Shaw Dance Studio
celebrating
Silver 25th Anniversary
Shaw Dance Studio originated in June 1991 just off of 6000
South in Roy, in a small two car garage that was attached to Jana Shaw's home.
The small new studio had vinyl floors, mirrors, ballet bars on the wall, and a
few space heaters. Jana started with just three students, one of which was
Kimberly Barker, whose nieces still take dance at Shaw today. These students started out in a combination
class learning ballet, tap, jazz, and creative movement.
By the following May 1992, the studio had grown to about 30
students ages 3 - Jr. High. They competed in several competitions this year and
did quite well, receiving high ratings as well as numerous first and second
place trophies.
With the help of her dad running the music and a few others,
Jana was able to pull off her first recital in Roy High School's Little
Theater. The recital was a huge success and showcased the different genres of
dance that she had been teaching, including lyrical, jazz, clogging, and tap.
Jana was teaching school full time, expecting her first child McKennna, running and teaching every one of the classes at Shaw Dance Studio, and also teaching dance at Becky's School of Dance in West Valley. She was a busy woman! But it was at this time that she had the great opportunity to go into business with her long time friend Michelle Johnson, (who was also teaching dance from her home in Bountiful) and a new Studio, Johnson/Shaw Dance opened in Parrish Square in Centerville. They leased around 1000 square feet, and together started this new adventure with several new students from the area.
Jana Shaw graduated from Utah State University with a
Bachelor in Science in Dance and English Education. While at USU she spent two years
on a dance scholarship, was an Aggieette, and was also on their modern dance
company, Danceworks. In 1990 she was the outstanding Senior in Dance, as well
as the HYPER outstanding student teacher.
Jana won Business and Professional Women's Association Young
Careerist for all of Northern Utah. She was also 1st runner up at the State
level for Business and Professional Women's Association Young Careerist.
Jana's first dance teacher was Miss Becky. She was an
amazing teacher who instilled a love of dance in all of her students. From the
time Jana was six years old she had a desire to own her own dance studio. Miss
Becky was tough, having been known for "lovingly" throwing tap shoes
at her students when they made mistakes, Jana included, but they loved her
dearly. She is trained in tap, jazz, ballet, modern, clogging, Pointe', and
contemporary. Jana remembers working
hard at dance, it didn't always come easy for her. Her dad, who is a musician taught
her (through many years of frustration) to count music. He took her to multiple
dance classes and worked tirelessly with her. She has fond memories of him
showing her how to do an arabesque, and spent countless hours working with her
to improve her craft. Jana's mother bought all of the Al Gilbert records, (yes,
records) and would play them constantly, with encouragement to practice all of
the time. Her mother worked at LDS Hospital. Jana would visit her often where
her mother would say, "you need to come dance for my friends",
(meaning the patients) so patient's beds would be moved and Jana spent years
dancing in recovery rooms and hospital hallways for the staff and patents
there. Jana spent countless hours performing at malls, parades, nursing homes,
and first competed in the 8th grade. One of her young dance highlights was when
Miss Becky took her students on Eugene Jelesnick's talent showcase on KSL. She
was able to perform tap on this show twice and she loved every second of it! When
Jana married her husband Mike she expressed to him her desire to open up her
own dance studio. He has always been supportive of her dreams throughout the
years. Every time she has wanted to expand, or try something new, he has
supported and encouraged her in her endeavors. Through the support and love of
her family, friends, and loyal dance families she has been able to grow Shaw
Dance Studio into the amazing and successful business that it is today!
With the celebration of our 25th anniversary, we look
forward to sharing with you in the next few months more of the history and
background of this great studio.
