Show Goes On: Popular Dance Studio Damaged in Fire Gets Boost From Community

Memorial Day was no day off for some victims of a five-alarm fire that gutted much of a Santa Clara shopping center.

Flames roared on Wednesday through the Rancho Shopping Center on El Camino Real, near Lawrence Expressway, destroying at least seven businesses and damaging several others.

The owner of a well-known dance studio believed a planned 30th anniversary show also went up in smoke, but a concerned community stepped up.

Donna Maruoka has owned Roundhill Dance Studio for three decades. But now, instead of getting ready for a 30th anniversary show on June 18, she finds herself cleaning up after the five-alarm fire.

The blaze ripped through the shopping center and even though crews stopped flames just short of the studio, there was major damage to the complex, including utility lines.

The cause is still under investigation.

"Even though we've had no official word on the status of the building, I'm thinking we won't be able to continue our business in this location," Maruoka said.

Roundhill Studio's annual fairy tale ballet, The Maiden's Visit, is a big South Bay community event. Some performers who started in it as children now perform in the ballet as adults.

Last week's fire took away Maruoka's facilities for rehearsals and set production.

"When we first saw the fire and got the new, my first though was 'How am I going to pull this off?'"

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But Maruoka has been contacted by several dance studios and the Promethheus real estate group is offering space free of charge.

On Monday, Maruoka received the best news she has had this past week.

"The show will go on," she said. "I feel like I"m always the mast of Plan B if Plan A doesn't work out. You always look for Plan B, C and then D if that's necessary.

The 30th anniversary show will go on June 18 at the Santa Clara High School theater. A GoFundMe account has also been set up for the dance studio.

Roundhill Dance Studio 30th Anniversary Show, "The Maiden's Visit"