​So You Think You Can Dance Winner Takes Hillsborough Team to First Place

Hillsborough, NJ, May 10th, 2017— Brian Poniatowski, "So You Think You Can Dance" winner led The Dance Connection Performing Arts Center competition dance team to an award-winning season. The advanced dancers at The Dance Connection consistently earned top scores, platinum and platinum plus, all season at numerous regional dance competitions in New Jersey. This success is largely attributed to the top-notch choreography and artistic vision of Poniatowski, coupled with the drive and determination of some very talented young dancers.

Poniatwoski joined The Dance Connection six months before the first competition, bringing the team insurmountable accomplishments and progress in a short period of time. One of Poniatowski’s elite groups, a trio (Rebecca, 17, Hillsborough High School; Olivia, 17, Pennington High School; & Emma, 17, Montgomery High School) “Daydreams” won Platinum awards all season and finished strong with a Platinum Plus Award at StarQuest Dance Competition.

Television Fame

Fox’s popular reality dance competition show, "So You Think You Can Dance" earned international fame when creator and producer Simon Fuller ("American Idol") and Nigel Lythgoe ("So You Think You Can Dance") brought the show abroad and born "You Can Dance: Just Dance", the televised Polish version.

Poniatowski stole hearts across Poland and beyond when he scored as a Top Finalist and then went on to win the show during Season 7. After winning the show in 2012, Poniatowski went on to dance at the same school as Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Brittany Spears, Rihanna and more— the International Dance Academy in Hollywood. Here Poniatowski took classes with world-renowned instructors and choreographers which further expanded his personal growth and development in dance.

During his time in the U.S., Poniatowski also trained and took workshops with dancers from around the globe at the prestigious Debbie Reynolds, EDGE, in L.A. and Alvin Ailey and Broadway Dance Center, New York. While Poniatowski danced, choreographed and taught his way across Europe & Asia, no international city captured his heart like that of our very own, New York City.

Dreams

“When you have a dream, everything is possible” Poniatowski says. “Don’t be afraid to be ambitious and go after your dreams with hard work and determination”. And that’s just what he did when he moved to NYC in 2016. It’s also the message he shares with his students at The Dance Connection Performing Arts Center where he currently instructs the advanced dance competition team. “When you do what you love, it never feels like work”, says Poniatowski. “The girls and I work well together…we inspire each other and push each other.”

According to The Dance Connection owner and director David Kieffer, “we’re always looking for creative relationships with new, exciting people. Successful teachers like Brian Poniatowski keep our dancers inspired and bring new life and energy into the studio.”

Alexandra Jaworski, 12, says, “Mr. Brian is kind to everyone and brings awesome energy to every class. He manages to keep us under control while having fun! Mr. Brian also helps us learn new moves, that we never thought we could have learned on our own. He encourages us and inspires us.”

Hillsborough High School Senior, Rebecca Della Croce agrees with these sentiments. “Mr. Brian is very positive and encouraging. There is never a time I leave his class without remembering why I love to dance.”

Della Croce goes on to explain, “Mr. Brian is a great dance instructor. He teaches us so much through all his different experiences. His style is unique and unlike other teachers, so we really have an opportunity to learn different and new ways of dancing and creating art with our dance.”

Poniatowski considers himself a high-energy, optimistic instructor and loves the rapport he establishes with kids. He loves to teach and dance and is grateful for this opportunity to pursue both of his dreams.

Poniatowski has also danced in various theater performances around the world and aspires to one day dance on Broadway.

About Brian Poniatowski

Born in Poland, Brian started dancing at the age of 13. He was accepted into the prestigious Caro Dance School and specialized in Jazz and modern dance technique.

Between 2002 and 2008, Brian won many awards in the International Dance Organization (IDO) European Championships, and later went on to win awards at the IDO World Championships 3 years consecutively. Brian then embarked on a Jazz Teacher Training Course in Warsaw and then became a soloist with Caro Dance Theater Company.

In 2011, Brian traveled extensively around Europe, running workshops, coaching and training young students in Jazz and Contemporary Dance and preparing students for National Jazz Dance Championships.

In 2012, Brian won the 7th season of Polish edition "So You Think You Can Dance”.

Brian continues to travel the world as a professional dancer, teacher and choreographer, running workshops in Jazz, Lyrical Jazz, Broadway Jazz, Contemporary and Improvisation. He will continue his teaching at The Dance Connection for the 2017-2018 season.

Link to You Can Dance performance.

About The Dance Connection

The Dance Connection Performing Arts Center was started in 2007 by David Kieffer. The Dance Connection is comprised of a community of teachers, parents and students who appreciate all the possibilities that open for a child when they study dance. As an educational institution, The Dance Connection places a priority on the success and happiness of all children enrolled. Faculty members are consummate professionals with years of experience teaching children. The dance curriculum is imaginative, fun and comprehensive and take place in a facility that is welcoming and comfortable. For a child who takes a dance class, a world of opportunities emerge. Every child should experience the physical, social and educational benefits of dance. It’s an incredible adventure to watch them grow—and they deserve the best.

Learn more about The Dance Connection by visiting our website or Facebook page.