PHOTO PROVIDED Alumni from Rachael’s Dance Unlimited practice for a special performance at the studio.

FLEMINGTON — While most teenagers were worrying about homework or who would ask them to their high school dance, Rachael Bischof was already learning to run her own dance studio.

Three and a half decades later, Rachael’s Dance Unlimited in Flemington is a thriving, award-winning studio that has touched generations of dancers.

From toddler classes to competitive teams and industry-led intensives, Bischof and her staff have built a studio rooted in passion, professionalism and community — one move at a time.

Originally from Montoursville, Pa., Rachael has been dancing since she was three. Her parents hoped to just keep their young daughter busy by signing her up for a dance class, but they inadvertently set her on a lifelong path in the arts instead.

Her childhood instructor, Lindsay Phillips, ran a studio in Lock Haven that Bischof attended a few evenings each week. When Phillips began considering retirement, she turned to her young protege with an unexpected offer.

“She was looking to retire, and when I was in high school, she asked me if I would be interested in purchasing her business,” said Bischof, who was 15 at the time. “She would actually pick me up from high school and she would drive me up here, and I learned to navigate the business with her.”

Since taking ownership of the studio — originally located in the Simon Building’s Penny Lane in downtown Lock Haven and now at 527 Sturdevant St. off High Street in Flemington — Bischof has transformed it into the high-quality, welcoming environment for professional dance instruction that exists today.

Rachael’s Dance Unlimited offers a wide variety of programs tailored to students of all ages, abilities and interests. The studio provides recreational classes for those looking to express themselves in a fun, social setting, as well as a competitive dance “for those that are looking for a little bit more of an opportunity within the arts and the dance industry,” Bischof said.

The studio also hosts summer camps, with this year’s offerings including Barbie- and Wicked-themed camps for children ages 3 to 10. For teens, specialized classes in turns and leaps, as well as flexibility and strength, are offered alongside the studio’s annual in-house convention, Quest Intensive. The event brings industry professionals from New York City and beyond to work directly with students, offering education, mentorship and sometimes even career opportunities.

Over the past 15 years, the studio’s competitive dance program has earned countless awards, with many students receiving scholarships and cash prizes for their performances. Some of Rachael’s Dance Unlimited’s students have gone on to perform for U.S. troops, entertain on cruise lines or pursue modeling.

In 2019, Rachael was named Teacher of the Year by one of the nation’s top dance educational organizations, Los Angeles-based MusicWorks Unlimited.

Though that was several years ago, the dance world’s recognition of Bischof’s studio is ongoing. Rachael’s Dance Unlimited was named the 2024-2025 Studio of Excellence by the Association of Dance Competitions and Conventions, a national honor awarded for outstanding technique, strong partnerships and for fostering well-rounded, respectful and encouraging dancers.

“That’s a big deal because we’re actually featured in their magazines and stuff across the United States for that,” Bischof said.

The studio also earned the Class Act Award from the Turn It Up Dance Challenge in 2025 — another nod to the values and artistry Bischof and her team strive to instill.

“We were very pleased to take both of those high honors at competitions this season,” said Bischof. “It brings me to tears… It’s validation that we really, truly are creating amazing adults through this whole experience. And it’s not just us who see that — others outside our studio are recognizing our mission and our accomplishments, too.”

For Bischof, the awards affirm more than just strong choreography or performance quality; they speak to the heart of what her studio represents.

“It brings all of our morals and values to a head,” she said. “Yes, we are doing this right. We are doing what we should be doing for our studio and for these dancers in this world.”

Bischof noted that 35 years of business doesn’t come without hundreds of people helping out along the way.

“Whether they’ve been in my life for two seconds or 35 years, each and every person that I have met or have encountered along the way has been part of the building blocks of this business,” she said. “I know that, and I hold that in my heart. They’re not forgotten – they’re remembered. You don’t get here by yourself.”

Several of Bischof’s fellow dance instructors have been by her side since the very beginning, including Meredith Robinson, Nicole Vuocolo and Danielle Darwin, who she said are more than employees to her.

“Three of (my teachers) have been with me for 35 years, which is a milestone in itself,” said Bischof. “So the 35-year celebration isn’t just about me — it’s about them as well.”

These days, her three daughters also help run the studio after growing up immersed in its daily rhythm, something Bischof says is a point of pride.

Now at the end of their dance season, Rachael’s Dance Unlimited is gearing up for its annual end-of-year recitals this weekend.

This year’s theme, “Legacy in Motion: Celebrating 35 Years,” reflects the studio’s journey and lasting impact. The recitals will take place on Saturday, May 3, at the Scottish Rite in Williamsport. The studio’s recitals typically draw more than 800 patrons per show.

The event will feature both recreational and competitive dancers in two completely unique performances — one at 1 p.m. and another at 5:30 p.m. Each show is designed more like a Broadway experience, with lights, sound and show-stopping choreography.

“The kids will perform their recital routines and showcase their talents,” Bischof said. “We have a big balloon drop, confetti cannons and all kinds of fun stuff for the kids, so it’s really a big celebration at our end-of-the-year season.”

To mark the 35th anniversary, this year’s recital will also feature a special alumni dance.

“We have dancers, clear back from 35 years ago, that are joining us this weekend to dance,” said Bischof.

Set to “The House That Built Me,” the alumni piece will include 23 former dancers and promises to be a poignant highlight of the show.

“The alumni dance itself is going to be really special,” she said. “We’ve had the privilege of being able to see where our former dancers have gone. We even have their babies coming back now, so we’re teaching their babies, which is absolutely exhilarating in every aspect.”

To purchase a ticket, please visit https://32916.danceticketing.com/.