I’ve been blessed for the past handful of years to watch Heather Mudrick Campbell in action, teaching young students to dance. My granddaughters began ballet as toddlers and she took them and hundreds of other little ones under her caring wing, making each feel important and special. Some come in confident and some struggle a bit. During each class, the little dancers get a chance to leap, twirl or otherwise make their way across the dance floor; just a tiny taste of solo performance. If they’re not up for it, she’ll let a friend go with them, or she will offer to dance with them. I’ve seen her carry my youngest across that floor. No matter what they choose to do in their little moment of stardom, she tells them, “beautiful,” and those precious little faces beam.

 

Heather told me that is actually how she began teaching at the studio which was then Annabel Timms School of Ballet. She had learned to dance there and so did her three daughters. When the third came along, she was one who needed that extra boost of confidence. As a dance mommy, Heather would dance across the floor with her little one. As that continued, the teacher, Lynn Menendez, would recruit her to help in other aspects and before she knew it, she was backstage during recitals, offering instruction and encouragement. The obvious next step was teaching classes and when Annabel decided to sell the studio, Heather was asked if she was interested. Owning and operating a dance studio wasn’t something she had ever considered, but her husband Mark talked her into it and said he would help in any way possible.

 

At that time, the family consisted of Heather and Mark, Heather’s daughters Madison, Emma and Grace, Mark’s three daughters and one little boy – their Maddox. They would name the dance school after the nine that made up their family and a portrait of them was placed in the upstairs entrance of the studio.

 

Those who have followed Heather’s story know that Mark died shortly thereafter after he took a bad fall and experienced complications. He was an organ donor and through CORE, lives were saved and enhanced through his gifts.

 

As Heather was recently considering relocating the studio, she had some doubts. After all, the current location held a lot of good memories. It’s where she and her daughters learned to dance and where she and Mark took a big leap of faith and became dance studio owners. She said she did a lot of praying and asked God to guide her in her decision.

 

And He did.

 

She said when she went to look at the potential space – where, by the way, Mark had done CrossFit years ago – God provided her with that sign; what Heather calls a “God wink.” The building had been totally cleaned out, except for some paperwork found underneath a cabinet. It was information about CORE organ donation.

 

So, the story continues and Studio 9 Dance Academy flows forward; reaching more dancers, providing confidence, skill, teamwork, and a form of artistry that can last a lifetime.

 

Heather’s family now includes husband Jason, his little boy Carson and his grown daughters. I know from experience that Heather has the love to go around. That heart of hers – like her studio – continues to grow and grow.

 

Read Saturday’s feature about Studio 9 Dance Academy’s new home HERE.