In preparation for the new school year, parents can purchase their children’s back-to-school accessories at Dancewear Connection. The boutique provides accessories and apparel far beyond dancewear.

The store originally sold only dance apparel when it opened in 1999 but over the years it has evolved to offer numerous stylish gifts and accessories for children and adults, owner Tanya Tomei said.

Tomei put her sales and marketing background to the test 16 years ago when she opened the boutique, originally located on Highway 11.

“I have three daughters who were and still are into dance and a local store was going out of business so I took the opportunity to take over the store,” Tomei said.

Later that year, Tomei relocated her business to its present location on West Canal Street and expanded her merchandise to include various accessories such as shoes, candles, purses, backpacks, lunch bags, frames and jewelry for all ages. The boutique also offers custom-monogrammed and heat press vinyl gifts and accessories.

“I’ve enjoyed having this store,” Tomei said. “It’s an evolving business. Fashion changes and every time I get merchandise in, it’s like Christmas.”

The Picayune native not only enjoys selling products but interacting with her customers, many of whom have become great friends, Tomei said.

While the boutique has grown over the years, there was a time it was threatened by Mother Nature. After Hurricane Katrina passed through in 2005, Tomei said her store was destroyed.

“The whole front of the store was blown up,” Tomei said.

Tomei, along with her family, were forced to relocate the business for a year until they could complete the necessary repairs on the building.

“And the store came out better than before so it ended up being a blessing in disguise,” Tomei said.

Throughout the years, Dancewear Connection has been a family affair. While Tomei’s daughter, Yonna, assists her at the store when she can, she hopes one of her daughters will be interested in running the boutique in the future.

Dancewear Connection is located at 300 W. Canal St. The store’s summer hours are Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The store will resume its regular store hours in August.

Follow them on Facebook at Dancewear Connection or Instagram at dancewear_and_gifts.

For more information, contact store staff at (601) 749-9355.