A Decade of Dance

written by Pamela Caira

Miss PamIt began as a childhood dream. There was nothing more powerful than wearing a pink pair of slippers and a leotard. Her clothes were a mere camouflage of her burning desire to express movement through dance. Music lit up her heart. The echoing sound of her first applause was the confirmation that dancing was what she wanted to do. Valuing her talent as one of the greatest blessings in her life, Pamela Caira, a 26 year old native of Waltham, knew her gift needed to be passed on for generations. Pamela, a self-made entrepreneur/business woman, founded Step-By-Step Dance Studio in 1996. With her supportive father and nurturing mother by her side, Pamela opened for business in September with 31 children. Never in her wildest dreams did she believe that the recital concert “Dancing to Disney” would prove to be the stepping stone for the greatest of shows to come.

With almost no advertising the following year, it wasn’t long before word spread that there was a “new” dance studio in town that really took time with families and detail. Quickly, Pamela’s hard work and dedication to dance spoke loudly to children and their families. Student enrollment almost doubled that year. As Artistic Director she presented her second concert, “Time Pieces”, at Newton North High School’s Lasker Auditorium. With grace and dignity Pam performed at 8 ½ months pregnant, in the memorable first Father/Daughter routine with her father Vincent.

Miss PamIn August, Pamela delivered her son Anthony Richard DeGouff by cesarean section and rose to the occasion in her typical fashion to begin teaching dance classes only 3 weeks later. After working a full-time office job for 7 years while establishing her studio, it was now time for Pamela to say goodbye to her office friends. Her total focus in 1998 was her newborn son Anthony and the studio. As Pamela’s appreciation of motherhood developed, and added to her already strong traditional family values, she asked her mother Maria to make a guest appearance in the first Mother/Daughter routine “I’ll Always Love My Mama” in the “Calendar Craze” show. The once thought of large studio space at 195 North Street, Newtonville MA was becoming considerably small as class sizes began to fill. The studio was alive! The constant support of the children and their families enriched Pamela’s desire to keep teaching. Their energy kept the dream burning.

In season four Pamela began to realize that she wore many hats. She increased faculty to help with teaching while she could focus on her several responsibilities. Being a full-time working mom became difficult. As if directing and teaching weren’t enough, Pamela took on roles such as producer, music editor, and bookkeeper to name a few. She was the creative force behind every idea and every studio-related decision. A role model to many of her dancers, repeatedly she has been called “my second mom”. The “Tune In” show in 2001 was another fabulous year. Enrollment had increased and having two shows began a tradition. The show opened with a full stage screen video. Pam remembers pulling several all-nighters with friends organizing television clips and dialogue for the video that featured Christina Hagar of channel 5 news.

Miss PamOn September 11, 2001, Pam and her family were vacationing in Disney World when news that terrorists attacked the US was announced. While the country tried to absorb the impact of 9/11, Pamela felt strongly that her show theme for the year must honor the victims and families affected by the attacks. To date, “Stars and Stripes” has been her most inspiring and moving show. The performance began as the audience watched anxiously as the infamous “Miss Pam” took center stage at 9 months pregnant with her second child, and danced “New York, New York”. With angels at her side, Pamela made it through two performances and delivered Michael Vincent DeGouff a mere 48 hours later.

Pamela thrived and could only function normally under extreme pressure, stress and deadlines. In 2002, she added a Holiday Show fundraising for local children’s charities. Her efforts over the next five years raised money over $34,000 donating all proceeds to “The Matthew and Melissa Bastinelli Trust fund” ,“Save the Children”, “Andrew’s Helpful hands” and “The Boston Medical Center Ovarian Cancer Support Group”. She claims that the key to her success is supportive family and friends, determination, and drive. “I love what I do; but I don’t do it alone; is her reply”. She recalls her golden moment in 2003: the spectacular ballet “Swan of the Seas”. She can still hear the heavy hand- beating of applause ringing in her ears sending goose bumps straight up her arms and down her back.

The year 2004 was one of personal loss and dance seemed to be the one piece holding her together. She lost her grandfather and separated from her husband just days before the “Peter Pan” dress rehearsal. Her repeating thoughts, “How am I going to get through this one” With tears welling up in her eyes and her voice cracking she stated, “What am I going to do?” Her epiphany in the moment was to dance with grief. With extra tissue stuck beneath her costume and clearing her throat, Pam stood her tallest and spoke the words, “Good evening ladies and gentlemen” and the show went on. Later that year The Next Step Dance Company was formed under Pamela’s direction with their head instructor Kelly Chadwick serving as Company Coach. That summer the studio packed there bags and expanded into a new studio just up the road. The transition into 85 River Street became symbolic to Pam both professionally and personally.

Miss PamPamela wants students who attend her studio to embrace not just the techniques of dance but to embody the soul of dance. She believes dance conditions the human spirit and that dance is the essence of everything good and bad. Dancing is Pamela’s private journal. With personal and professional choices being challenged in her 9th season, freedom of expression became her greatest strength and her biggest fear. Supported by her staff, dancers, the entire dance community and her dearest friends the show “The Orient Express” proved magnificent! She captivates her audiences with her heart and soul. The result of her hard work gives true meaning to the phrase “That’s Entertainment”!

Ten years have passed. The 38 year old dancer feels that age is a mere number. Her heart still dances like the little girl in the pink pair of slippers and leotard. For when those stage lights dim to signal the start of her 10th Anniversary performance, “No Bad News”, Pam is sure to feel the music light up her heart, the applause echo throughout her body and a rush of energy as the dancers take center stage. The smiles on the dancers' faces assure her that her childhood dream has really come true."

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