Photo by Kylie Weisenborn A new sign will be installed in a few short days marking the official change from former Toni Zeakes Performing Arts Centre to Studio MC Performing Arts Centre.

For many Ohio Valley dancers, Toni Zeakes Performing Arts Centre is more than a place to practice tap, ballet and gymnastics skills — it’s also like a second home. The same goes for 26-year-old Megan Campbell, who recently took over as owner and director of the renamed Studio MC Performing Arts Centre.

“Every single instructor that we have has danced here since they were two years old, we basically grew up here,” said Megan Campbell.

After 61 and 40 years respectively, Toni and Soozie Zeakes announced their retirement over the summer and asked Campbell, who has taught dance at Toni Zeakes for over a decade and danced there herself as a child, to step in.

“I can’t thank them enough for this opportunity. I told them I’m going to put my heart and soul into this studio and hopefully have it as long as they had it,” Campbell said.

Campbell, who has taught tap, jazz, ballet, gymnastics, point, baton, cheering and hip-hop at Toni Zeakes, also spent seven years as a cheering coach at St. Clairsville High School. She is currently entering her second year of coaching at Wheeling Middle School, a team which she led to multiple second place titles for the first time last year.

Campbell tells her students, “You can’t get any luckier when your passion and career come together” and this is exactly what happened to her this year.

“Ever since I was little, it was always ‘I want to teach dance, I want to dance and I want to run my own dance studio’ and it came true… at 26 years old. I’m really excited about it,” Campbell said.

Starting July 1, Campbell began making renovations to the former Toni Zeakes building in preparation for the August 27 open house. Changes include renovated offices, a new downstairs dance store and a completely renovated gym. While the new Studio MC Performing Arts Centre may look a little different, Campbell says nearly everything else will be staying the same.

“To me, I don’t think it could have been ran any better than it has been and Toni and Soozie have been so helpful in the transition,” Campbell said.

Among a few small changes, Campbell plans on updating music and routines a bit. Additionally, she hopes to hold some master classes on weekends to allow the students to learn from other talented instructors as well.

“We’re moving to where the dancing is now,” Campbell said.

According to her, the center, which teaches students 18 months to college age, is open to anyone at any skill level.

“If you want to dance, you can dance no matter what here. Everyone here is equal and we give the same amount of attention to all of our classes,” she said.

Additionally, as the center is still recreational/non-competitive, tryouts are not necessary.

“You don’t have to be a competitive student to come here, you can take any (age-appropriate) classes you want.”

Among Campbell’s goals for Studio MC Performing Arts Centre is to boost kids’ self-esteem and simply provide a valuable service.

“I just want everybody to walk in with a smile and walk out with a smile.”