Anita Runck moved to Lamberton in 1979. She had just obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Dance and Physical Education from Mankato State University. Anita's Conservatory of Dance opened in January of 1980. That year the dance studio enrolled thirty students taking tumbling, ballet, jazz, and tap dance lessons. Student ages ranged from four to ten years old. The first of Anita's annual dance recitals was held in June of 1980 in the Lamberton Community Hall with two hundred people in attendance. In 1981 the student enrollment doubled to sixty boys and girls. The dance recital was held in the Lamberton High School Auditorium with five hundred people in attendance. That years theme for the recital was "Spirit of America." A huge 20' by 30' American Flag was used as a back drop. In 1982, enrollment doubled again to 120 students. In 1983, enrollment was 200 students from fourteen communities in the Lamberton Area. Student ages ranged from 3 1/2 to adult. Aerobics had been added that year.
In 1985, Anita was asked to teach dance lessons at the Walnut Grove Health Spa. She taught there for two years until she moved her second studio location to the State Bank of Springfield. The studio now offers dance lessons three days per week in Lamberton and one day in Springfield. In 1990 Anita was joined by her assistant Mary Asp who taught at the studio until May of 1996. At that time Mary auditioned for and was accepted to study dance at the Minnesota Center for the Arts in Golden Valley. In 1993, enrollment went to 230 students, and with three small children at home, Anita felt the need for more help at the studio. She hired Sara Anderson who had been a student of Anita's for eight years, and went to St. Cloud State University with an emphasis in dance education. She had moved back to the Lamberton Area and now teaches ages six through ten in ballet, tap, jazz, tumbling one day per week. Her married name is Sara Rausch. That same year, Sue Huls of Jeffers began teaching ballet and pointe. Sue received her training in her home town of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Anita's Conservatory of Dance now offers ballet, tap, jazz, tumbling, and pointe. Lessons are still taught in the Lamberton Community Building and the second floor of the State Bank of Springfield. Anita's husband Leonard, helps every year at the recital running the sound system. Some of the dance recital themes throught the years were: "Disney's Dancin' Mood," "Dancin' Through Time," "Styles de Musique," "Music Machine," "Stage and Screen," "Let's Dance," "Dancin' Magic," "A Potpourri of Dance," and the 1996 theme is "Sweet Dancing." The recitals are presented the third Saturday in May at 4:00P.M. and 7:30P.M. Last year's recital had about 1000 in attendance at the two performances of the dance recital. This year's enrollment is over 250 students.
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