Paulette’s Ballet Studio Celebrates 50th Anniversary

This past weekend, the dancers of Paulette's Ballet Studio performed at Babson College, as per annual tradition. But this year's dance concert was unique in that it celebrated the studio's 50th anniversary and Harwood's 50th year teaching.

"200 or more students came to be with me from all over the country," said Paulette's Director Paulette Harwood. "We had a super time. I was dumbstruck. I didn't realize how many lives I had influenced."

Harwood left home at age 14 to dance in New York, taking her grandmother with her and supporting both of them through her dance ventures. From 1942 to 1952, she performed on Broadway, at Radio City Music Hall, and in nightclubs.

After spending 10 years on Broadway, Harwood got married and returned home to Massachusetts. In 1959 she opened the studio in Needham, where it remained for 14 years before moving to Newton.

"Everyone who takes from me has to take ballet," Harwood said, explaining that ballet provides the basic foundation needed to learn other kinds of dance. The studio also offers classes in pointe, tap, jazz and hip-hop. Classes are taught by Harwood and 12 other staff members, whom she trained.

Though the studio has swelled since its early days to include 300 students, it has retained its personality and openness to the community. Harwood herself, now 82, continues to teach classes at both her Newton and Medfield locations, four days a week.

"People can come in and watch a class anytime," Harwood says. "People can always call me to find out the schedule."

Don't miss Paulette's Ballet Studio at the Needham Street Fair on Saturday afternoon, when dancers "from the little ones right on up," explained Harwood, will perform numbers in ballet, jazz and hip-hop. Harwood describes the dances, which she starts choreographing in March, as "Broadway-style dancing, because that's my background."

"I love my dancing, I love my students," Harwood said. "I want to keep going as long as I can."

Paulette's Ballet Studio dancers will be performing from noon to 1 p.m. at the Street Fair. The following dance classes will be involved:

• 12:00 Sat Ballet (Medfield) – Black Gold
• 6:30 Tues Jazz (Medfield) – Platinum
• 12:00 Sat Jazz-C – Gold Watch
• 5:30 Fri Jazz – Golden Lamps
• 2:00 Sat 2/Jazz – Bronzer
• 4:30 Fri Ballet – Golden Slippers
• 11:00 Sat Pre-Jazz – Golden Oldies
• 1:00 Sat Jazz – Ten Carats
• 6:30 Thursday Jazz – Silence is Golden
• 11:00 Sat Jazz – Heavy Metal
• 4:30 Fri Jazz – Gold Records
• 3:00 Sat 2/Ballet – Golden Melody
• Celebration – (Finale)