For 32 years, Mitzi Roberts danced into the hearts and souls of countless numbers of students and families. But Saturday, bringing the inaugural Special Olympics Dance Invitational to Mankato, just might represent her biggest dream yet.
Roberts, founder and owner of Dance Express, also serves as an ambassador to Special Olympics Minnesota. And with the statewide organization hosting the national level Special Olympics competition in 2026, Roberts’ goal is to have dance included for the first time.
“We’re small but mighty,” Roberts said prior to Saturday morning’s competition at Mankato East High School. “And we’re hoping this is the start of something big.”
The groundbreaking dance studio owner is no stranger to things big, helping found the inaugural and popular “Dancing with the Mankato Stars” in 2013. And in 2016, she was awarded a YWCA Women of Distinction honor in part for that effort, in part for her courageous and public battle with cancer and her involvement with the “Angels of Breast Cancer” effort.
But Saturday, it was the two dozen dancers who took center stage.
“We’ve had an adaptive dance program at Dance Express for many years,” Roberts said, labeling it ““Everybody Dance Now,” open to 8-year-olds to adults. “”It’s just really been fun to watch it grow.”
Among others who’ve seen adaptive dance programs grow is 19-year-old Karli Turner of Rogers, now a member of the Minnesota State University dance team. Her mother, Dawn Turner, brought a seven-member team, “Dance Your Dreams,” from her Maple Grove studio.
Karli had to wipe a tear after the team performed to the musical selection, “Friends.”
“They were like the first group of dancers with my mom, when I was 8,” said Karli, who also serves as head coach for Roberts’ partnership studio with Darby’s Dancers, a national adaptive dance nonprofit organization.
Said Dawn Turner: “We want every studio to have an adaptive dance program. It’s so much fun. I love it.”
Jodi Meerbeek of Mankato watched her 13-year-old son, Xander, dance to several tunes, including a solo, a duo and team events. And mom has seen her son grow as a dancer and a promoter, available the past week for a couple of TV interviews.
“This has just been an amazing opportunity for him,” Jodi Meerbeck said. “He practices every day at home.”
Roberts led the awards portion to end the invitational and beamed with pride over the inaugural Special Olympics Dance Invitational, praising the dancers.
“That takes a lot of courage to get out there on the stage, sometimes all by yourself,” Roberts told the dance performers. “It has been overwhelming and powerful to see you take the stage.”
For Dance Express alumnus and current District 77 English teacher Olivia Weisbecker, who served as an event judge, it was a special experience.
“It melted my heart,” Weisbecker told the dancers of “Party in the USA,” Stephanie Mondloch and Tina Miller, who competed in the “Adult Jazz Duo” category.
“I don’t think I’ve smiled so much,” she added. “It’s such a great opportunity.”