Dance Street West Studio Helps Make Dreams Come True

Shannon Lancaster believes in the magic and power of dance. It is her passion and she is committed towards sharing that passion with her students.

On any given afternoon, you can find her at her Glendora Studio Dance Street West, at 509 E. Route 66, working with students on lyrical classes, ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop and other styles. On a particular day this past week, she worked closely with Emma Lawes, a 10 year old vocal and dance student from La Verne.

Lawes has been attending courses at the studio for about a year and has joined its performing group.

"She has a beautiful voice, we're just trying to get her to share it with us," said Lancaster while rehearsing a musical number ("A Place in this World") by Taylor Swift, which Lawes will sing this weekend at the Orange County Fair. Lawes will also sing at the school's big annual show at Mount San Antonio College in January.

"She tends to hold back so we're working on that," added Lancaster,  "She's becoming a beautiful singer and a beautiful dancer."

Dance Street West has been a fixture of the Glendora community since it opened its doors in 1987. It is family oriented with about seven instructors teaching a wide range of styles from ballet to ballroom dancing.

The staff specializes in their chosen field and all boast of professional musical backgrounds. Lancaster herself, the studio's director, has been dancing since she was 5 years old. She danced with the California Ballet Company and toured with a group called "The Entourage."

Lancaster is a graduate of San Diego State University and has choreographed several musicals including performances at the Covina Valley Playhouse and productions of "Man of La Mancha" and "Beauty and the Beast."

But perhaps more than her professional credentials, it is her commitment to providing a safe and welcoming atmosphere for her students which attracts people to her school.

It was a deciding factor for Sheila Dirksen, an Azusa resident whose 7-year-old daughter Lorelai has been taking ballet and tap classes for the past four years, and is now also a part of the school's performing company. Dirksen said she looked online and was initially very impressed by the photography on the studio's website and by reading about Lancaster’s background.

"I was really intrigued, I thought if anybody can teach small children it would be her," said Dirksen while adding Lancaster has been the perfect instructor for her daughter because she is committed 100 percent to the success of her students. "She's been so gentle, she's really great with the training, she pushes her in a really gentle way."

Dirksen, whose son has recently started to take hip-hop classes Dance Street West said another asset to the instruction provided by the studio is the sense of belong to a team that is infused in students by Lancaster and the other instructors.

"The teachers are amazing, they are supportive without being harsh on your kids. All of that is important to me. All of the kids seem to have a real sense of cohesiveness."

These sentiments were echoed by another parent, Beth Hayne, a teacher at Sellers Elementary School whose two daughters, 13-year-old Alyssa and 10-year-old Caitlyn are both enrolled in the program.

"They take ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and hip-hop classes. The neat thing about this studio is that every class gets to do a number so every one gets an opportunity to perform."

Hayne's daughters will be performing in the annual show at Mt. San Antonio College at the end of January, which is the program's traditional end of the year performance.

"It's an awesome show, it's a lot of fun," she said, while adding that the studio is more than just an extracurricular activity or another year round program for kids.

 Hayne said students also learn how to make a commitment to a team and how to be part of a group.

"This is their home away from home because they spend many hours here during the regular school year doing homework in the lobby, helping each other, eating dinner between classes."

She said she does not mind dropping off her kids at the studio, even if they have to be there for many long hours.

"It's just a safe place I feel comfortable dropping off my kids because it is such a family oriented place."

Lancaster said the most rewarding aspect about teacher for her is seeing each student become successful. Many of her students have gone on to jobs in the entertainment industry and there was even a time where the name was synonymous with success at Disneyland.

"That is the greatest accomplishment I can have, to watch students blossom. I want to be able to help each student. We are here to create your dreams the best we can."

 Prospective students and parents can learn more about the program at http://www.dswstudio.com.