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Gifts That Lasted a Lifetime
Dance Studio Life
readers on the greatest gifts their dance teachers
gave them
Kim Rowley, Academy of Dance, Warner Robins, GA
I came from a regional ballet company, dancing corps work in
high school while my younger sister always got the lead
roles. I�d been told that I�d gotten the brains in the
family while my sister got the talent. My first college
ballet instructor, Jill Zupan, took the love I had for
dance, which I had squelched into believing I�d never amount
to anything, and taught me to �bring the diamonds out in my
eyes.� Her belief in my abilities made me work so much
harder that year. She rekindled the love I had for dance. I
believe that she made me learn how to dance from the heart,
and for that I�ll always be grateful. This is the same
belief that I wish to instill in my students. To take a
child who has been dumped on and instill in her the
confidence that she can do whatever she puts her mind to as
long as she�s true to herself, and then to watch her blossom
from within, is truly a gift of the heart.
Amy DeFeudis, Dance Designs, Inc., Hyannis, MA
At 18, I was frustrated when I went out into the dance world
and didn�t get the big jobs (or any jobs) right away. My
dance teacher at the time told me she believed I would make
a great teacher and began training me. It was the greatest
time of my life. I still remember the first time I held my
own class�that feeling of understanding that this was what I
was meant to do. I will always be grateful to my teacher for
that time.
Candida Arvizu, Steps and Stages, Springfield, MO
My dance teacher had a class where she invited someone to
come and speak to the class on marriage and family. It was
kind of like a relationship/psychology lesson. I think a lot
of the girls needed to hear the lesson, as they were on the
cusp of making decisions about relationships. Our dance
teacher always seemed to care a great deal about the
dancing, but quite a bit more about us personally.
Will Shover, Dance Upstairs Academy of Performing
Arts, Elkin, NC
I grew up with parents who owned a studio. It was rough
because I always saw them as Mom and Dad, but they instilled
in me a love of dance and helped me explore my true
passion�choreography. When they told me that they were ready
to retire from the dance studio and pursue other things in
their lives, they said would like nothing else than for me
to continue the family tradition. That was the single
greatest gift they could have given me; the studio has
changed my life. I gave up a regular income and many
luxuries I was used to, but I have found my passion and what
I was put on this Earth to do. I get up every morning happy
and excited about what is happening at the studio. I love
each and every day at Dance Upstairs and I owe that to my
dance teachers (who happen to be my parents) for having the
faith in me to continue what they started.
Denise Hawkins, Denise�s Dance Academy, Overland
Park, KS
My passion for dance and teaching. My former teacher was
incredible and lit the fire in me to teach and perform. I
was a chubby, shy child and always felt at home in the dance
studio. I was able to overcome my fears of being onstage and
developed a self-confidence that I could not have elsewhere.
Diana Horvath, Strongsville Dance Company,
Strongsville, OH
The ability to believe in myself and that I could do
anything I put my mind to.
Holly Dawson, Footlights School of Dance, Inc.,
Springfield, IL
I am so thankful to all of my dance teachers who gave me
wonderful gifts and lessons about myself and life that made
me the person and teacher I am today. They taught me about
dance technique and how to teach dance properly in a
professional, fun, and loving way. They gave me strength and
confidence but also taught me about being humble. They
taught me how to put a production together, how to stand up
for what I believe in, and how to stand up to parents. One
statement a teacher made to me that I will always remember
is: �If you want to be a dance teacher, you need to know
that it�s a very hard job and not a lot of money. If you
don�t really love it, you shouldn�t become a dance teacher.�
Lisa O�Sullivan, The Spirit of Dance, Marietta, GA
Taking dance as a young girl, ballet especially, taught me
so many valuable things. Grace, poise, self-confidence,
being a lady in the true sense of the word. I have never
stopped holding my shoulders back and walking proudly my
whole life.
Tonya Kraner, TNT Dance Team & Susan�s Tap-n-Toe
Studio, Lancaster, OH
A chance! I�ve never had a dancer�s body; I�ve always been
tall and had a large build even when I was thin. Some
teachers couldn�t get past that, but my first teacher did.
She saw the love of dance I had inside and how I could give
the skinny girls a run for their money!
Isabelle Cook, Isabelle�s Dance Time, Veradale, WA
Self-confidence to be the best that I can be. Even though
technically I was not the strongest dancer, I was never made
to feel that I was not good enough to dance with the
performing group. All the dancers were given the opportunity
to shine and share their own talents.
Rachel Roberts, Momentum Dance, Tulsa, OK
I consider the greatest gift from a dance teacher to be a
correction. I have gotten millions of them and I consider
all of them huge gifts that have led me to be the dancer and
teacher I am today.
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