Ava Wagner’s dance career seems almost predestined. “My grandma was stretching my feet the minute I was born,” she says. Her family’s connection to dance spans generations: her great-grandmother, Shirley Larkin, founded Larkin Dance Studio in Minnesota, where Wagner trained until she was 18; her grandmother, Michele Larkin-Wagner, currently co-owns the studio.
After excelling as a competitive dancer at Hall of Fame and The Dance Awards, where she won the 2018 Orlando Junior Best Dancer title, and a third-place finish on “World of Dance” Season 3 with her sister Ellie, Wagner faced a decision: Should she move to Los Angeles and launch her professional dance career? As a high school senior, the leap felt too daunting. Instead, Wagner followed Ellie’s lead and pursued collegiate dance. As a member of the University of Minnesota’s dance team, she went on to win two national championships in Division 1A Pom and two silver medals in Division 1A Jazz.
By the end of the 2025 school year, Wagner was ready to move to Los Angeles. Her magnetic intensity, soaring jumps, and lush movement quality did not go unnoticed—she’s booked a Gap ad, taught at Press Play conventions across the country with her sister, returned to the University of Minnesota to co-choreograph the dance team’s jazz routine (the team ultimately placed third at the 2026 UDA Nationals), and secured a spot on Derek Hough’s Symphony of Dance: Encore tour. Even with quick success, Wagner finds it easy to stay grounded: “Being grateful, in the moment, and present is the most important thing to me.”
Photo by Jesse Ballantyne, Courtesy Wagner.
An Unexpected Homecoming
“When (UMDT assistant coach Lauren Busyn) asked if I’d co-choreograph the 2026 jazz routine, I said yes in a heartbeat because that team has done so much for me. They were so open for me to create whatever I wanted on them, and it was a really cool experience.”
Unexpected Lessons
“After being on the other side of the competition-and-convention circuit, I think it’s important for dancers to focus on learning and improving, instead of who wins. That’s a difficult mindset to have at a young age, but the scores and winners don’t really matter. The best thing about conventions is meeting people, because those are the people you’ll be surrounded by as a professional.”
The Next Generation
“When Ellie and I are teaching at Press Play, we dive deep on encouraging and inspiring dancers. Conventions really helped me in my career. I know it’s scary being face to face with someone who is really big in the community, so Ellie and I really focus on making it warm and welcoming.”
The post Comp Star Turned Commercial Dancer Ava Wagner Is Living in the Moment appeared first on Dance Magazine.
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