Humphreys has all the right moves
Danielle Humphreys has been dancing since she was a small child and her mother saved all her outfits. Here, Danielle displays her first dance outfit and her current outfit. She even has her own dance studio in her home in Washington.
Danielle Humphreys has been a dancer since she was 3. She even has her own dance studio in her home in Washington.
Taking a break before working on her ballet moves, Danielle Humphreys sits by the window in her dance studio in her home in Washington.
Everyone has a story. Tales We Tell is an occasional series about people in Washington and Greene counties and the events in their lives they are willing to share.
When Danielle Humphreys’ older brother, Derek, moved out of the house, her parents didn’t have to think long and hard about what to do with his room.
They converted it into a dance studio for Danielle.
The Trinity High School junior has been dancing at Moschetta’s Performing Arts Center since she was 3 years old, and she lobbied for her parents, Dave and Debbie, to turn the room into dance space.
“I love to dance,” said Danielle, “I’ve gained a lot of confidence from it. I get nervous, but I like knowing that people are enjoying it and that I’m making people happy.”
The small dance studio is equipped with a ballet bar, a row of mirrors and hardwood flooring. Danielle’s mother filled the room with pictures of Danielle that span her dance career: adorable in a blue velvet costume at 3, sophisticated in black top hat and heels at 16.
“I love coming up here to practice,” said Danielle, 17, a member of National Honor Society and a high honors student.
She juggles her dance with schoolwork, a part-time job at Tanger Outlets and her friends.
She dances at Moschetta’s three to four times a week and assists teaching jazz to children one day a week. “Her love of dance shows through her dedication and hard work,” said Jacqueline Moschetta. “She’s the first to help someone when they’re struggling in class. She’s always a joy to be around. She’s a role model for every dance student in our place.”
Danielle studies tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, contemporary and hip hop. Her favorite is ballet, which she calls the basis of all dance.
Her dance troupe performs at the Washington and Waynesburg Christmas parades every year, and then participates in competitions from January through March.
This fall, Danielle participated in a flash mob that surprised WTAE newsman Andrew Stockey at a cancer fundraiser held at Consol Energy Park in Washington.
Danielle plans to attend college at the University of Pittsburgh or Washington & Jefferson College (she calls herself a homebody) and wants to become a special education teacher.
Wherever she goes to college, she said, the school has to have a dance team.
Danielle said she’s grateful to her parents, who support her dancing and write the checks every month so she can attend dance classes.
“It’s stressful being a dance mom, but I’ve always wanted her to dance,” said Debbie, who has kept all of Danielle’s dance costumes over the years and stores them in a closet. “I love to watch her dance.”
Danielle has a new role she’s enjoying, too. Her brother and his wife, Courtney, had a baby, Izabel, Dec. 12 and Danielle is looking forward to being an aunt.
“I can’t wait to spend lots of time with her,” said Danielle.
And, undoubtedly, teach Izabel some dance moves.