Page 8 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – WEDnEsDAy, JuLy 3, 2024 Raising hope and raising the bar: Inside Phunk Phenomenon’s winning year By Dom Nicastro F or Saugus’ Reia Briggs-Connor, it’s been a stellar 2024 for her Phunk Phenomenon Dance Complex studio. A national championship and preparations for an international competition later this year are just part of the excitement. Oh, and don’t forget about their performances on the Boston Celtics dance floor during the NBA Finals this month. Good times for the studio? You bet. Briggs-Connor, a lifelong dancer from her early days in Chelsea to being a New England Patriots cheerleader and now a 25-plus-year dance studio owner in Everett, is nonstop and loving every minute of it. This is all in between her constant, unconditional care for her 19-year-old son, Jared, who has Sanfilippo syndrome. This condition halts normal brain development and causes hyperactivity, sleep disorders, loss of speech, dementia and typically results in death before adulthood. Her dance studio leads a fundraising and awareness effort called “Hip Hop for Hope” to contribute to research and development in the healthcare community for Sanfilippo syndrome. The fight for Jared and others like him is deeply embedded The Phunk Phenomenon Dance Team are shown performing on the TD Garden parquet floor at halftime during Game 1 of the NBA Finals Celtics game against the Dallas Mavericks. (Courtesy Phunk Phenomenon) Portal To Hope (“PTH”) serves people whose lives have been impacted by domestic violence and related assault crimes. Job Opportunities Available: PTH is seeking an Operations Assistant and a Licensed Social Worker to join our team! If you would like to join PTH’s award-winning team and share your leadership in the cause to end domestic violence, please call (781) 338-7678 for more information; or, email: nita@portaltohope.org. J& • Reliable Mowing Service • Spring & Fall Cleanups • Mulch & Edging • Sod or Seed Lawns • Shrub Planting & Trimming • Water & Sewer Repairs Joe Pierotti, Jr. The Phunk Phenomenon Dance Team are shown performing on the TD Garden parquet floor at halftime during Game 1 of the NBA Finals Celtics game against the Dallas Mavericks. (Courtesy Phunk Phenomenon) into the fabric of all that BriggsConnor does within her studio and for her dancers. Some proceeds go to the fight to find a cure for Sanfilippo syndrome. “I don’t sleep,” Briggs-Connor tells people when they ask how she does it. “It’s crazy. Everyone S LANDSCAPE & MASONRY CO. Masonry - Asphalt • Brick or Block Steps • Brick or Block Walls • Concrete or Brick Paver Patios & Walkways • Brick Re-Pointing • Asphalt Paving www.JandSlandscape-masonry.com • Senior Discount • Free Estimates • Licensed & Insured 617-389-1490 Designing and Constructing Ideas that are “Grounds for Success” Landscaping asks how we do it. Jared’s 19 now, which is really great because they told us he wouldn’t live that long. We’re constantly trying to raise awareness for his disease and our mission.” They’ve had a gig with the Celtics for most of the 21st century, performing routines a couple of times per night during timeouts for two to three games per month. They performed in Games 1 and 2 of the NBA Finals, where her hometown Celtics beat the Mavericks, 4-1, clinching Banner No. 18, under which Phunk Phenomenon will perform next season. They also performed in early games of the Celtics’ dominating playoff performance, where they finished 16-3. Performing during a Celtics championship run was simply priceless for Briggs-Connor and her studio. The entire experience was steeped in Boston spirit. Donnie Wahlberg, New Kids on the Block legend and actor whom Briggs-Connor has known over the years through mutual dance contacts, provided her dancers with shirts to wear during performances. As glamorous as it all sounds – she has also taught Red Sox legend David Ortiz’s daughters and had Shaquille O’Neal hang out with her team during the NBA Finals – this is serious work for BriggsConnor. She wants the routines to be flawless while performing in front of a sold-out, 19,600-people arena. “I definitely do put pressure on myself,” Briggs-Connor said. “And I try to think what’s going to be the best option to keep this crowd up, especially because they’re going to be * Crack Repairing * Pot Hole Filling * Striping Handicapped Spaces * Free Estimates Tom’s Seal Coating Call Gary: 978-210-4012
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