Boardman studio offers limitless opportunities
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BOARDMAN – It’s all in the name: Limitless Company.
The subsidiary of Torrie's Academy of Dance offers creative movement, Drums Alive, recital group, competition group, hip hop dance, musical theater, ballet and private lessons for children and adults with disabilities.
“I had a friend who had a special needs daughter and she was explaining her frustration to me, and rather than just offer some random classes a couple days a week I thought it would be a good idea to start my own nonprofit," said Torrie Ward, owner of Torrie's Academy of Dance and creator of the nonprofit Limitless Company, 5922 Market St. in Boardman, which began having classes in 2016.
“I felt there really wasn't a place for kids to feel comfortable to come and learn dance," she said.
A hallway connects Torrie’s Dance Academy to the Limitless studio. Academy students help during the Limitless classes by demonstrating the steps or drumstick positions on the exercise ball during the Drums Alive classes, along with McKenzie Sella Stader, the program manager/lead instructor.
Age does not restrict participation in the company.
“Students can start at age 4 and go up from there. We don't have an age limit," Stader said.
Classes run September to June when the recital occurs. After the recital, there are special summer classes or private lessons.
One important aspect of the company is that they can adapt the class to a student's physical abilities and interest level.
“We have a lot of different levels of stuff. We have people that just want to build skills, be performative with more commitment. We have private lessons for people who may not be comfortable in a group setting or want to try something completely different. I have tap dancers that do private lessons,” Stader said.
Ward and Stader both have extensive backgrounds in dance. Poland native Ward studied dance beginning when she was just 2 1/2. She graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts with a dance performance degree and performed on Disney cruises before returning to the area to open her studio.
Stader began dancing in her native Pittsburgh at the age of 3. In 2021, she graduated with a dance management degree from Youngstown State University. She also has a background working with special needs individuals.
The instructors see advancement in the people who attend their classes.
“Memorization is a huge thing. I have seen growth in their skills, their memory, their musicality, figuring out how to follow the music correctly. They have all progressed, but they progress at different levels," Stader said.
The students’ families also see their growth.
“Connor (Smith) is doing so much better since he started," said his grandmother, Marsha Madison of Salem. Her granddaughter, Charlie Madison of Salem, also attends the Drums Alive class.
Laurie Peterson, mother of Austin Gigax of Austintown, sees other positive aspects for her son besides just the classes.
“He loves music. He loves to express himself. He did not have an outlet to do that before. He could not show people what he could do before coming to the classes here," she said.
Lisa Grazziani, mother of Dante, a student from New Castle, said he has made good friends at the classes. Gigax and Elyse DeMarinis of Boardman are his partners in different competition dances as well as his friends.
“We have a place for everyone," Stader said.
Age and ability do not determine the participation in the dance and movement classes at Limitless Company.
To support the nonprofit, its yearly fundraiser Back to the 80s Music Bingo will take place 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 21 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica Social Hall in Youngstown. The event will feature music bingo, a basket raffle, dinner, drnks and a 50/50 raffle. All tickets must be pre-purchased by Nov. 14.
Tickets are $60 for adults and $30 for children 17 and under and Limitless students, which includes only dinner.
To learn more about Limitless Company classes and the fundraiser, check out their website or call 330-770-8845.