At 28, owner and instructor Dana Ribelin never imagined that an idea she had toyed around with at an early middle school age would become her career. The renovated wood-working shop and adjacent Habitat for Humanity building were quickly transformed into her 9,000 square foot dance dream. With her mother, Deanie, as her business partner and approximately 125 students, To the Pointe Dance Company is showing Salisbury dancing at its finest.

Dana began taking lessons at the age of 4 and continued her studies through high school and into college, beginning as a dance performance major at Oklahoma City University. After two years studying there and performing with American Spirit Dance Company she returned home and finished her degree at UNC Charlotte in 2006. While obtaining her degree, she established the business at its location on Depot Street.

To the Pointe’s name reflects Ribelin’s straightforward, honest character while incorporating a piece of dance jargon. The goal of the company is to provide students with a place to cultivate and use their creativity. Dana bases her studio and life on the inspirational words of one of her favorite quotes: “There will never be another now, so I’ll make the most of today. And there will never be another me, so I’ll make the most of myself.”

Ribelin has based her class schedule on the fundamental dance genres: ballet, tap, and jazz; also including hip-hop, modern, lyrical, tumbling, pilates and her personal favorite, liturgical. This form of worship combines half a class of Bible study and another half using contemporary Christian music. The music is the basis for movements which reflect the songs’ lyrics and message. Ribelin says that, “If it has a deeper meaning, it always resonates well with me.”

However, Dana’s talents not only encompass the art of dance, but include photography and acting – all while juggling being a full-time mom to her 2-year-old daughter, Kylie. Her up and coming photography project, Dana Ribelin Photography, will run the gamut of studio shoots from senior pictures and bridal shots to family portraits. The idea was sparked when annual dance pictures at the end of each season became too expensive in today’s struggling economy. Determined to find a more cost-efficient way to provide families with priceless keepsakes, Dana began tossing the idea around and decided it paired well with her flourishing dance business.

Also branching out to include acting, Dana appeared in the 2008 romantic comedy “Leatherheads” featuring George Clooney and Renee Zellweger. She learned about the casting after one of the film’s settings was staged at the train depot, located directly across the street from her studio. After sending in a headshot, being cast as an extra and dying her hair brown for the role, Ribelin took her shot at the big screen. As a longtime fan of Zellweger’s previous films, Dana recalls being shocked that she was not a star-struck person. “We all put our pants on the same way… some have to suck in more than others,” she commented. Acting is not something Dana is pursuing with her plate already overloaded, but it was once-in-a-lifetime and she wouldn’t oppose another opportunity.

Instead of being a jack-of all-trades, you could say she is a maiden of many arts. This hometown triple threat will continue to bring new projects to the table. To the Pointe’s studio expanded this past year to almost double its size, and Ribelin hopes the company will keep broadening and reaching throughout the community. However, she doesn’t measure her success purely by the numbers but by kids’ desire to learn at the studio. “You set goals and work toward them, and see where you go,” Ribelin says.

Copy by Kaitlin Sapp, Miller Davis intern from East Rowan High School