The Mac Donald - Pin Dancers Celebrates 50 Years of Dance with Ridgefield Parks & Recreation!

It all began 50 years ago when former Rockette, Joan Mac Donald, teamed up with Ridgefield Parks & Recreation in offering dance classes for people of all ages. Her love of dance was inherited by her daughter, Carrie Pin Mac Donald, who earned a BFA Degree in Dance Education from Virginia Intermont College.

From there, Carrie joined her mother in teaching classes locally and the studio was renamed the Mac Donald - Pin Dancers in the early 1990’s. After Joan retired in 1999, Carrie went on to expand the program even further. “It truly is an honor to have touched so many lives in Ridgefield and the surrounding towns,” said Ms. Mac Donald - Pin. “Many of our dancers began at the age of 3 and continued with us until they left for college. Some of our adult dancers are still dancing. I am so proud of them all,” she added.

On Saturday, June 10 and Sunday, June 11, the Mac Donald - Pin Dancers celebrated 50 years of dance at the “Iconic” Dance Recital held at East Ridge Middle School.

More than 250 dancers (ages 3 to adult) performed a variety of ballet, pointe, tap, hip hop, jazz, and lyrical dances. This yearly recital was the culmination of hard work and dedication put forth throughout the year from beginner to advanced dancers. At the end of the event, Ridgefield Parks & Recreation Commissioner, Phil Kearns, presented Ms. Mac Donald - Pin with a plaque honoring her 50 years of educating and inspiring others in expressing themselves through dance.

“The Mac Donald - Pin Dancers, and in particular Carrie Pin is such an important piece of the Ridgefield Parks & Recreation offerings. It's abundantly clear that she loves her students while taking great pride in teaching lifelong skills in expression through movement,” stated Dennis DiPinto, Director of Ridgefield Parks & Recreation. “As a father of two experienced dancers who went on to dance in college, I can appreciate the commitment and passion that Carrie has been bringing to the program for many years. All of us here at the Ridgefield Recreation Center are so fortunate to have her on our team,” he added.

Full of energy and enthusiasm, Ms. Mac Donald - Pin does not rest for long before she starts running her summer Dance Camps that are available to children, ages 4 to 18, at the Recreation Center. For details on summer camps and dance classes throughout the year, please visit ridgefieldparksandrec.org.