‘You’re never too old to dance’: Omaha dance studio founder celebrates 53 years of teaching
By Beth Carlson
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OMAHA, Neb. (KETV) — Shannon Barnhart, who founded her dance studio in Omaha 53 years ago, continues to teach tap dance, sharing her passion with thousands of students over the years.
“When I think 53 years, it’s just like I blinked and I can’t believe it’s been that long,” she said.
She specializes in tap dance, particularly the old style reminiscent of Fred Astaire, although she can teach ballet and jazz as well.
Barnhart estimates she has taught about 18,000 students, a number she calculated five years ago.
Her studio welcomes anyone who steps inside, encouraging them to join in the dance.
“I think that some people say you’re too old to dance, and that is such a myth. I mean, I’m still dancing, and I’m older,” she said.
Barnhart’s teaching philosophy is inclusive, believing that everyone can dance regardless of age or ability.
“We feel like everybody can dance, right? Like no judgment, you know, because we all just love the dance,” Shannon’s daughter and one of the teachers at the studio, Jessi Roxburgh, said.
Her classes range from toddlers to adults, and she has created hundreds of dances.
“I don’t know what I would do with myself if I didn’t have teaching. It’s in my blood. And, like, my probably the easiest thing that some people might think it’s the hardest is choreography. Because when I hear a piece of music, I just picture it in my hand what the dance should be,” Barnhart said.
Her legacy is set to continue as her daughter Jessi plans to take over the studio one day.
“It’s always been there as like my second home,” Roxburgh said.
“To see her be a teacher, of course, extraordinaire, and then a choreographer like her mom is really, it’s overwhelmingly beautiful for me,” said Shannon Barnhart Dance Studio instructor Cathy Barnes.
“It’s very heartwarming to have my own daughter here. And then of course, she’ll take over when I can no longer do it,” Barnhart said.
Until that day comes, it’s the duo that is keeping the rhythm going.
“It’s I’ve never had to go to work a day in my life because I get to do what I love as my job. So it’s just, as I look back over my life, it’s just, I just realized how blessed I am,” she said.
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