For Eliza Dekker and Ava Van Drisse, dance has always been about more than learning routines and performing on the competition floor. It has shaped a lifelong friendship, strengthened their connection to the De Pere community, and inspired them to create opportunities for the next generation of dancers.

The two first met in dance classes as second and third graders. What started as a shared love of dance quickly grew into a close friendship, and before long, their families became close as well. Growing up in Ledgeview, they spent years dancing side by side before eventually joining the De Pere High School Dance Team together.

When the high school program came to an end shortly after they graduated, it was difficult to watch something they loved disappear. Still, their passion for dance never faded. They continued competing together on the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh dance team and are both currently college students balancing school with their growing responsibilities as nonprofit directors.

After college competition, they found a new passion through coaching. For three seasons, they coached kindergarten through eighth-grade dancers with Notre Dame Academy's Future Tritons Dance Program. Working with young athletes confirmed what they had begun to realize: they loved helping kids discover confidence, teamwork, and a love for dance.

As they looked ahead, they realized they shared two goals. They hoped to one day coach at the varsity level, and they wanted to create opportunities for dancers in the De Pere community.

Competitive dance continues to grow across Wisconsin, with many schools fielding large, successful varsity programs. Yet De Pere remained one of the few districts without a dance team. Having been the last generation to represent the school, Eliza and Ava felt uniquely connected to bringing that tradition back.

Rather than waiting for someone else to make it happen, they decided to build something themselves.

The pair founded the De Pere Youth Dance Program, creating a nonprofit organization focused on dancers in kindergarten through eighth grade. Their vision was to establish a strong youth program that could someday help pave the way for varsity dance to return to De Pere.

Because the program could not operate through the school district, they researched their options, officially registered the organization with the State of Wisconsin, and completed the process of becoming a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

"It was definitely a learning curve," they said. "We've always been dance coaches, not directors, so we had to learn everything that goes into running an organization. It gave us a whole new appreciation for the program because we had invested so much into building it."

With the paperwork complete, they began planning every detail of their first season. They created graphics, built a website, launched social media pages, and shared an interest form to see whether local families would embrace the idea.

The response exceeded every expectation.

More than 75 families expressed interest, confirming there was a real desire for youth dance opportunities in De Pere.

Finding a home for the program became their biggest hurdle. After exploring school gymnasiums and community spaces with little success, they found exactly what they were looking for: a former dance studio on Heritage Road in the De Pere and Ledgeview area.

With plenty of help from their families, they spent weeks cleaning, decorating, and transforming the studio into a welcoming home for their dancers.

Once registration officially opened, families attended an open house before tryouts began. Forty-two dancers joined the inaugural season and were divided into three teams: Mini, Junior, and Middle School.

Today, those dancers practice two to three times each week while learning new skills, building friendships, and preparing routines for their first competition season, which begins this fall and concludes at the WACPC JEM Championship in January.

Their first public appearance came during the De Pere Memorial Day Parade, where the excitement from both dancers and community members confirmed they were building something special.

"The kids had so much fun, and we received so much positive feedback from the community," they said.

Outside the studio, Eliza and Ava continue to enjoy spending time together, whether they're working out, exploring the community with friends, or simply cheering one another on through college and coaching. Living in Ledgeview their entire lives has made this journey even more meaningful, especially when they see the same kids they coach riding bikes or playing around the neighborhood.

While they dream of one day seeing varsity dance return to De Pere, they're focused on the season ahead and the young dancers who are helping write the program's first chapter.

For two friends who first met in dance class as children, creating the De Pere Youth Dance Program is more than bringing back a sport. It's about giving the next generation the same friendships, confidence, and opportunities that dance gave them.