Jana Shaw:

Dance has been and is a very important part of my life. I believe that students can learn things about themselves, others, and even other educational subject areas through dance that they could not learn in any other setting. I believe that dance should be a positive experience for all participants, regardless of whatever innate talents they may or may not have. Our philosophy is to build versatile, well-rounded dancers, while building the self-esteem and confidence of the individual. We will attempt to build a foundation so the student eventually has the ability to succeed in dance as well as in life. We feel that a dancer is not made “over night,” but through years of study and dedication.
Here, at Shaw Dance Studio, I like to think that students learn how to dance, rather than just learning “dances.” I, along with my staff, teach good, solid techniques. One thing that sets this studio apart from other studios is my educational background. While the only required license to teach dance in Utah is a business license, my education goes far beyond that. Now let me tell you about myself…
My name is Jana Shaw and I hold a Bachelor of Science in Dance and English Education from Utah State University. I am a former U.S.U. “Aggiette,” a former member and choreographer for Utah State’s modern dance company, a former college and high school cheerleader, was a member of the College of Eastern Utah’s Repertory Ballet, and I now teach English at Clearfield High School where I also coached the award winning “National Championship Falcettes” for 16 years. I have over twenty-two years teaching experience and am the director of the “Shaw Dance Showteams.” I am a former member of Dance West and have performed with Burch Mann’s American Folk Ballet. In 1990, I received both the Outstanding Student Teacher and Outstanding Senior in Dance at Utah State University. I was also awarded the Business and Professional Women’s Association Young Careerist for Northern Utah, 1994. I hold a Utah teaching certificate, and I have memberships in AAPHERD National Dance Association, and Center Stage Performing Arts. I served as the vice-president of the Utah Dance/Drill Association, and in 2001 & 2005, I was named 5A Utah High School Drill Team Coach of the Year, as well as the UHSAA State Coach of the Year, and Western United State’s Drill Coach of the Year. I have been named as one of America Onstage’s Directors of the Year from 2003 to 2009, and in 2004, I was named to America Onstage’s Director’s Hall of Fame.
In addition to teaching, I am also the Director of the Falcon Classic High School Drill Team Invitational. Furthermore, I co-direct the Showtyme and Medallion Classic Dance Team Competitions and direct the Showcase Spectacular Dance Competition at Lagoon as well as the Lagoon Open Dance Nationals. I am also a certified Utah State Drill Team Judge.
I am excited about dance. I love children, and my studio offers a variety of classes for students to choose from. I am enthusiastic about what I offer students and would appreciate your patronage.
Because of my teaching and educational background, I feel that my staff and I can offer our students the very best in dance education and experience. We believe that our methods of instruction can help us “reach” each student individually.

Welcome to Shaw Dance Studio!

Cheryl Martinez:

Cheryl is the Assistant Director at Shaw Dance Studios and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Education from Utah State University. She has over twenty years teaching experience, and has trained in the areas of ballet, modern, jazz, tap, tumbling, and clogging. She is the Director of Shaw Dance Danceline. Her teams consistently rank very high at every competition as well as taking many overall high point awards. She was a member of her high school and college dance companies, and has extensive performance and competition experience. She is also a certified Utah State Drill Team Judge and tabulator. She co-directs the Showtyme and Medallion Classic Dance Competitions, as well as the Falcon Classic Drill Team Competition. Cheryl loves teaching children and loves to see them learn and progress throughout the year.

Suzette Stewart:

Suzette is a well-rounded dancer with expertise in ballet, jazz, tap, clogging, tumbling, pointe, modern dance and drill team. She has been teaching for over twelve years, and began her training at the young age of two years old. She has been a cheerleader and drill team member and has attended Weber State University. She is the Assistant Director of the award winning Shaw Dance Showteams. She is a creative choreographer and enthusiastic teacher. She also works part-time at McKay Dee Hospital as an Anesthesia Technician. She has been named three times to America On Stage’s All America Team and has choreographed many award winning solos, as well as for high school drill teams. Her clogging/power tap teams have been named the best of the best at the Western National Clogging Championships. Suzette has a unique, creative and artistic style, and her choreography is cutting-edge..

