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“I have been a dance educator for the past 25 years and a studio owner for the past 12. I have
\ntaught all ages and abilities of dancers and have seen children blossom and find new wings in
\nthe expressive art of dance. I have also seen many other doors open through dance
\nto include: life long friendships, a sense of belonging to a unique family, an outlet for joy, for
\npain, for sorrow, for fear or frustration by pouring it out on the dance floor. I have seen confidence
\ngrow and learning skills improve. I have seen so much more than you can possibly realize from a
\ndance that lasts 2 minutes and 45 seconds onstage. It sometimes takes months to build up to that
\none moment and it is in those months that causes something almost magical to
\nhappen when the curtain opens.<\/p>\n
It seems like this world is turning so competitive. Everyone is trying to out-do someone else. To be
\nthe very best at any cost. To not only arrive, but arrive first! It seems like the child is getting lost
\nand the value is placed on the most talented. In 25 years of teaching I can say that I have trained
\nsome amazing dancers, but I also can say that in the past 25 years my personal account of what an
\namazing dancer is, is not what it was when I started in the business. I use to gauge my students on
\nleaps, turns, flexibility and technique. It was through my own personal struggle with the world versus
\nmy heart that lead me to really ponder why I keep teaching dance. So I made a concerted effort to
\npay attention to how I was feeling as I taught and what brought me joy. This was my finding.<\/p>\n
I noticed that when I praised a child they smiled and that brought me joy. When someone looked Our children are our joy. We want to see each one treated fairly, loved deeply, appreciated, valued and Celebrations Dance Center continues to celebrate children and the art of dance. ALL children. Children I adopted a new tagline a couple of years ago when I had an incredible hurtful event happen in my life. The tagline <\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nconfused I went to them and mentored until the expression went calm. I hugged and clapped for
\nall of those moments when students said, “I did it!” I found that I loved to believe in them, but I loved to know
\nthat I helped them believe in themselves. I enjoyed teachable moments on simple things like how
\nto be a good friend and how to be genuinely kind and caring. I found that if I sat quietly in my office
\nI could hear the reward of teaching those lessons as my students talked about their days. I learned that a child
\nwill reach his or her full potential when they are encouraged and believed in. The most important thing that
\nI found out as I was paying attention to my feelings was that I loved ALL of them. There were no favorites.
\nThe ones that were flawless by dance standards meant the same to me as the students that struggled to
\nbalance on one foot. That the benefit of dance was the same benefit to any skill level. I found that I
\nloved to share my passion, that I loved to nurture and grow what I have learned as a dance student and
\nas an educator. I learned that the prideful smile on one parents face is the same prideful smile on the others.<\/p>\n
\ntreasured. I found that there is no prerequisite for the afore mentioned. Simply being alive on this earth
\ngives every child those rights and every parent desire for those actions to be bestowed upon the life they
\nbrought forth. I have found my heart and now it has become my mission to find my voice. To encourage
\npotential students to come to our doors and to implore other dance educators to open theirs.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nwith the potential of an elite competitive dancer to recreational dancers to dancers with various needs
\nwhether it is autism, Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis, marfan syndrome etc. When you walk through the door
\nplease know you are in your dance home. That you will be respected, loved and valued. That you will be seen as
\nyour own person and that you are free to feel the joy of dance.<\/p>\n
\nis Choose to Shine! We wear the saying on our Celebrations jackets as a reminder that we are in control of our
\nown happiness and how we conduct ourselves and choose to live. A constant reminder that you should never
\nallow anyone to dull your sparkle!”<\/p>\n