New owner steps forward for Gotta Dance in Albion

Photos by Tom Rivers: Amy Sidari, left, congratulates Danielle Schmidt for becoming the new owner of Gotta Dance Performing Arts LLC in Albion. Sidari led the business, known as Gotta Dance by Miss Amy, for 28 years.

ALBION – A new owner will be taking over Gotta Dance in Albion, with the long-time leader staying on as a mentor the first year.

Amy Sidari is retiring as the business owner, choosing to spend more time for her family and pursue other projects. She will stay on to assist Danielle Schmidt in her first year running the dance studio and business based at 28 West Bank St.

“She has the charisma, the communication skills and the compassion,” Sidari said about Schmidt. “She has talent, talent, talent. This is a woman of confidence and a voice that belongs on Broadway.”

Besides assisting Schmidt in the transition to Gotta Dance owner, Sidari also hopes to teach a class to very young children, and be in the Thursday adult class as a participant.

Schmidt, 20, was a dancer at Gotta Dance for five years, and then studied dance for two years at Nazareth University. She is grateful for the opportunity to keep the dance studio going for the Albion community.

Schmidt was hedging whether to commit to buying the business and taking on the demands of that role. At age 20, she thought she might be too young to take on that challenge.

But she received strong feedback from those close to the studio. The April 5 dance recital, the last one for Sidari at Gotta Dance owner, sealed the deal for Schmidt. She saw more than 200 dancers get on stage and several hundred watch the recitals.

Schmidt could feel and see just how important Gotta Dance was to so many people.

“Everybody has been so loving and supportive,” Schmidt said. “I know how much this means to the community.”

Danielle Schmidt, right, has bought the Gotta Dance business at 28 West Bank St. from Amy Sidari.

Schmidt has been in the background assisting Sidari at dance recitals, cabaret shows, and benefits for people in need.

She has run the front of the house for some of the bus tours that attend cabaret shows at Gotta Dance for live music and comedians, sometimes two or three times a week. Those shows will continue with Schmidt as the owner.

Sidari in the past 28 years has gradually transformed the Gotta Dance building into three dance studios, the cabaret venue, and a piano studio. The building was used for a plumbing business before she acquired it.

The building has new wiring, insulation, a roof, three newer furnaces, thermal windows and a host of other upgrades.

Sidari is pleased Gotta Dance will enter into a new chapter, and Sidari can still be a part of it.

“It will be good for me because I love this place,” Sidari said about her continued role.

But she said ultimately she will support Schmidt as she makes Gotta Dance her own. Schmidt said nearly the entire staff has already committed to returning next season.

There will be an open house from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on June 12 at Gotta Dance for the community to meet the new owner. Schmidt will have dance registration in August, but may take sign-ups during the open house as well.

Schmidt said the studio will be a welcoming place where people can let loose, and build “confi-dance.”