By Julia Train
Fifteen years ago, sisters Katrina Prodan and Tara Carroll opened ProDance Studio in a small space in Northfield with just 14 students and a dream stemming from generations of dancers.
Today, the studio is home to nearly 200 dancers, operates out of its own building and has earned one of competitive dance’s highest honors. This summer, ProDance was named Artist Simply Human’s (ASH) 2026 Studio of the Year during the organization’s national competition in Orlando, Florida, capping off the studio’s milestone 15th anniversary with a full-circle victory.
“It really just was such a celebration with our 15th year, [ASH’s] 15th year, and then winning Studio of the Year on top of it with our core group that is graduating, that we started with — it really was just like a full-circle moment for everyone,” Carroll said.
The accomplishment came after nine demanding days of competition that brought together more than 900 dancers from studios across the country.
During the week, about 65 ProDance dancers, ranging in age from 7 to 18, competed in convention classes, auditions, solo performances and group routines while advancing through multiple rounds of judging.
Prodan said their days went from 7:30 a.m. to as late as 10:30 p.m.
“It was just nine days of jam-packed dance,” she added.
The Studio of the Year competition narrowed dozens of studios to five finalists before each presented its top solo, small group, large group and production numbers in one final performance.
When ProDance’s name was finally called at the gala at the end of the week, the sisters said they felt relieved and happy after spending months preparing and years of dedication.
“It’s a stressful week. We’re exhausted by that time. It’s the last award that they announced, so you’re sitting at a gala for 2.5 to 3 hours just waiting for the award,” Prodan said. “There are definitely some really good studios, so you’re also nervous. But when you hear your name called, there’s no better feeling, and you just feel proud.”
The dancers erupted in celebration.
“They were jumping and screaming and crying,” Prodan said.
Carroll said she barely remembers the moment itself.
“Watching back the videos that the kids had posted of themselves reacting, I think I blanked out in the moment and I really didn’t even realize what was happening until I went back and saw all the footage of our kids crying and so excited that I was like, ‘Oh wow, what an incredible moment,'” she said.
For 18-year-old dancer Victoria “Torie” Toner, the victory was especially emotional. Having trained at ProDance since she was 3 years old, nationals marked her final competition before heading to the University of Delaware, where she will dance on scholarship.
“My favorite moment was definitely winning with everybody,” Toner said. “That was just the best thing ever.”
She said the announcement brought tears.
“I was crying. I was really upset and so happy because it’s my last time ever dancing with all these amazing people, and because I’ve been here since I was 3 years old so this is like my family, and I was going through so many mixed emotions,” Toner said.
That sense of family is exactly what Prodan and Carroll hoped to create when they opened the studio at ages 21 and 24, respectively.
Although the studio has grown exponentially over the past decade and a half, the sisters’ passion and love for their students and dance has remained the same.
“[Dance] has been a part of our family for generations, starting with our great-grandmother. So it’s just something that’s been in our blood,” Carroll said.
Prodan said the studio’s mission has always been to welcome every dancer, regardless of their goals.
“We have something for everybody,” she said. “We have something for our tiny tots and our preschool. We have something for dancers who want to just exercise, but they’re still involved with school and sports. And then we also have a program that’s geared to students who want to take the professional and collegiate groups. So I feel like our studio kind of has a safe space for everybody.”
The national title also came with a $25,000 prize, half cash and half scholarships, which the owners plan to reinvest in their dancers by helping cover future convention expenses and purchasing new training equipment.
Prodan credits the achievement not only to the dancers and staff, but also to the families and South Jersey community that have supported the studio over the years.
“Our parents are so committed and trusting,” she said. “They trust us and they trust this process because it’s a lot of work on them too, and they’re exceptional.”
Julia graduated from Rider University in 2024 with a BA in multiplatform journalism and minor in social media strategies. In addition to reporting on local news for Shore Local, she is a social media strategist for small businesses. Connect with her: shorelocaljulia@gmail.com or @juliatrain on Instagram.
