LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – A beacon for the community in east Valley is a dance studio that was broken into and vandalized.
When students arrived for class the next day, the studio said, “The show must go on,”
“We’re basically one of the only dance studios on this side of town,” said Tina Ferdinand.
The Backstage Dance Studio has been teaching generations of dancers in the east Valley.
Tina Ferdinand first started coming here as a parent taking her daughter to dance classes, then became studio manager.
“It’s been a really great experience getting to meet all these kids and watch them grow up and become great people,” shared Ferdinand.
One of the dancers she watched grow up is Michelle Mondino she started at backstage when she was 3. Now 18 years later she is an instructor.
“It’s been such a huge part of my life, I have been here every weekday for as long as i can remember.” said Michelle Mondino.
So when someone broke into the studio on Sunday night they were shocked.
“In the 25 years that I’ve been here this has never happened before,” she added. “Maybe the surrounding area sometimes it gets a bad rep but we’ve never had a break-in like this before ever so for this to happen to us now…I don’t really have the words for it but it was definitely something new.
The thieves took speakers, the studio’s business cell phone, and broke two big mirrors the dancers need for class.
“When we walked in there was no longer a mirror and the glass was on the floor. the door was left open as well and the windows were halfway rolled up, kinda scary.” Mondino explained.
“It sucks to have this happen.” Studio Owner John Crawford said.
Studio owner John Crawford says they did upwards of 10-thousand dollars in damage and stolen property, but his main concern was for the students as young as three years old who were on their way to class.
“We got the door closed, covered, studio cleaned up and I wanted the studio to look normal for the kids,” Crawford explained.
Knowing how much the dance classes mean to the community and not wanting to cancel they made do with what they could find.
“Without music we weren’t able to teach dance classes so we went back into some closets and found an old stereo and an old speaker and hooked that up to where we could hook it up to a phone,” Ferdinand said.
“I’m kind of grateful for the fact that everyone’s response was so quick and also for the fact that we haven’t canceled class because at the end of the day that’s what everyone comes here to do. everyone comes here to dance and you know, have a good time.” expressed Mondino.
As for the parents– they’re not deterred.
18:29-18:35
Stephen Hernandez: it’s not enough to keep us from coming because the benefits my daughter reaps coming to class.
And that’s why backstage won’t let this stop them from dancing.
24:06-24:14
Michelle Mondino: i feel like we’re going to come back from this and like you know, thrive in a way because we have built such a community up.
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