JoLynn Judd:

JoLynn has been teaching at Shaw Dance for nine years. She teaches tumbling, Showteam hip-hop team and combination classes. She has been dancing for 19 years and specializes in jazz, ballet, lyrical, hip-hop and tumbling. She was a two-year cheerleader and a three-year drill team member. She was assistant coach of the nationally ranked CHS Falcettes for five years, and is a certified Utah State Drill Team Judge. She graduated from Weber State University with a Bachelors of Science in History Education. She currently teaches full-time at South Ogden Junior High. She loves children and enjoys watching them progress in their dancing.

Janae Howell:

Janae has been dancing for 18 years. She specializes in jazz, ballet, and lyrical and teaches the Danceline team. Janae is a certified Utah State Drill Team Judge and has graduated from Weber State University with a Math and Chemistry Education Degree. She is now pursuing a Masters degree. She is a very energetic and creative teacher who enjoys working with children. She also was a three-year member and officer of her high school drill team. Janae’s teams are consistently ranked at the top in all regional competitions. She also has choreographed several award winning solo dances. She currently teaches math at Northridge High and Weber State University.

Kelley Melendez:

Kelley has been dancing since she was 10 years old and she had studied ballet, pointe, jazz, modern, and hip hop quite extensively. She has attended Weber State University on a dance scholarship, and was her high school’s and region’s Sterling Scholar in Dance. Her choreography is cutting-edge and she has nine years teaching experience. Furthermore, Kelley also a certified drill team judge and has a great deal of experience in teaching special education movement and dance classes. She believes that dance is an art to be enjoyed by all learning abilities and is dedicated to that philosophy.

Shalese Johnson:

Shalese is a well-rounded performer and teacher with training in jazz, tumbling, cheerleading, and ballet. She was a three-year member and officer of her high school drill team and was a cheerleader for two years. She has won many awards in power tumbling and was also her high school’s Sterling Scholar in Dance. Energy and enthusiasm for life and dance make Shalese a great member of the Shaw Dance Staff. She has endless energy and also works full-time at Weber Credit Union.

Eileen Anderson:

Eileen has added her professionalism to the Shaw Dance Staff as she has many years of dance and teaching experience. She has studied at BYU and has also been teaching at Shaw Pre-school for the past four years. Eileen is a strong technician and has endless patience with our preschool-aged children.

Wendi Rood:

Wendi began her dance training at a very young age and has been teaching for eight years now. She has training in jazz, hip hop, clogging, power tap, and tap. She is pursuing a degree in Health Science at the University of Utah. Wendi loves life and enjoys seeing her students succeed in dance.

Jodi Stonehawker:

Coaching the advanced tumbling class is Jodi. She has 17 years tumbling training and has been a Weber State Cheerleader. She has won three national tumbling titles, and was a national cheer solo champion. She is pursuing a degree in Integrated Studies at Weber State University.

McKenna Shaw:

McKenna will instruct the cheer dance and tumbling classes at Shaw Dance Studio. She has 14 years of dance training in jazz, modern, ballet, hip hop, and tumbling. She has been a junior high cheerleader, and is currently a Varsity Cheerleader at Weber High School. McKenna has won numerous awards, and has been named Jazz MVP and Duet MVP for America Onstage’s All-America Team.

Brittni Strickland:

Dance is a passion for Brittni, and she has thirteen years of dance training in jazz, hip hop, tumbling, clogging, tap, ballet, and contemporary dance. She has been a junior high cheerleader and her school’s class president for the past two years. Her intensity and enthusiasm for dance are un-matched. She has won countless dance and solo awards for her strong style and unique choreography. She is also a member of America Onstage’s All-America team.

Brittney Justice:

Brittney will excel as she uses her expertise in teaching the beginning tumbling classes. She has been a high school cheerleader and officer, and has dance training in ballet, jazz, hip hop, modern, contemporary, and tumbling. She has won numerous awards and is a delightful performer and dancer, with a strong technical base. She is earnest in helping her students find success and is thrilled to learn and grow with the young tumblers.