Shaw Dance 25 Years Strong!

 

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.