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History

1983

 

  • Thelma Goldberg opened The Dance Inn in February by transforming her living room at 94 Hill St. into a dance studio. With 12 students in her home and 10 adult students in the basement of The Grey Nuns, she presented her first recital in June, “Summer Fun,” which featured her parents and the dancing nuns, in addition to her 22 students. The Dance Inn soon became a destination for all local aspiring dance students of all ages.

1983-1984

 

  • September sees a large increase in student enrollment

  • 2nd recital, “My Favorite Things,” presented at Diamond Junior High School in Lexington, including Miss Crystal as one of the 4 year old students

1984-1985

 

  • In September, The Dance Inn moves into Arts Lexington, now the Munroe Center for the Arts

  • Break dancing is added to the curriculum, with Carrie Groves joining staff - 3rd recital, “Street Beats,” moves to Kennedy Jr. High School in Waltham.

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1985-1986

  • Jill Marble starts dance classes

  • 4th recital, “Celebrate” in Waltham

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1986-1987

  • Sebastian Goldberg joins The Dance Inn family in September

  • Rebecca (Galarza) Robichaud joins staff

  • 5th recital, “Greatest Show on Earth” in Waltham.

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1987-1988

  • A second performance is added when the 6th recital, “A Salute to Broadway,” is presented in Waltham.

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1988-1989

  • Legacy Dance Company starts under the direction of Becky Robichaud and Thelma, with current Dance Inn faculty Crystal James and Robin Goldberg as members. 

  • First official holiday performance at the Fairlawn Nursing Home. 

  • 7th recital, “Where the Wild Things Are,” moves to Waltham High School

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1989-1990

 

  • 8th recital, “We’ve Got Rhythm,” moves to Lexington H.S.

  • First Discovery Day performance

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1990-1991

  • Holiday performance presented at Cary Hall for first time.

  • Legacy travels to South Carolina for National Dance Competition

  • 9th recital, “You Oughta be in Pictures,” presented at LHS

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1991-1992

  • Second studio added.

  • Annual holiday performance at Cary Hall. 

  • 10th recital, “Magical Delights,” at LHS (Sebastian’s first recital.)

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1992-1993

  • 5th holiday show at Cary Hall

  • 11th recital, “Caribbean Cruise,” at LHS

  • Legacy performs on the Fantasy Faire Stage as part of the Disney Magic Music Days program.

  • Legacy competes for the first time at Florida Starpower Nationals and brings home Gold Awards

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1993-1994

  • 12th recital, “Get on your Feet,” celebrated at LHS 

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1994-1995

 

  • 8th holiday performance at Cary Hall

  • Legacy performs for the first time at Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Boston, marking the beginning of another annual performance

  • 13th recital, “Newstruck,” at LHS

  • Legacy attends Florida Nationals

  • Legacy performs on the Tomorrowland Stage as part of Disney Magic Music Days

  • 1st National Tap Dance Day celebration as part of Discovery Day in Lexington

  • Legacy selected to perform as Sports Illustrated Kids at Burlington Mall

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1995-1996

  • Performance Workshop (now Dance Inn Youth Intensive) is introduced 

  • 8th annual holiday show at Cary Hall

  • 14th recital, “Imagine,” at LHS

  • 2nd National Tapestry celebration: We salute Gene Kelly at Cary Hall and Arts Lexington, and at Discovery Day.

  • First time leading Patriot’s Day Parade

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1996-1997

  • Alicia starts teaching at Dance Inn Sept. ’96.

  • Crystal joins Dance Inn teaching staff after many years of assisting.

  • 9th holiday performance, “Gifts From the Heart,” at Cary Hall

  • The Tom and Catherine Larkin Youth Ballroom Program begins in February, and Dance Inn Productions is granted 501c3 status as a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the artistry and traditions of dance.

  • 15th recital, “Our Home Town,” at LHS

  • 3rd National Tapestry celebration. 1st Tapestry Award given to Dianne Walker at Museum of our National Heritage in Lexington

  • Thelma travels to Chicago for the Chicago Human Rhythm Project and meets Billy Siegenfeld and Jump Rhythm Jazz Project (JRJP) – the beginning of a strong friendship.

