SCHENECTADY — Alissa Quinn, a 61-year-old business leader in the Capital Region, seasoned globetrotter, and internationally recognized dancer, fondly recalls her childhood memories of her parents dancing together in their living room.
“My parents loved to host parties for every family occasion, and the highlight of the evening was always when they would roll up the carpets and dance. They would often have a solo performance, and we would all cheer them on,” Quinn reminisced. “Their love for dancing with each other was palpable. I have videos of them dancing in our living room on Wendell Avenue in Schenectady. Those are some of my earliest and most cherished memories.”
As a young girl, Quinn would accompany her parents to folk dancing sessions at the YWCA of Northeastern New York every Friday night. These experiences ignited a lifelong passion for dance in her. However, it wasn’t until she saw her 75-year-old mother perform a quickstep in a dazzling purple ball gown that she decided to pursue formal dance training.
At the age of 40, Quinn decided to follow in her parents’ footsteps. She learned the basics from her mother’s dance instructor before enrolling at Fred Astaire Dance Studios in Latham, where she has been dancing for the past 19 years. She has also been associated with Dance Fire Studio of Niskayuna for the last eight years.
Quinn believes that dance allows her to feel a deep connection with her parents, who have both passed away. It has also expanded her social and professional networks, enhancing her career as a senior vice president of wealth management at a local financial-planning firm.
“Dance is my lifeline. It provides me with high-quality exercise, physical stamina, mental focus, and emotional and social connection,” Quinn said. “It has enriched my personal and professional life in countless ways. It’s a wonderful way to connect with friends and family.”
Quinn’s primary aim as a dancer is to honor her parents’ legacy, so she rarely competes. However, when Dance Fire Studios invited her to participate in the Romanian Grand Gala, an international dance competition in Bucharest, Romania, she couldn’t resist the opportunity — especially since her parents had also instilled in her a love for European travel.
Quinn grew up in a vibrant and culturally diverse household. Her father, Frank Calabria, was a psychology professor at Union College and a ballroom dance instructor. Her mother, Angela Calabria, was born in Ecuador and was a dedicated artist and expert in Argentine tango. Both of Quinn’s parents worked hard to expose her and her three siblings to various cultures of the world through food, music, and education. Quinn’s first trip to Europe was at the age of 8 to visit relatives in Madrid and Valencia, Spain. Since then, she has been enamored with the continent.
Quinn had never visited Romania before Florin Vlad, her Dance Fire Studios instructor, suggested a trip to his home country. Quinn and the Dance Fire team explored almost all of Romania with a private tour bus. They visited castles (including Dracula’s), museums, traditional restaurants, witnessed folk dances, and explored historic churches. They also enjoyed a scenic steam engine ride across the countryside. In Vlad’s hometown, they explored salt caves 364 feet underground and participated in Latin lakeside dances with Vlad’s former studio.
“Florin organized an extraordinary trip filled with historically rich experiences across his home country, and he was incredibly proud to share it with all of us,” Quinn said. “Romania may not be on the top list of European travel destinations, but thanks to Florin’s expertise, we were able to discover the beauty, warmth, and incredible natural scenery of this country.”
At the competition, Quinn danced at the open gold level of international standard dance, which includes five dances: waltz, tango, foxtrot, Viennese waltz, and quickstep. The Romanian Grand Gala took place on June 29 at the JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel. Winning the competition was not her main goal, but Quinn’s passion for dance led her to win several first-place awards for her performance.
“After years of lessons, I was prepared to follow my instructor’s lead in each of the five standard dances. This allowed me to focus on my love and joy of dance, and hope for a positive outcome,” Quinn said. “Miraculously, I came in first in all five of my individual dances in my age group. I also came first in my scholarship dances. I was thrilled to have won first places across the board.”
Quinn believes that her parents are with her whenever she dances. Her mother passed away at 94; Quinn danced with her until three weeks before her passing. Quinn’s daughter has also inherited the family’s talent for dance. She began dancing at age 10 and continued through her college years. She even competed on Harvard University’s ballroom dance team and completed her own term abroad in Rome.
While Quinn loves exploring Europe, she is also a “lifelong enthusiast of the Capital Region.” After all, this is where many of her passions were born. She graduated from Mont Pleasant High School, now Schenectady High, whose technical program gave Quinn early exposure to STEM as a young woman. She then studied mechanical engineering and economics at Union College, during which her father encouraged her to study abroad. She visited France, England, and Italy before finally spending a term in Seville, Spain.
Quinn spends a significant part of her leisure time dancing, but she also focuses on health and fitness to maintain her stamina for high-level dance. She practices yoga and walks daily. She also enjoys interior design and flower arranging, a skill she learned from a fellow dancer who works as a florist.
Dance remains Quinn’s primary personal pursuit, and she shows no signs of slowing down. Her parents never did. In the fall, she will participate in a showcase with fellow student dancers from throughout the Capital Region, promoting ballroom dance in the community on behalf of USA Dance. This showcase will take place on Sept. 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Crossgates Mall.
Quinn misses her parents, who danced together for 54 years after meeting at a ballroom class in Brooklyn. She honors their memory the best way she knows how — by dancing, traveling, and sharing the activities she loves with the people she loves.
“For me, dance has never been about competition. It has always been about honoring my parents’ legacy by dancing for joy,” Quinn said. “And I know and feel that my parents have been dancing with me every step of the way.”
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Agree – Alissa Quinn is a shining example of talent and hard work paying off in the dance world.
Agree – Alissa Quinn’s success is truly inspiring and well-deserved.
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