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Rhythm And Harmony

Photo by Kevin Howe

Jennifer Dawson-Waz, owner of Dawson Dance Academy and instructor, works with Taylor Muraco, age 4, on her splits during rehearsal. A troupe of dancers from the Academy is scheduled to participate at a parade and performance at Disney World on Feb 9 and 10.

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By JASON GEARY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 19, 2008

Additional photos

WESTCHASE - Jennifer Dawson-Waz beams with pride when she talks about her students and can see a bit of herself in them.

Her love of dancing began while growing up in Clearwater. Her mother enrolled her in dance classes when she was 2 years old, and something struck a chord.

Now operating her dance studio near Westchase, Dawson-Waz organizes her students' recitals at Ruth Eckerd Hall - the same venue where she performed as a young dance student.

"Everything we offer here is what I did growing up, so it's full circle for me," she said.

The 31-year-old Lutz resident taught for about 11 years in the public school systems of Hillsborough and Seminole counties before opening Dawson Dance Academy on Race Track Road.

"We've got over 330 children now in our second year," she said.

Prior to her career change, Dawson-Waz said she began thinking about what job she could do that would allow her to continue caring for her son, now 4, so she wouldn't have to send him to day care.

The former Sickles High School teacher also wanted a change from disinterested students and difficult parents.

"This is great," she said. "The kids want to be here. They love this. The parents are paying for them to be here so they are only going to do it if the kid wants to be here."

A personal highlight for Dawson-Waz has been watching her students take part in performances at Walt Disney World.

In November 2006, a group participated in a holiday parade at the Magic Kingdom.

A newly formed traveling team called the Shining Stars will join a parade Feb. 9 at the theme park, and the next day the team will perform dance routines on a stage in Tomorrowland.

"This group is really going to rock the house," Dawson-Waz said.

Dawson-Waz choreographed two routines for the stage performance: one lyrical dance and the other hip-hop.

The seven members include girls from a wide age range. The youngest is a fifth-grader, and the eldest is a senior in high school. Despite the age differences, harmony abounds.

"There has never been any drama with this group ... they are all here to dance," Dawson-Waz said. "They get their game faces on. They don't play."

Heather Napolitano, 17, an assistant teacher at the studio and a member of the traveling team, agreed everyone cooperates.

"I think we all get along really well just because we all dance," she said. "We are all in classes together."

Eleven-year-old Claire Rowe, the youngest member of the team, has spent about five years dancing competitively. She said the first part of the Disney parade routine doesn't appear too hard.

But her teammates were joking that they might need a "sugar rush" to get through the intense aerobic moves of the chorus.

Claire, whose family recently moved from Dallas to Tampa, said she is looking forward to the event.

"I was really hoping that I would get to go," she said. "I've never done anything like this before."

Claire's mother, Rebecca Reardon, said she has been fascinated watching her daughter over the years in Texas explore various dance styles, including ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop and clogging.

"It's pretty obsessive at this point," Reardon said. "This is her thing."

Before moving to Florida in July, Reardon, 36, of Waterchase, said her daughter had been pushing herself hard in competitive dance.

She enrolled Claire at Dawson Dance Academy, and the traveling team has been an outlet to continue dancing and entertaining crowds without having to worry about winning a trophy.

"There's a lot less pressure," Reardon said.

Although a trophy isn't up for grabs, Dawson-Waz said the event is going to require practice to get ready.

"It's going to be three weeks of a lot of work," she said.

She was considering sending a four-member group - known as the Twinkling Stars, composed of 4- and 5-year-olds - along to perform at the celebration but didn't want to put too much pressure on them.

"We're bringing them for moral support," Dawson-Waz said. "They'll get to see the whole process and, as they get older, we'll phase them in."

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Dawson Dance Academy offers instruction in tap, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, cheerleading and more.

WHERE: 12615 Race Track Road

SPECIAL EVENTS: The studio can be rented for dance birthday parties; recommended for ages 4 and older.

INFORMATION: Registration for summer camps begins in late March and early April. For information, call (813) 814-7500 or visit www.dawson dance.com/.

Reporter Jason Geary can be reached at (813) 865-1505 or jgeary@tampatrib.com.

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