Meet Samantha Cresta, Local Dance Studio Owner

One of Wakefield's newest businesses is Synergy Dance Studio, which opened earlier this month in the 9 Princess Street location that was long occupied by Wally's Cleaners.

Samantha Cresta, 24, a lifelong resident of Wakefield, had long dreamed of establishing an affordable studio for local residents.

She teaches all classes, including tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, contemporary, hip-hop, baby gymnastics, tiny tumblers, and mommy and me. Most run in six-week semesters.

Her students range from less than two years old to adults, advertising through social media and flyers throughout local businesses in Wakefield, Burlington, Stoneham, and Melrose.

Commenting on why Cresta dances, "It's the perfect way to express myself and deal with things that are going on. Tap is my favorite to perform, because the dancers can hear if they're doing it differently instead of me trying to tell them."

Her slogan is "For the love of dance."

"It just came to me," Cresta said. "Why do I dance? Because I love it, and want them to love it."

She hired her family to do the renovations from the dry cleaners to make it cheaper and more fun. Her father, Vincenzo, did the electrical work and lights; her brother, Frank, did the wooden floor, rug and mirror, and her mother, Tina, and boyfriend, Kevin McWatters, painted the walls.

"It needed a lot of construction -- it was a concrete room, and needed a dance floor and mirror," Cresta explained. "There wasn't a ceiling, heating system, or bathroom."

Sophie, 10, and Charlotte, 8, Rossicone, of Wakefield, are Irish Step dancers at Carney Academy but will try Hip-Hop [pictured]. Next year, they may take Jazz.

"It looks cool when you do it, and it stretches you in a way. It makes me feel like a princess." she stated.

Their mother, Heidi, commented on why she sends her children there.

"Samantha, Samantha, Samantha," Rossicone continued. "She grew up in Wakefield, and she's great with the kids. Most kids are going to want to come here."

Rossicone added Cresta was on the dance team at Wakefield High School, Bridgewater State College, and UMASS Lowell, and she'd like her to show them 'the way in the dance world.'

They made the switch since Irish Step is disciplined, and there isn't much of a chance to jump around. Hip-Hop is also different in that dancers wear comfortable clothes, not a leotard and tights.

Deanna McNlay, 14, of Melrose, is on the competition team at Synergy and dances Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Jazz, and Hip-Hop biweekly [pictured].

"I want to compete," McNlay explains, "I watch Abbey Lee, a famous dancer on Dance Moms on Lifetime, and I want to have all those trophies. My mom was a dancer at Funk Phenomenal in Everett, and it's in my blood as a way to stay fit."

As in a team sport, she gets core strength, skill and technique from dancing. Her favorite style is Contemporary, which is a cross between Jazz and Ballet with structured choreography. Her mother added prices are reasonable, and McNlay likes how she used to dance with some dancers there a long time ago. She buys her leotards and tights from On Your Toes on Lowell Street in Peabody.

Red, black and silver are the company's colors since Cresta believes they work well together [pictured]. To enroll, visit the studio, or send Cresta the dancers' name, date of birth, and what class they want to be in (including date and time) through the Web site's contact page.

According to the company Web site, "The mission of Synergy Dance Studio is to educate, train and empower all levels of dancers with the skills, technique and passion needed to become successful dancers in a competitive and recreational setting."

For more information, visit  http://www.sdswakefield.com,.

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