 About The Dance Inn
Thelma Larkin Goldberg, Director started The Dance Inn
in 1983 while on a leave of absence from teaching in the Boston Public Schools.
Her early dance training was in Cambridge with Grace Bates and Joan O’Brien.
She taught dance while earning her B.S. Ed. From Lesley College and then
taught special needs students in Boston while earning her M.S. Sp.Ed. from
Regis College. Under Thelma’s guidance, the Dance Inn serves an average
of 600 students weekly. She was on the faculty of the Boston Conservatory
for four years and has been on the faculty and staff of the New York City
Tap Festival since 2002. In addition, she proudly serves as Artistic
Director to the Legacy Dance Company, the pre-professional youth performing
ensemble of The Dance Inn.
Philosophy
Thelma’s mission is to offer the highest level training
and programming for both the recreational dancer as well as
the aspiring professional. During her twenty-five years
of dance education, she has developed her own tap and jazz
curriculums and provides in-service training to her dedicated
staff, assuring that all her teachers are following the same
guidelines and assuring that her students progress through
a carefully thought-out program that emphasizes good technique
and musicality. Her approach has been largely influenced by
Billy Siegenfeld’s rhythm-based philosophy which encourages
students to be grounded in the earth and to incorporate their
whole body in rhythm-making. Dance training shouldn’t
get in the way of an individual’s basic instincts to
move rhythmically. Thelma’s philosophy promotes
dance as a life-long activity, demonstrated by her adult program
which has dancers in their 80’s.
Dance belongs in the community
Through the ages and in every culture, dance brings people
together. For Thelma, it must be brought out of the
studio and into the community. With that in mind, her
students have performed and shared the joy of dance at numerous
venues, both locally and nationally, whether outdoors or
on a concert stage. Highlights of a typical season
include performances at the Hatch Shell for the Making Strides
against Breast Cancer Walk, the annual holiday benefit concert
at the Regent Theatre for the Kids in Need foundation, leading
Lexington’s Patriot’s Day Parade, the annual
Discovery Day performance, and, of course, The Dance Inn’s
very popular recitals. Thelma’s desire to connect
with and build a dance community leads her to establish a
non-profit organization in 1997.
Dance Inn Productions, Inc.
The mission of Dance
Inn Productions, Inc., a 501c3 organization,
is to pass on the artistry and traditions of dance through
programming that educates, entertains, and inspires. As
founder and Executive Director, Thelma works with a board
of directors to produce several events a year, including
Tapestry, Boston’s premier National Tap Dance Day celebration,
attracting dancers and aficionados from throughout the East
Coast. Since 1997 she has honored Dianne Walker,
Buster Brown, Sue Ronson, Jimmy “Sir Slyde” Mitchell,
Brenda Bufalino, LaVaughn Robinson, Jimmy Slyde, Sarah Petronio,
Dean Diggins, and Paul Arslanian. In addition, Thelma
offers a Master Series that brings world-renowned teachers
to the Lexington area for weekend workshops. For many
years, the Tom and Catherine Larkin Youth Ballroom Program
taught middle schoolers the fine art of ballroom dancing. Thelma
has hopes of continuing that program in the coming year.
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