Log in

Business

Meet your Business: Heidi Crumpacker opens AJ Dance Dynamix

Posted 1/22/22

Your Name: Heidi Crumpacker

Business: AJ Dance Dynamix

Town/Neighborhood: Apache Junction

Hours of operation: Varies daily

Personal background highlights: I am back in Arizona after 15 …

You must be a member to read this story.

Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.


Already have an account? Log in to continue.

Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here

Otherwise, follow the link below to join.

To Our Valued Readers –

Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.

For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.

Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.

Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.

Sincerely,
Charlene Bisson, Publisher, Independent Newsmedia

Please log in to continue

Log in
I am anchor
Business

Meet your Business: Heidi Crumpacker opens AJ Dance Dynamix

Posted

Your Name: Heidi Crumpacker

Business: AJ Dance Dynamix

Town/Neighborhood: Apache Junction

Hours of operation: Varies daily

Personal background highlights: I am back in Arizona after 15 years spent in Costa Rica and Florida, and most recently Oregon. I have lived in many places — abroad in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Paris, France; in the U.S., California, Oregon, New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona. I will happily settle In Apache Junction now. As a member of the Arizona Dance Coalition, I am excited about and look forward to making Apache Junction part of the rich dance community our state offers.

Academics: Bachelor of arts degree in journalism with a minor in English literature from San Diego State University.

Professional background highlights: My training in jazz, Ballet, tap and musical theater centered around Los Angeles and New York. I moved abroad in 1976 and opened my first dance school in Munich, Germany. I have taught internationally, worked on stage and in television and film. As a choreographer, I was privileged to help develop several semi-professional dance companies over the years. I produced, directed and choreographed all the dance fashion shows for Puma Sportswear in Germany and France 1980-86, as well as for other companies, with shows in Amsterdam, New York and Chicago. On a different track, I have been active in the equestrian art and sport of Dressage all my life. I have competed, owned and trained many horses and riders, and am still involved now with students in Waddell.

What I do: Teaching dance is my first love. I realized there was no professional studio for dance in Apache Junction and when the opportunity arose to open the school, I jumped in with both feet — toes pointed, of course. All children and adults should be able to experience dance of all kinds, at all levels, in a safe environment and at an affordable price. The only two questions at the end of class are: “Did you learn something today and did you have fun??”

What I like most about doing business here: AJ is a growing city with the small town values of family, friendship, and cooperation and support among the various small businesses.

What am I promoting: Dance is an international language without words. It is communication, positive energy, skills of many different types — there is always something to be found in dance that exists nowhere else. To me, it is not about competition. It is about finding an inner comfort and outward form of expression for each individual in whatever form of dance he/she is drawn to. That leads to sharing it with an audience, i.e. performance. Whether on a huge stage or in the nearby senior center, dance, through you, is a gift to the world.

What I’m excited about and why: I am excited to be able to share my years of experience with AJ. I hope what we offer will have a positive impact and be a valuable asset to the community.

When and why I started my business/employment here: AJ Dance Dynamix opened Jan. 10, 2022.

Where I was before and why I left: We left Florida, where all my activities with horses shut down during the pandemic, in March 2021. We spent last summer in Oregon, where I taught a riding program at the equestrian center of a close friend. We always planned to return to Arizona — September was the time.

My family: My husband’s family has lived in Mesa for more than half a century. We are happy to be home.

People who inspire me (and how): The youth of today gives me great hope for the future. There is boundless energy and talent to be seen in all facets of education, sports, and the arts.

My guiding philosophy: There is a poster hanging in the studio. It reads: “Be a unicorn in a field of horses...”

My advice to today’s youth: Learn something every day and have a good time doing so.

Reach me at: 305-910-5173 and ajdancedynamix@gmail.com.