Our Story
Back in 1963, in the basement of a small home in Cheektowaga, began a journey to fulfill a childhood dream. Karyn Kelly was 16 years old when she decided to put her many years of dance training to use. She began by giving dance lessons in her basement, putting up a mirror, portable barre and laying linoleum floor. Back then she started with a handful of students, most who walked from surrounding neighborhoods. Her Mom, Fran collected the money, Dad Frank, socialized with parents offering a cup of coffee and a piece of fresh rye bread. Sister Diane was the marketing dynamo of the group, who brought in new students by talking to every Mom with a three-year-old daughter.
Karyn left her basement and moved to a storefront on Union Road. As it grew it became home to two National winning dance teams. Her students raised money to travel to Boston, Washington D.C. and New York City for National competitions and conventions. “Some of my best childhood memories were spent rehearsing, performing and competing with girls who have become lifelong friends” says Cathy Tubolino (Dir. of Dance Expressions, PA) KKDC had a profound effect on its students many whom have become teachers at the school, enrolled their own children or opened up schools of their own.
Dawn Wurtz (Mom, Teacher, NY) started dancing at the KKDC 40 years ago. She still has vivid memories of her classes there. Dawn signed her daughter Megan up ten years ago when she was just five. She watched the whole recital and when it was over asked…”can I do this again next year?”
Another one of her original students, Reene Dux (Head of Medical Directors Services, TX) remembers KKDC as a place where discipline, hard work, and confidence was taught. She loved the dance studio and thought of Karyn as her third parent.
The Union road studio became the Dick Road Studio and KKDC dancers continued to win National and local dance competitions. Karyn was awarded Teacher of the Year and the Gene Kelly Award, presented by Dance Educators of America. She opened up an Annex in the Maryvale Continuing Education Center but her studio family continued to grow and the decision was made to move to the current location on Transit Road in Clarence.
After teaching for 38 years, Karyn retired and put her school in the very capable hands of her niece, Sue Bologna. Under Bologna’s tutelage, her students have traveled to Disney World three times to perform in the Magic Kingdom. Her dancers have also traveled to National competitions every other year since she’s taken over. Her students have continued to receive high scoring awards as well numerous choreography awards. You can find KKDC dancers performing on cruise ships, with world-renowned dance companies and receiving college scholarships for dance. If you ask any of her students they will tell you that this is their second home. From the minute you walk through the doors you feel that strong sense of family. Six-year-old Melody Edwards will tell you that KKDC is “fun!” and “Miss Sue is the best teacher in the world because she’s nice, kind, helpful and so funny” Rachael Berube, (Company member of Gus Giordano Dance (Chicago) puts it best…”The journey through the studios of KKDC takes you from a child with a dream, inspires your aspirations and brings you to a grown-up world with a feeling of love, respect, and a second family. It is a world of beautiful dance that captivates and changes you forever, where your enthusiasm soars and you are always at “home”.
Karyn Kelly had a dream and in the spirit of Walt Disney ….“Dreams really do come true”