Ava Wagner’s dance profession appears nearly predestined. “My grandma was stretching my toes the minute I used to be born,” she says. Her household’s connection to bounce spans generations: her great-grandmother, Shirley Larkin, based Larkin Dance Studio in Minnesota, the place Wagner educated till she was 18; her grandmother, Michele Larkin-Wagner, presently co-owns the studio.
After excelling as a aggressive dancer at Corridor of Fame and The Dance Awards, the place she gained the 2018 Orlando Junior Greatest Dancer title, and a third-place end on “World of Dance” Season 3 along with her sister Ellie, Wagner confronted a call: Ought to she transfer to Los Angeles and launch her skilled dance profession? As a highschool senior, the leap felt too daunting. As a substitute, Wagner adopted Ellie’s lead and pursued collegiate dance. As a member of the College of Minnesota’s dance group, she went on to win two nationwide championships in Division 1A Pom and two silver medals in Division 1A Jazz.
By the tip of the 2025 college 12 months, Wagner was prepared to maneuver to Los Angeles. Her magnetic depth, hovering jumps, and plush motion high quality didn’t go unnoticed—she’s booked a Hole advert, taught at Press Play conventions throughout the nation along with her sister, returned to the College of Minnesota to co-choreograph the dance group’s jazz routine (the group in the end positioned third on the 2026 UDA Nationals), and secured a spot on Derek Hough’s Symphony of Dance: Encore tour. Even with fast success, Wagner finds it simple to remain grounded: “Being grateful, within the second, and current is an important factor to me.”
An Surprising Homecoming
“When [UMDT assistant coach Lauren Busyn] requested if I’d co-choreograph the 2026 jazz routine, I mentioned sure in a heartbeat as a result of that group has finished a lot for me. They had been so open for me to create no matter I needed on them, and it was a very cool expertise.”
Surprising Classes
“After being on the opposite facet of the competition-and-convention circuit, I feel it’s necessary for dancers to concentrate on studying and enhancing, as an alternative of who wins. That’s a tough mindset to have at a younger age, however the scores and winners don’t actually matter. The most effective factor about conventions is assembly folks, as a result of these are the folks you’ll be surrounded by as an expert.”
The Subsequent Era
“When Ellie and I are educating at Press Play, we dive deep on encouraging and galvanizing dancers. Conventions actually helped me in my profession. I do know it’s scary being head to head with somebody who is absolutely massive locally, so Ellie and I actually concentrate on making it heat and welcoming.”
