Denise's Dance Studio cleans up at competition

At Denise’s Dance Studio in Johnston, families tend to stick around. Dancers become instructors, parents become directors and the owner, Denise DiPippo, becomes her teams’ biggest cheerleader.

That commitment shone through recently, as the studio took home 16 medals at the Elite Dance Challenge in Woonsocket.

“It’s nothing like the program ‘Dance Moms,’” DiPippo says. “We’re very family-oriented here.”

DiPippo has been teaching dance for 33 years, and her Greenville Avenue studio works with nearly 200 students as young as 2 ½ old, up through 20-year-olds. Classes cover ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical and hip-hop, and for 17 of the most dedicated students, practices are crucial to prepare for competitions like the Elite Dance Challenge.

Leading up to competitions, teams practice nearly seven days a week. When they aren’t at the studio, dance is still on their minds.

“When they’re not here, they’re usually together somewhere else,” said Angel Brown, a Denise parent who doubles as a director.

“We have all been together so long – that molds us in the same way and makes us stronger as a team,” added dancer Angelique Ruzzo.

DiPippo believes competitions can both elevate her dancers’ confidence and also show them the talent that is out there.

“When they compete, they want it even more. They worked so hard in the studio, and when they were on the stage they worked just as hard. I was really proud of them,” she said. “They deserved what they got.”

She trusts her teams will bring the same intensity to nationals in July in Sturbridge, Mass.

“I’ll put in extra practices for them. We’ll make it happen,” she said.

Shaina Walton keeps a rigid practice schedule for herself to begin with. Now a dance major at Dean College in Franklin, Mass., she drives back to Rhode Island for extra studio time. She choreographs her solos by herself, taking home the Adult Competitive Winner award at the Elite Dance Challenge.

“Once I went on stage, I just lived it,” she said. “It’s a lot of hard work, but I love it. Dance is my passion.”

Her passion and her support system. When Walton is having a tough day, she takes out her emotions on the dance floor. Growing up, dance was her outlet when dealing with her father’s deployments overseas.

“Dance has always been there for me,” she said.

Walton also won a $500 Hollywood Summer Tour Scholarship to help fund a trip to Los Angeles. This summer, she will fly to California to perform in a music video and to appear before agents from industry giants like MSA Agency. Her dream is to get signed to an agency and dance professionally, and she hopes Los Angeles could be the start of that journey.

“I cannot wait,” she said.

Robin Ruzzo’s 16-year-old daughter competes with Denise’s Dance Studio, and Ruzzo says the experience has taught her child discipline and hard work.

“It gave her something to focus on; it kept her out of trouble,” she said.

Ruzzo isn’t just watching from the sidelines, though. Like Brown, she pitches in at the studio, serving as a director for the competition teams.

“This is another family here,” she said.

Yamilka Manfredo, wife of boxing great Peter Manfredo Jr., drives their 10-year-old daughter to the studio all the way from Connecticut. She doesn’t mind, saying that their daughter works hard and loves to dance.

“It’s a great thing to watch your child succeed,” she said, adding that dad is just as proud. “He lights up to see her light up.”

Some current and former Denise’s dancers have stayed on in coaching capacities, like Shauna O’Neil, who has been DiPippo’s assistant for four years. President of her class at North Providence High School, O’Neil has been with the studio for eight years and said she loves to share her love of dance with younger students.

“I love the kids; these are like my kids,” she said. “I’m trying to make sure the kids have fun but also that they’re learning something.”

Like Walton, Angelique Ruzzo is now in college, but she finds time to get back to the studio between her nursing classes at Rhode Island College.

“I love it,” she said. “It’s my passion, where I feel like I can relieve stress.”

Elite Dance Challenge winners from Denise’s Dance Studio are: Heather Slade, senior recreational winner; Shaina Walton, adult competitive winner and senior solo; Gianna Palazzo, senior solo; Shawna O’Neil, senior solo; Emily Brown and Paulie Manfredo, mini recreational winner; Junior Trio, young competitive winner (second place); Ysabella Brown and Tayla Lombardi, young competitive winner (third place); Alexis Baffoni and Bianca DiPippo, young competitive winner (fourth place); Shaina Walton and Olivia Audino, teen competitive winner; PeeWee Small Group, mini recreational winner; Junior Small Group, young competitive winner; Senior Small Group, senior competitive winner and PeeWee Small Group, junior outstanding entertainment. The Junior Small Group, PeeWee Small Group, PeeWee Duet (Emily Brown and Paulie Manfredo) and Senior Small Group were invited to join the Elite Team.