06/12/2026
Last weekend, I had the incredible honor of presenting our 2026 Dancer of the Year award to Nia.
As her studio owner, I can confidently say this honor was earned through years of hard work, dedication, leadership, and heart. Nia dances in or assists with every class we offer, knows the choreography to every routine in the show, and invests so much of herself into helping our younger dancers grow. She has earned the respect of her teachers, her peers, and every student who has had the privilege of learning from her.
For years, she watched her fellow dancers and friends be recognized and receive awards, and she celebrated every one of them with genuine happiness. When she was little, I sat her down and explained that she likely wouldn't receive awards because I never wanted there to be even the appearance of favoritism. It wasn't always fair, but she accepted it with a maturity far beyond her years.
But as her mom, this moment meant something even more. For years, I worried that she didn't get the same experience as so many of our dancers. While other dance moms got to sit and focus on their child, I was always dividing my attention among 100+ dancers, families, teachers, costumes, schedules, and everything else that comes with running a studio. Nia spent her entire childhood sharing me with everyone else who needed me.
She never complained.
She understood when I had to help another dancer. She waited patiently when someone else needed my attention. She gave me grace when I couldn't always be "just Mom" at the studio. There were times I wondered if she felt overlooked or if she sacrificed more than anyone realized simply because she was my daughter.
Over the years, I realized that not only did she handle those challenges with maturity and grace, but she turned them into something beautiful. She became the kind of leader who makes everyone around her better.
For a long time, I never imagined I would give this award to my own daughter—not because she wasn't deserving, but because I never wanted there to be any question about how it was earned.
Today, there is no question.
Nia, everything you have achieved has been earned through your character, your work ethic, and your love for dance and for others. Presenting you with this honor was one of the proudest moments of my life.
Congratulations, 2026 Dancer of the Year. ❤️
📸Robby B Media