Dance Studios participated in the National Dance Competition at Kalahari Resort in Sandusky.
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Neighbors | Submitted.Judy Conti, left, posed with WFMJ's TV show with Mike Case, studio directors JoEllen Mrofchak and Lisa Kutchel.
When Judy Conti was 13, she was asked to be an assistant dance teacher at a local dance studio. She knew even back then that one day she wanted her own studio.
Her passion for this dream was so evident that instead of doodling “I love...” all over her school books, she wrote “Judy Conti Dance Studios.”
That dream became a reality in September 1961 when Conti opened her own studio. Now she is preparing for her 50th recital.
Not only has she been in business for 50 years, but the studio is one of the better-known names in the Valley, evident with the three locations in Boardman, Columbiana and Austintown.
Conti credits her mother for her passion for dance.
Her dance training started at the age of 5 after her mother, Helen Conti, gave her some encouragement. She loved it from the moment she started.
Back then, she participated in dance recitals at Stambaugh Auditorium and today she hosts her own studio’s recitals there every year.
Conti taught dance for several studios throughout high school. In September of 1961, the owners of one of the studios retired and moved to Florida, allowing Conti the chance to open her very own studio,
In June, Judy Conti Studios will celebrate its 50th year in business and the 50th recital will be one to remember. Conti said plans are already under way for the upcoming event and there is a little more excitement than usual because of the significance of the event. She has plans to bring back some of her former teachers for the opening number of the 50th recital.
Conti said Judy Conti Dance Studios recitals are “Broadway fabulous.”
“The girls have already started to pick music and the they get measured for costumes in November. They are very excited,” Conti said.
Despite the excitement, the girls and everyone involved must stay focused in order to make the recital a success.
“It’s a year-long process. It’s very challenging, very hard work,” Conti said.
Conti has 14 regular teachers, each with an assistant, teaching at the studios. One of the most unique things about Judy Conti Dance Studios is all the teachers are former students.
“I have almost never hired an outside teacher — hardly ever,” she said. “My teachers are my little girls that grew up with me that I’ve known since they were 4 or 5 and they became assistant teachers and then teachers,” Conti said.
Conti has “been blessed” with what has been given to her. Despite all the hard work, she never considers it “work.” She wakes up everyday looking forward to it.
“I’ve never said ‘I’m going to work,’ it’s always ‘I’m going to the studio.’”
Conti said teaching was in her blood and that is why she loves what she does so much.
“Planning the recitals, working with costumes, the parades, it’s my passion,” she said.
One of her favorite parts about owning a dance studio is her relationship with the dancers and watching them throughout their years with the studio.
“I love the kids, seeing them progress from the time they are 3 to the time they are 14 is incredible,” she said.
Several of Conti’s students have gone to Broadway, joined the Radio City Rockettes, opened their own studios or just continued dancing in some way.
Conti is so passionate about the studio and the work she does that she says she would, “love to do this until I can’t.”
As for the next 50 years, Conti is confident her studio will live on.
“My teachers are wonderful enough that maybe Judy Conti Dance Studios could last another 50 years.”