Today we’d like to introduce you to Angela Peters.
Angela , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
The owner and instructor at Dancin’ On Main, Angela Peters, is a Milford High School graduate with over 17 years of dance training. She is happy to be in historic Milford near where her childhood dance studio was located. She took classes beginning as a preschooler at House’s Dance House, then continued her dance training by taking classes at Miami University and the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. She has over 20 years dance instruction experience with all ages at local studios and afterschool programs. She has multiple years’ experience choreographing musicals for local organizations like Milford Youth Theater, Miami Valley Christian Academy’s Theater program, and Milford High School’s A Cappella choirs. After 18 years in the corporate world working in Healthcare in Human Resources, she decided to pursue her number one love full time, teaching dance, and her dream of opening her own studio in 2019. She wanted to open a studio that offered recreational classes only, no competitions. She wanted another option for local families who were unable to deal with the huge time constraint and financial burden of competitive dancing. She also wanted an inviting, comfortable place for adults to take classes for those who took as a child and want to get back into it or those who have always wanted to try it. She offers Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Tap, Beginning Tumbling and Yoga classes. Dancin’ On Main has a smaller Holiday show during Hometown for the Holidays in Historic Milford and a large end of dance year recital in May. They also do performances at local festivals and events put on by the Historic Milford Association and the Milford/Miami Township Chamber of Commerce. Dancin’ On Main also offers not only children dance parties, but adult ones too, where they pick a song and Angela teaches them a short, fun dance. She has done several bachelorette parties, girls’ nights out, birthday and retirement parties. Angela has two daughters who also love to dance, and owning the studio was a way to get to spend even more time with them. Her oldest, Madi is now in college and not taking classes anymore, but she still helps at the shows. Her youngest, Emma helps with choreography for the Hip Hop classes and is heavily involved at the studio. Her husband, Matt, has been extremely supportive and is the reason she was able to open the studio.
With well over 100 students on the 2024 Spring Recital everything was going great until Angela received some life changing news in September of 2024. At 46 years old she was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer after some routine blood tests came back with elevated liver enzymes, which led to more testing. Luckily it was found early, but an aggressive treatment plan had to begin right away. Determined to keep the studio going, Angela put together an amazing team to teach the classes during her chemo treatments. Alexandra Lepard took on the bulk of classes while Kennedy McLaren and Alison Fender taught the pre-school classes. Angela was able to teach the teen and adult classes when she could, but she had to avoid the younger kids due to risk of illness during the winter months. She was able to choreograph all the recital dances at home and send notes and videos to the teachers to teach in class. After chemo she had a short break then had 5 1/2 weeks of daily radiation and oral chemo pills. She was able to teach more classes during that time. She believes staying active and seeing her students helped her physically and mentally get through everything. She was able to not only attend the recital on May 24th, but she did her normal directing of the whole show and was even able to dance a little in the closing number when all students and teachers dance together! Unfortunately, due to the timing of her surgery which is July 17 at the Cleveland Clinic and the length of recovery needed as well as the schedules of the other teachers, Dancin’ On Main could not have regular summer classes this year (only yoga class taught by the amazing Jack Frank). Her friends started a Go Fund Me and the community has responded greatly. Angela is overwhelmed with the love and support she has received not only from her friends and family, but all the families at the studio and the Milford community! After the surgery she hopes to be Cancer free and can’t wait to start the new dance year in September!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not always, three days after our one-year anniversary, the Covid shutdown occurred. I had around 70 students at that time. When we were able to re-open only 30 returned despite my exhaustive safety measures, which I understand. We had already ordered costumes for our recital, so we ended up having it outside at a park in the August heat. Luckily enrollment continued to rise after that, but it was like starting all over again.
I also lost some students when I could no longer teach when my treatments began, but some have promised to return when I do.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Dancin’ On Main opened in March of 2019. Angela wanted to open a studio that offered recreational classes only, no competitions. She wanted another option for local families who were unable to deal with the huge time constraint and financial burden of competitive dancing. She also wanted an inviting, comfortable place for adults to take classes for those who took as a child and want to get back into it or those who have always wanted to try it. She offers Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Tap, Beginning Tumbling and Yoga classes. Dancin’ On Main has a smaller Holiday show during Hometown for the Holidays in Historic Milford and a large end of dance year recital in May. They also do performances at local festivals and events put on by the Historic Milford Association and the Milford/Miami Township Chamber of Commerce. Dancin’ On Main also offers not only children dance parties, but adult ones too, where they pick a song and Angela teaches them a short, fun dance. She has done several bachelorette parties, girls’ nights out, birthday and retirement parties.
Our tag line is Be Active. Feel Confident. and Have Fun! I believe those three things are most important and Dancin’ On Main encompasses them all!
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
My Family and my students. I want them all to be healthy, happy individuals who have the confidence to achieve anything they want to! I also want them to not be afraid to be who they are. Instead of everyone having the same body types, same hair and same makeup, etc. I want their individuality to show in class and on stage (and in life)! I want this for all because I was taught this by my parents and my dance teachers. It helped me in school, in business and in all my relationships.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cincydancinonmain.com
- Instagram: @cincydancinonmain
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/Dancinonmain