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1997-1998

  • 10th holiday performance, “Winter Celebrations,” at Cary Hall

  • 16th recital, “In The Mood,” at LHS

  • 4th National Tapestry celebration; 2nd Tapestry Award given to James “Buster” Brown 

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1998-1999

  • Teddy Bear Jamboree with Gary Rosen at Cary Hall

  • 11th Holiday performance, “Miracles of the Season,” at Cary Hall

  • Thelma featured in Lexington Minuteman article, “The Lady of the Dance” (February 25th, 1999)

  • 17th recital, “It’s Not Where You Start… It’s Where You Finish,” at LHS

  • 5th National Tapestry celebration at Cary Hall and the Munroe Center for the Arts; 3rd Tapestry Award given to Sue Ronson

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1999-2000

  • 12th holiday performance, “Bringing in a Brand New Year,” at Cary Hall

  • Legacy performs at Disney’s Magic Music Days

  • Lexington Minuteman’s Readers’ Choice Award ’99: Dance Inn voted #1 Dance/Gymnastics School

  • 18th recital, “Dance to the Music,” at LHS

  • 6th National Tapestry celebration; 4th Tapestry Award given to Jimmy “Sir Slyde” Mitchell

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2000-2001

  • Hip-Hop Team makes their debut on the Hatch Shell stage as part of the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer performance

  • 13th holiday performance sells out 2 shows at the Museum of Our National Heritage, with proceeds going toward the Kids in Need Foundation

  • 19th recital, “Style,” at Waltham High School

  • 7th annual National Tapestry celebration; 5th Tapestry Award given to Brenda Bufalino

  • Legacy tappers perform at Duke Theatre on 42nd St., NYC as part of NYC Tap Festival

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2001-2002

  • 3rd studio added at Community of Christ Church, across the street from the Munroe Center

  • Sheila Guzman Brotherston joins Dance Inn staff

  • 14th holiday performance, “Making Spirits Bright,” at the Sunbridge Auditorium & Museum of Our National Heritage

  • Legacy performs at “United We Dance”

  • 20th recital, “Come Dance With Me,” has 4 performances at Waltham High School

  • 8th annual National Tapestry celebration; 6th Tapestry Award given to LaVaughn Robinson

  • Thelma on faculty of Tap City, NYC Tap Festival; Legacy performs at the Duke Theatre

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2002-2003

  • 15th holiday performance at Museum of Our National Heritage

  • 21st recital, “Getting to Know You,” has 4 performances at Waltham High School

  • 9th National Tapestry celebration; 7th Tapestry Award given to Jimmy Slyde. 

  • The Dance Inn begins annual tradition of leading Lexington’s Patriot’s Day Parade, performs in Discovery Day

  • Legacy tap dancers perform in NYC Tap Extravaganza

  • Thelma joins faculty of Boston Conservatory

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2003-2004

  • 16th holiday performance at Museum of Our National Heritage

  • 22nd recital, “fascinatin’ RHYTHM,” presented at LHS

  • 10th Tapestry celebration; 8th Tapestry Award presented to Sarah Petronio with special guests, the LHS Jazz Combo, supported by a grant from LEF

  • Annual performances at Discovery Day and Tap City

  • JRJP comes to The Dance Inn for first annual Summer Intensive

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2004-2005

 

  • 17th holiday performance at Regent Theatre in Arlington

  • 23rd recital, “School Daze,” moves to Arlington High School due to renovations at LHS

  • 11th Tapestry celebration; 9th Tapestry Award presented to Dean Diggins

  • Annual performances in Patriot’s Day Parade, Discovery Day and Tap City

  • Thelma begins directing Pre-Professional Program at Tap City

  • Summer intensives with JRJP and Jimmy Locust

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2005-2006

  • The Dance Inn leaves Community of Christ Church and adds 3rd studio at Regent Theatre Underground in Arlington

  • 18th annual holiday performance at Regent Theatre

  • 24th recital, “Road Trippin’,” presented at Waltham High School

  • 12th Tapestry celebration; 10th Tapestry Award presented to Paul Arslanian

  • Annual performances in Patriot’s Day Parade, Discovery Day and Tap City

  • Summer workshop with Jimmy Locust

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2006-2007

 

  • Annual “Rhythm at the Regent” performances features Legacy along with Josh Hilberman, Tap and Tray, Nate Cooper and Bob Thomas

  • Legacy performs in “Tappy Holidays!” at Symphony Space in NYC

  • 25th annual recital, “We’re Dancin’,” presented at Waltham High School

  • Tapestry celebration features Jason Samuels Smith, Michelle Dorrance, Barbara Duffy and Josh Hilberman

