08/26/2026
Begin here…go anywhere!!
My dance and acro/gymnastics journey started in 1966 when I was 2 1/2 at the Mary Jane’s school of Dance which opened in 1960. The studio was located in Methuen, Massachusetts…on the second story in an old building in the center of town.
I can remember going up that narrow staircase where there were two rooms…low ceilings, old wood floors and a lot of windows!!
There was an upright piano in the room and for ballet, we had a LIVE PIANIST…I can see her sitting on the bench.
When we did gymnastics I can remember vaulting over the long wooden high beam.
I can hear the sound of my dance teachers voice and remember the music and choreography to many recital routines.
The picture of me below with the poncho and pink maracas…our moms made the costumes…some of that fabric and trim was in my mom’s sewing box for years…and I remember the entrance step we did to get on stage…step heel w/two shakes…the memories I have of my young dance days…actually ALL OF MY DANCE & GYMNASTICS days are etched in my mind forever…the learning, amazing teachers, assistant teachers and role models to look up to, the BEST training around, being pushed to be our best, working hard for it…the brand NEW studio that was built…late nights rehearsing outside in the parking preparing for competition and a stage that was way bigger than our dance room and getting bit by mosquitos 🦟 lol…while our parents waited in their cars for rehearsal to end (late)…my mom late to pick me up many times because she forgot which studio I was at, the OLD or the NEW one…parents together making our costumes, sewing and designing my own costumes…friendships and families….the many recitals, and competitions…. Forgetting a costume or a prop for recital and my mom or dad driving like a maniac back home to get it before the show started …being a student assistant and Mary Jane saying I am going downstairs into the waiting room and I want you to choreograph 32-64 counts 😳 before I return…this was for the recital choreography of the class I assisted …OH MY…that was scary 😱 but THAT is where my TEACHING JOURNEY BEGAN!
If she had not pushed me out of my comfort zone to choreograph, I would’ve never known that it was something I am so good at! A GIFT that I am blessed with… the ability to teach and to choreograph.
I am most thankful for all of the EXPERIENCES that I learned from my dance teacher and my dance studio that helped me to be the teacher and person I am today….
Mary Jane instilled in us a passion and love for dance and gymnastics… She taught us the value of hard work, high standards, great work ethic, professionalism and more… She exposed us to top-notch master teachers in the industry and gave us the best technical training in all genres…she had us attend the Dance Teachers Club of Boston teacher training school, which we attended and completed over three summers and received our certification…in which we had to pass a test in ballet, tap, jazz, children’s classes, music, and ballroom, and I think there may have been modern as well… In our final year, we had to put a step they gave us into 32 counts counts of choreography ON THE SPOT 😳 in front of a panel of judges and because of these experiences and the great training she provided I am able to provide my students with this high level of training too!
My “BEGIN HERE” journey began in a little old studio in the center of town with an amazing teacher in Methuen, Massachusetts, and my “GO ANYWHERE” journey started in July 1999 in an old building, just off the square in Lockhart Texas….where I opened The DCU 💙💛
28 years later I’m still going….
Destined to teach!
Dreams do come true!!!
DCU…established 1999!
Teaching lessons that last a lifetime… One child at a time!
Wasn’t I cute 😉 tho!!!
