Meet The Owner…..
Constance (Connie) Smith
Constance Smith, known as Miss. Connie, has trained in all styles and genres of dance. Starting at the age of six, she was involved with Miss Bev’s Dance Studio, located in Niagara Falls, NY, where she developed a close relationship with the Fletcher and Feuz Families. In 2017, Bambi graciously decided to pass down the studio to Connie Smith, now called Legacy Dance Studio. Legacy Dance Studio, which has opened its doors to many forms of dance and artistic expressions since 2017.
Connie graduated with her Master’s in Education from Buffalo State College. She maintains her New York State Professional Teaching Certifications in both General and Special Education (Birth-6th grade) with a concentration in American Studies and a Dance Minor Degree.
Before owning Legacy Dance Studio, Connie spent ten years at Gateway-Longview Therapeutic Preschool as a special education teacher. After owning Legacy Dance Studio to balance her love for dance and school teaching, she transitioned to a building base substitute teacher for the Niagara Falls School district. In addition, she became a member of Dance Studio Owners of Color (DSOC) in 2020, a virtual support group to help minorities succeed in the dance business environment. Throughout her career as a dance teacher and owner, she has won numerous dance and choreographic awards. Connie was a celebrity judge in the Our Little Miss Pageant Scholarship Competition World’s Official 2021-2022. Currently she is a member of Weissman Dance Studio Owner of Color Advisory Board. She has choreographed routines for parades, competitions, and local organizations and events.
The Dance Legacy Continues...
History
The legendary Beverly Fletcher opened up her studio in 1944, and is identified as one of the foremost authorities of tap dance and its history. Affectionately known as Miss Bev, she is a member of the Dance Hall of Fame. Miss Bev wrote Tapworks: A Tap Dictionary and Reference Manual, and it’s one of the official reference manuals of the Dance Masters of America. This manual also includes a comprehensive dictionary of tap dance terminology with a special section devoted to teachers and is used in many colleges. After Miss. Bev retired, the dance studio was passed down to Miss Bev's daughter, Bambi Feuz. Bambi has recently passed down the studio to a devoted family friend Constance (Connie) Smith. The studio continues to shape and mold dancers of all ages throughout Western New York and Ontario, Canada. Miss. Bev’s Dance studio, now known as Legacy Dance Studio, opens their doors to many forms of dance. This studio is accepting to all ages, ethnicity, and creativity to express the art form of dance. The studio has been the root of all other studio’s evolving in Western New York and Canada.