Tribute to Women

Danielle Bland
Danielle Bland
Christiansburg, VA

For 30 years, Danielle Bland shared her love of dance with generations of talented students as the owner and artistic director of The Dance Place, a staple in downtown Christiansburg, Va.

In 1983, Danielle Bland, a New Jersey native, founded The Dance Place in a small upstairs room of the Pilot Community Center, a former school house, in Pilot, Va. In 1985 she moved the expanding dance school to Christiansburg, where it remained until she retired in 2013.

Inspiring Generations of Dancers
It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact number of lives inspired by Danielle throughout her three-decade career. Enrollment at the dance school averaged approximately 100 students each year, ranging in age from preschoolers to senior citizens – some of whom bridged generations.

In addition to instilling her love of dance in future generations, Bland also inspired a dedicated group of aerobics clientele who frequented The Dance Place multiple times a week. The dedicated ‘aerobics ladies’ became an extended family, watching Danielle’s children grow up, get married, and have children of their own.

Thank you, ‘Ms. B’ for 30 years of sharing your light and nurturing the lives of so many young dancers in the New River Valley and beyond.

Share:

Share a Memory

add your name

Send message to moderator