Thank you for visiting Broadway Dance Studio's official website. We hope you will find it informative and inspiring.

I have been a professional performer all my life earning my Equity Card at the age of 15 with the Kenley Players in Ohio. Working with John Kenley and choreographer Mario Melodia, who was also my teacher, at such a young age taught me the art of putting on a full scale Broadway show in just one week! The first star I worked with was Ann Miller. There were many to follow in the summers to come. By the time I went to New York at the age of 22, I was fully prepared for what was required of me. (I was, however, a little unrealistic when I said “I'll give it 2 months. If I don't get a show in 2 months I'm leaving!” )

I got the supporting role of Anytime Annie in the Blockbuster hit 42nd Street within 2 months of my move there.

Yes, timing is everything. But being prepared is what got me that role.

Broadway Dance Studio's goal is to educate, train and PREPARE our students for whatever they decide to do in their lives whether it be a Broadway performer, a doctor, a lawyer or a mom. Every aspect of our lives requires, poise, confidence, courage, discipline and respect; respect for others, but most importantly respect for oneself.

We are not about fluff, or frills.

Our goal is to create dancers who aspire to be dancers, singers whose dream is to sing, actors who love to act and to encourage everyone who walks through our door to believe in their dreams. We did. And our dreams were realized because of our teachers and our parents and the great people we were privileged to work with.

We are not a recreational school in the sense that we do not accept treating the dance studio as a social playground. However, we do encourage students of all ages who have little or no desire or intentions of pursuing the arts professionally but just want to learn to dance, sing or act for fun (because it is fun) to join us on our journey.

Our school is for everyone – including the moms - Adult Jazz, Tap, and Pilates! You need your time to yourself too!

Because we are a NO–Recital school By No Means, means we are a No Performance School!

BDS presents at least one huge production a year. This past year we presented our first annual Christmas Spectacular which truly was A SPECTACULAR SOLD OUT PRODUCTION! (See photos on home page). The show was not mandatory and rehearsals were held separate from dance classes so as not to interfere with necessary dance training.

At the end of the spring semester our students and parents opted to take a trip to New York and see their teacher Lenora on Broadway in" Gypsy" instead of doing a show. Not only did the students have the joy of seeing Lenora in the show but they also had the rare opportunity to go onto the stage afterwards and meet members of the cast. (View Photos)

While in NY the students participated in a work shop at the Radio City Music Hall with members of the "ROCKETTES!" Our students were recognized as being the most talented and professional dancers in attendance by the faculty of the "Rockette Experience!" I was very proud! (View Photos)

This summer BDS has formed a performance group called "Broadway Dance Company" and will begin performing throughout the year at special events in the Tri-State area.

Lastly – one of the things that inspired me to finally open my own school (and I know a lot of studio owners will not like me for this but it is the honest truth) is simply this...

THE QUALITY HAS GONE DOWN!

THE PRICE HAS GONE UP!

I had one customer come in to register their 9 year old daughter for 3 classes 2 days a week. They were coming from a school on the other side of town and were ecstatic at the price they were to pay, informing me they paid $1,000.00 altogether for her recital alone at her other school.

I hear it all too often and I am appalled that people are being charged such exorbitant fees for costumes, photos, tickets etc. to make what should be a joyous experience nothing but a money machine for most studios – not all mind you, but most – and don't forget the money that went towards classes to teach your child how to dance. Come January – class time is spent on choreographing routines for their recital. There is no time to learn technique or time steps, pirouettes or grand-jetes. No time to learn anything but THE ROUTINE!

Our classes will remain classes, our rehearsals will be separate from the classes.

We look forward to passing on the gifts we have been given by the great people we have worked with through the years (Bob Fosse, Paul Draper, Gene Kelly, Gwen Verdon, Gower Champion and many others) to our students.

And one day we will all go to New York, buy a ticket to a Broadway Show and watch one of Broadway Dance Studio's students grace the Broadway Stage. That is OUR dream.

Thank you for visiting Karen Prunzik's Broadway Dance Studio's Website and we look forward to dancing with you!

Karen and Faculty

KAREN AND HER STUDENTS GET A BACKSTAGE TOUR
WITH CHORUS LINE STAR PAUL MCGILL.

Paul is a Pittsburgh performer who studied with me years ago and for a very brief time. He didn't forget that time. As he took the group through the theater he introduced me as "this is my dance teacher, Karen Prunzik." He was gracious to me and to my students and I was very proud of him. As we said our goodbyes I said to him, "Paul, I appreciate you introducing me as your dance teacher but I didn't teach you how to dance. I wasn't with you long enough." He said, "Everyone I studied with all my life had everything to do with why I am here now. And you had a lot to do with that." My answer to that....WE ARE ALL EXTREMELY PROUD OF YOU PAUL. YOU WERE AWESOME. BUT MORESO OF HOW YOU TREATED YOUR GUESTS BACKSTAGE. CONGRATULATIONS. YOU ARE A STAR IN OUR EYES! AND BOY YOU CAN DANCE!

AND THE WINNER IS... KAREN, NATALIE, ALYSON AND ACCESS BROADWAY OWNER, RON DEVITO HELLO EVERYONE! BROADWAY DANCE STUDIO IS VERY PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT ALYSON YOUNG AND NATALIE ROZMAN WERE BOTH WINNERS IN THE ACCESS BROADWAY COMPETITION THIS PAST WEEKEND AT THE HYATT HOTEL. ALTHOUGH BROADWAY DANCE STUDIO IS A NO COMPETITION SCHOOL, BOTH GIRLS ENTERED ACCESS BROADWAY ON THEIR OWN WITH BROADWAY DANCE STUDIO AS THEIR SPONSOR. BOTH DID A TAP NUMBER CHOREOGRAPHED BY KAREN PRUNZIK. 11 YEAR OLD NATALIE WON A GOLD MEDAL AND ALYSON, A SENIOR THIS YEAR, WALKED AWAY WITH A PLATINUM MEDAL AND A TROPHY FOR THE HIGHEST SCORE TITLE IN HER DIVISION. WAY TO GO GIRLS!! YOU DESERVE IT!!!!. "Broadway Babies" (Click here for more Photos!)