Just Dance moves to Washington

New location, new name, same dance company.

That is what people can expect from Just Dance Home of Water Street Dance Co.

Owner and instructor Gina Kennedy recently decided to move the studio, which has been known as Water Street Dance Co., from its location on the corner of Water and Harrison streets on the Peoria Riverfront to Washington’s Cherry Tree Shopping Center.

“We do our show at Five Points in Washington. All our apparel we do in Washington, so everything’s together now,” Kennedy said. “I really love the area and the community.”

She said it seemed natural to change the dance studio’s name, which was taken from one of the cross streets on which the original location sat.

 “I just added, ‘Just Dance,’ because Water Street Dance Co. is the name of our competitive team that has competed for eight years,” Kennedy said. “I didn’t want to totally abruptly change the name. It’s kind of just a transition of letting people know we’re still Water Street Dance, but now it’s Just Dance, Home of Water Street Dance Co.”

Kennedy said a drop in enrolment and a suggestion from a friend sparked the move after eight years at the Peoria location.

The new studio boasts a state-of-the-art sprung dance floor and a special matt that is rolled out over the floor.

“It’s the same kind of floor that you would use at competition,” she said. “So they’re going to have a really nice floor that’s lifted.”

A lobby with a viewing window has also been built to allow parents to watch classes from the lobby, rather than coming into the classroom.

While Kennedy said the new location is a bit smaller, dancers had to maneuver around three large pillars in the middle of the dance floor at the first studio. The new building, she added, has a pillar-free dance area.

Despite the changes, similarities abound at the new studio.

“It’s the same as it was over there, pretty much,” Kennedy said.

Just Dance, Home of Water Street Dance Co., will offer the same classes, which include tap, jazz, ballet and pop.

A 45-minute class, which includes tap, jazz and ballet, is offered for 3-and-a-half to 5-year-old students.
Students then progress through levels 1 through 4 based on age.

Individuals are chosen to join the competitive team based on their performance at the summer dance intensive.

“They’re very highly trained,” Kennedy said. “They’re very advanced. They go to competitions in Davenport, St. Louis, Chicago and Indianapolis. They do contemporary, jazz, lyrical and hip hop and win all kinds of awards.”

Kennedy’s experience includes being the choreographer for the Rising Stars, Riverkids and Dynamics, who danced at the Rivermen games, two years at the Washington Dance Academy, four years at the Pekin Park District and five years at The Company in Pekin. She grew up dancing at Take Five dance studio in West Peoria.

About 94 students participated in last year’s spring show, but Kennedy said she will not know how many students will take classes at the new studio in Washington until registration is complete.

“We’re bringing about 35 competitive dancers over to Washington,” she said. “So at least we know we’ll have that.”

Registration for fall classes is noon to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Peoria location and noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Cherry Tree Shopping Center location.

Work is still being done at the new location, but Kennedy said it will be complete by the Sept. 11 registration.

“It’s come a long way,” Kennedy said.