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State Street Dance Studio in Geneva marks 15th anniversary

After a challenging first year as the artistic director at State Street Dance Studio, Ashlie Andersen deserved smoother sailing the past seven months.

“If only life was really that way,” Andersen said with a laugh, contemplating what has transpired since she took over the Geneva dance studio from Linda Cunningham just over a year and a half ago.

If not for Andersen, the studio might not be enjoying its 15th anniversary this month. Cunningham was considering closing the studio after her long tenure, but offered ownership to Andersen, who had been an instructor there for eight years.

“I decided to make a big leap of faith and go with it because I didn't want to see it go away, nor did I want to stop seeing the students I had watched grow up,” Andersen said.

But she was two months pregnant at the time, and endured a difficult pregnancy with twins that put her in the hospital for five weeks and then the newborns for nearly four months.

“The first year was difficult and tiresome, but I had a lot of support and got through it,” Andersen said. “This second year has been very, very good.”

Indeed, Andersen has seen her studio accepted in the prestigious Regional Dance America organization, in which her students will experience national festivals for youth ballet companies. Also, one of her students and a recent graduate of the studio, Isabelle Urben of Geneva, landed a spot in the Milwaukee Ballet Company.

“We're very proud of that because she has been dancing at State Street since she was 3 years old,” Andersen said.

In addition to keeping the studio's annual “Nutcracker” holiday event alive by collaborating with other local studios to create an event called the Fox Valley Nutcracker, Andersen also has her eyes set on advancing the studio into other arts.

Part of that effort includes creating a nonprofit company called Fox Valley Ballet. Other plans have an eye on the stage.

“We are trying to build more things in the community and branch out into more theater stuff,” Andersen said. “We are offering singing, dancing and dialogue in one class called Theater Academy Class.

“It's a nice draw for younger kids,” she said.

Other than all of those good things, State Street Studio hasn't changed much. It still has a large studio and two smaller ones, and a core of professional instructors well-versed in classical ballet training.

And it has a clearly proud artistic director who is quite pleased she is calling the shots from the dance floor, instead of a hospital room.

Marvelous athlete:

She was featured in a Daily Herald story last year about her incredible act of kindness in donating part of her liver to help save the life of one of her friend's baby daughters.

And we still marvel at 38-year-old Holly Yauch Schlesser of St. Charles, as she prepares to participate in the Chicago Triathlon on Aug. 28.

She donated that portion of her liver in November of 2014 and spent the better part of six weeks in plenty of discomfort.

Schlesser, a mom and a teacher, has chosen a pretty rugged way to show her body has recovered.

When she competes in the swimming, biking and running of the triathlon next weekend, it will mark her sixth triathlon event.

Love our popcorn:

Another 250-plus flavors of popcorn will soon be available to shoppers near the Geneva Commons.

Though not officially part of the Commons retail sector, Popcorn Haven is setting up shop close enough in a nearby strip at 1090 Commons Drive.

The small shop is located right next to a Mattress Firm store.

The popcorn chain makes it claim to fame with the numerous flavors it offers.

We don't foresee this type of setup harming either of our other favorites in town, the Kernel's Gourmet Popcorn along State Street in Geneva and, of course, the small Batavia Popcorn Depot stand on Water Street, across from the Batavia Depot Museum that has been serving residents since the late 1920s.

The more popcorn, the merrier, right?

An inexact science:

Many people have encountered this, so it's not like a bulletin to warn folks about some potential wrongdoing. But to rent a truck when you are moving is indeed an “inexact science,” a confession one employee at a rental place admitted to when we showed up for our “confirmed” rental and, alas, there was nothing to rent.

Oddly enough, we went through a weekend in which that happened to us twice during a move, but this was the catch: It was bad timing because it was “back to college” weekend and getting a truck was hard to do.

But even one we booked well in advance somehow disappeared in this chaotic weekend. We ended up with a truck that was way too small, and an attached trailer that worked out OK.

But has any move at any time worked out exactly as planned? I didn't think so.

dheun@sbcglobal.net

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