  • Annual performances in Patriot’s Day Parade, Discovery Day and Tap City

  • Summer intensives with Jimmy Locust and JRJP

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2007-2008

  • 19th holiday performance at Regent Theatre

  • Dance Inn Productions presents Barbara Duffy and Company at the Regent Theatre

  • Legacy performs in “Tappy Holidays!” at Symphony Space in NYC and “The Twelve Days of Christmas” at The Dance Complex in Boston

  • 26th recital, “V.I.P. Hot Spots,” presented at LHS

  • Tapestry presents Barcelona’s Tap Ole

  • Annual performances in Patriot’s Day Parade, Discovery Day and Tap City

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2008-2009

  • 20th annual holiday performance at Regent Theatre

  • Legacy performs in “Tappy Holidays!” at Symphony Space in NYC and “The Twelve Days of Christmas” at The Dance Complex in Boston

  • 27th recital, “Plugged In,” at LHS

  • Tapestry features local companies – including Legacy, New England Tap Ensemble and Boston Tap Company – along with NYC’s Tap City Youth Ensemble

  • Legacy performs in Jose Mateo’s “Dance For World Community” event in Harvard Square

  • Annual performances in Patriot’s Day Parade, Discovery Day and Tap City

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2009-2010

  • 21st annual holiday performance at Regent Theatre

  • “Rhythm at the Regent” presents Keith Terry & Crosspulse

  • Legacy performs in “A Little Night Music” in Acton with the Commonwealth Ballet

  • 28th recital, “Unplugged,” at LHS

  • Tapestry Award presented to Heather Cornell

  • Legacy performs at Harvard Square Mayfair, Dance For World Community festival, and Tap City

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2010-2011

  • 22nd annual holiday performance at Regent Theatre

  • 29th recital, “Tickets, Please!” at LHS

  • Tapestry weekend celebrates our own About Time Tapper, Lois O’Hara

  • Legacy performs at Harvard Square Mayfair and Dance For World Community festive

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2011-2012​

23rd annual Holiday Show at Regent Theatre​

30th anniversary recital, "S'Wonderful" at LHS 

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2012-2013

  • 24th annual Holiday Show at Regent Theatre

  • 31st recital, "All Jazzed Up" at LHS

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2013-2014

  • 25th annual Holiday Show at Regent Theatre

  • 32nd recital, "Reading in Rhythm" at LHS

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2014-2015

  • 26th annual Holiday Show at Regent Theatre

  • 33rd recital, "It's About Time" at LHS

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2015-2016

  • 27th annual Holiday show at Regent Theatre

  • 34th recital, "Think Spring" at LHS

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2016-2017

  • 28th annual Holiday Show at Regent Theatre

  • 35th recital, "35 Rhythm & Jive" at LHS

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2017-2018

  • 29th annual Holiday Show at Regent Theatre

  • 36th recital, "Experience" at LHS

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2018-2019

  • 30th annual Holiday Show at Regent Theatre

  • 37th recital, "It's a Musical Life" at LHS

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2019-2020​

  • 32nd annual holiday performance at Regent Theatre

  • COVID-19 emerges in early 2020 and forces the studio to close weeks before our 38th Recital, "Live in Livin' Color"

  • A virtual recital was held over Zoom with students in their homes doing their dances in their costumes. 

  • The studio remains closed until late summer 2020 but comes back better than ever! 

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2020-2021

  • The studio reopens for our 2020-2021 season in September 2020. With only 6 dancers in each class and Covid protocols in place to protect students and staff, this season was unlike any other in our history. 

  • A virtual holiday show performance was filmed at The Regent Theater in January 2021

  • With Covid still causing uncertainty in the world, we extended our season and planned to hold an outdoor, informal recital in June 2021. 

  • Our 39th recital, "Dancing in the Streets", was held in June 2021 on an outdoor stage in the parking lot of the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum in Lexington. 

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2021-2022​

  • 40th season begins with more normal class sizes. 

  • 34th annual holiday performance at the Regent Theater in Dec. 2021

  • 40th anniversary recital, " A Dancer's Journal", presented at LHS

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2022-2023

  • 35th annual Holiday Show performance at the Regent Theatre

  • 41st annual recital, "Museums in Motion", presented at Regent Theatre in May 2023

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