HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 01-29 Larkin Dance Studio continues 64-year legacy at new Maplewood location MAPLEWOOD REVIEWLark1n,Da'n'ce,Stud1`o continues 64 -year -legacy
,AN 2 B Zouat new aplewood location
Kaitl n Rob
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b gdustYReview staff The -building, -wa as
Her family Molly said.
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fixture in Maplewood, Larkin Aured the. ceilings and floors
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.,Dance Studio now has more room. making way for new, walls and
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to`stretch out: fresh paint:
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The family -ran business, which The. place;. ,is.. about' 22,000
for, decades haspum ed out nd hassquarefeet aa'"
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award-winning dancers who 've.1;900-square-foot storage building,
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made. it to national television, all much roomier than the previ-
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Broadway and films, thin month ous:total of 12,700 square feet:
relocated to the building that for- Michels.' ,said it's also more
marl housed Minnesota Granite
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and Marble at 1400 E. Highway book -post,, announcing the stu-
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36. � . � dib s last. week at the Plaza .30.00
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It's been more than two years 's' ed out
former students reminisced c ab,
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since the death of founder Shir-« •hke
running around. the hallways,..
ley Larkin who handed down crazy, and up pop, candy
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;picking
the business to her two dancing and snacks at nearby shops and
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daughters.. Following 35 years at i ,
nterminghng with other stores
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Plaza
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are now. confinedstomers.
Maplewood Mall the sisters say The dance
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opportunity to move and expand.. 7
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"We. just outgrew [Plaza 30001, as. much.. about .bothering their
Molly Larkin said. "The lease my neighbors..;
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Jody Eastburn teaches a.Babie.s Ballerinas class at Larkin Dance Studio, larger location at
mom signed. ended. rt'ust felt
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7400 E. Hwy 361n Maplewood. More classes are offered at the new location. °
like it was the right time." loud as we want," Michele said.
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_)4A ;timid �b� tvClas�ses ing �ts�J,,,; ,� ,
$ '$ut dere s sal .plenty of . roou�
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renovated bu�.ding in Maplewood to roam.
on an. 8 Moll who started
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workin g for her mother around ing window to allow .people to
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36 ear
y s ago; is still getting used to watch practices,: and there's a
the'drastic change. snack . shack and a retail store'
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Tt doesna feel real bem here, ,.
g that offers outfits and equipment.
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Zt ;has been. a long time coming ing rooms5a large gathe#ng,spa a
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for the Larknns.`
` with: tables: and • chairs ' and even a
"1VImoan, 25 ears a a
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thought about doing. it but of '
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scared," said Molly, a seasoned hiding their enthusiasm..
dancer 'and ' choreographer who's � »
.. Ever bod s so excited
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won local and national awards for Molly
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her tap.numbers. •
Sitting m the ballet room on
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The Larkins d to toe Jan,. - 13, faculty member Iiia
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wary of the expense and worried Gorev, aballet dancer from Mos-,'
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dancers wouldn't follow them to a cow;.,saxd new practice area
,the
new location. Molly said they just «'doesn't "even compare" to the
weren't sure they could "really do previous one..
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"z don't miss it at all;"•he :said.
But Molly noted. the. dance stu-
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Left, the.l.arkin Dance Senior Line students practice their jumps and lifts.
do wasn'talways-located in Plaza
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3t}QO.; Sh1rXey started)>instruction It took more than three. months
out of her -Parents' restaurant in and "lots" of muneYto transform
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1950, and then chassed from a the building's interior,:accoxdzng.
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basement to,a school before land. to Molly.
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ng at thE:re ail e ter 79. .�:nd there et�11work; to be
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It became the lP dox�eace where a p
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5- ea.r-old needed handholding
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. In' the., pr�ng�. Molly, said the..
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on'her first day of class, where renovate k-
family plans tothe pax�k��'
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a dancer sat on a hallway bench in' g lot and freshen up the exte-
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Left, Georgiann sews ,
between classes to.. munch on rior...T
h i� agar
leotards in the sewing
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crackers and cheese, and where an The studio plans to host a.`�'`
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rt` z s y 5.-
room filled with colorful
alumna showed her kids old dance grand opening most likely in
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fabric and threads.
photos hung�.in the hallway. June:
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Below, a memorial
Shirley Larkin died on Aug. 10, Larkin Dance Studio has
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bench In the entrance
2011, and the daughters are set on more than 900 students, ages 3
F'fi�y`al
pays tribute to Shirley
kee in their miom's legacy alive
P g g Y ,. to. adults, .enrolled in tap, ballet,
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Larkin, founder of
while expanding the studio. jazz, lyrical, hip hop and pointe
Larkin Dance Studio.
"It's a dream come true " sa'd classes
; _:. Daughters Molly and
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Michele Larkin, an award -win- ; The entrance td the new build`
el
'r �' Mich a took over own -
',; ership when their fti'oth-
nin choreo ra her who has
g g P ing s parkiig'lot is off Cope Aver
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; -two ago.
worked at the `studio; for' around nue.
Arv' er died years
40 years `.`It's something we've For more information visit the
to do. .. ..
alwa �swanted "
Y studio's recently refreshed websiteYW�..
at www.larkindancestudio:com:
.
Anew home
friend..helped the Lar Kaitl `n Rob can be reached
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kins. find the :buildin which has
g� at 651-,748-7814 and, hroby@a lil
:..
been completely rebuilt since it lienews.com. Follow tier at twitter.
was bought in April. Construction r=ohyNews.
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The Senior tine
class strikes a
pose in the larger
dance space at
their new loca-
tion. Larkin Dance
moved to 1400
E. Hwy 36 in
Maplewood.
photos by Lind
Baumeister/Revie,