Studio Dance Conservatory’s Ballet students, from left, Kaidence Clopp (Ballet IV), Miller Griffith (Ballet III), Elin Fagerstrom (Ballet III), Audrina Lent and Sarah DiDomenico (front), both Ballet IV, pose for Le Jardin Animee, part of Colors 2026, which will be performed at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 13, in Southwestern High School’s auditorium.

The Studio Dance Conservatory (SDC) will present its annual recital, Colors 2026, Saturday, June 13, at 7 p.m. in the Southwestern High School auditorium.

Adaptive, Ballet, Contemporary, Tap, Jazz and Musical Theater Dance will be performed by beginners through advanced-level dancers. The theme of this performance is The Best of the Best and includes dance pieces from the past 20 years of the conservatory’s repertoire. This performance will include alumni and is open to the public. Tickets are available pre-sale ($10) and at the door ($15) for general admission; $5 for youth 12 and younger; under five will be admitted for free.

SDC is celebrating its 20th anniversary (2006-2026). Libby Nord Strand, owner and director, is passing the business over to Grace (Anderson) Gibbons at the end of the summer. Gibbons is a past student (enrolled in 2013) and current studio manager/instructor of the conservatory who also dances professionally with Sukanya Burman Dance. The Studio Dance Conservatory has invited alumni from the past 20 years to help celebrate by participating in the milestone recital.

Sisters Anna Burt and Rachel Calimeri will perform in the opener and finale. They enrolled in 2006, the first year that the Studio Dance Conservatory opened its doors. Anna (Paterniti) Alolod, personal trainer and body builder, enrolled in 2008 and is coming in from Houston, Texas, to perform a solo she did in 2017, and a body building routine she performed while competing in Texas. Leah Comstock enrolled in 2011 and will perform in the opener and finale. Sonia Angeli (2012) will perform in the opener and finale and both musical theater dance pieces. She graduated from Niagara University with a BFA in Theater Performance. Sisters Belle (2008) and Annie (2012) Johnson will perform the opener and finale. Their sister, Cecelia cannot participate because she is currently dancing with the American Contemporary Ballet in Los Angeles. “Cissy” enrolled in Studio Dance Conservatory in 2009 and has danced with Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet, Chautauqua School of Dance (Chautauqua), Pittsburgh Ballet pre-professional school and the Washington Ballet. Deryck Brown (2017) will perform a hip hop solo, Black Spiderman, he choreographed and performed in 2019. He is currently a Martial Arts World Competitor and will include martial arts in his solo. Reagan Howard (2019) and Audrey McAffee (2022) will perform their doll solos from Studio Dance Conservatory’s 2024 production of Coppelia and in the opener and finale. Jennie Caruso, Studio Dance Conservatory alumna (2008) and instructor, will perform a solo City of Stars, she choreographed and performed in 2017.

Each dance class will perform two or three pieces. Creative Movement: Chelsea Davis, Chloe Lodi Naberan, Maisie Quattrone, Violet Vicker and Ballet I: George Calimeri, Lainey Fagerstrom, Maeve Griffith, Francesca Faulk and Victoria Ferraro will perform A Million Dreams (2026), choreographed by instructor Mackenzie Zuech and an excerpt from Swan Lake (2023) choreographed by teacher assistants Sarah DiDomenico and Audrina Lent. DiDomenico and Lent will also perform a contemporary duet they choreographed together. Ballet II: Zoe Butler, Angelina Haskell and Lola Laughlin will perform with Ballet I in Swan Lake and Spring Waltz (2014), choreographed by Nord Strand. Ballet III: Elin Fagerstrom, Sofia Goshgarian and Miller Griffith will perform in Spring Waltz with Ballet II and in Le Jardin Animee (2016) with Ballet IV. Ballet IV: Kaidence Clopp, Sarah DiDomenico, Audrina Lent and Lydia Petry will perform in Le Jardin Aimee and Pas De Quatre (2013 and 2016). Caruso has choreographed a new ballet, Sicilliene for the Ballet IV. Contemporary: Jennie Caruso, Kaidence Clopp, Sarah DiDomenico, Brooke Kelly, Audrina Lent, Madilyn Lent, Lydia Petry, Alyzza Zuech and Mackenzie Zuech will perform three original works by instructor Daman Holland: Burn (2019), Still I Rise (2023) and a new piece, Read All About It (2026), that will feature graduating senior Madilyn Lent. Musical Theater Dance: Sonia Angeli, Jennie Caruso, Kaidence Clopp, Eliza Dahlin, Lydia Kennelley, Nadia Kennelley, Sarah DiDomenico, Audrina Lent, Madilyn Lent, Josette McCraw, Lydia Petry, Eliza Roushey, Alyzza Zuech and Mackenzie Zuech will perform Dance the Night (2024) and a new piece Celebrate Happy, both choreographed by instructor Caruso. Gibbons has choreographed two original pieces to Sing, Sing, Sing (2026) and Jailhouse Rock (2026) for Jazz/Tap: Elin Fagerstrom, Paige Klice, and Lola Laughlin. Gibbons also choreographed and will perform a duet with Adaptive Dance student Alissandra McMahon to original music by local musicians John Cross and the late Steve Swanson.