

Miss Dee’s Dance Studio holds an adult jazz dance class 8 p.m. Wednesdays. Dancers from the adult class are from left Sarah Bailey-Prekle, Robin Christensen, Miss Dee (Dionne Luxford), Becky Schnautz and Brenna Kimmet. (Daily News | Stacie Smith) | Image Source: Miss Dee’s Dance Studio holds an adult jazz dance class 8 p.m. Wednesdays. Dancers from the adult class are from left Sarah Bailey-Prekle, Robin Christensen, Miss Dee (Dionne Luxford), Becky Schnautz and Brenna Kimmet. (Daily News | Stacie Smith) | Image Source: thedailynews.cc

Sweaty palms, quivering fingers, a racing heart rate and the heat of stage lights shine down as the steps of a choreographed routine move through the mind. Taking to the stage for a dance recital or competition can be invigorating, meshing the worlds of excitement and raw nerves into one.“Dance is the hidden language of the soul,” as quoted by Martha Graham. Graham was an American dancer and choreographer likened with Stravinsky, Picasso and Frank Lloyd Wright in the art world.Brenna Kimmet of Belding and Becky Schnautz of Greenville put on their dancing shoes as means of self-expression, friendship, stress reducer, exercise and fun. Both women danced as young girls and while Kimmet continued to pursue it, Schnautz returned to the dance floor in her 20s, with this fall marking her seventh year. Kimmet teaches in addition to taking a jazz class for adults.What made Kimmet stay involved in dance for more than 20 years and brought Schnautz back?Each woman has their reasons for having dance as part of their lives and some overlap, but the underlying message from both was simply a love of dance, a need to move. Dionne Luxford, dance instructor and owner of Miss Dee’s Dance Studio at 115 S. Lafayette St. in Greenville, explains the magic dance holds for her.“Dance is such an expressive art form,” Luxford said. “It is great exercise, promotes physical and emotional well being and it is so fun.”Luxford teaches the adult jazz class that both Kimmet and Schnautz take. She began dancing just before she turned three years old at a small studio in Greenville and later progressed to a larger studio, eventually earning a position with the John T. Dance Center in Grand Rapids. She oversaw her dance studio’s 28th recital this year.Schnautz grew up in Rockford and attended classes there at the age of five or six. Her cousins were involved in dance and she wanted to be involved, as well, but lessons only lasted one year until she moved to Greenville. Though she only took lessons for a year as a child, she never lost her love of dance. Learning about Miss Dee’s, she signed up for a jazz class and has been coming to the Greenville studio for seven years.Kimmet started her love of dance taking lessons with Luxford at the age of six. She is entering her 21st year of dance this fall, both as a student and teacher. She grew up dreaming of dancing on Broadway, so she was enthusiastic, knowing that the adult class takes part in competitions.It isn’t just the love of dance that gathers these women on Wednesday nights at Miss Dee’s, it is a sense of kinship they have developed. Not only do they enjoy dancing together, but the women will swap tales of motherhood and meet outside of class for social events.Kimmet and Schnautz both praise dance for keeping them fit, both during and after pregnancies. But the most compelling positive effect both women draw from dance and performing is the boost in self-confidence they gained. Schnautz described herself as once being very shy, but the bettering of her confidence attributed to dance overflowed into all areas of her life. Kimmet feels her confidence greatly increased in her interaction with the community and the kids she teaches.From their collective experience, dance has been only a positive part of their lives. All three offer similar advice to women considering getting involved with dance and it is simply to just give it a try. When the adult jazz class performs, Miss Dee and the dancers always dedicate their show to women everywhere and Luxford shared those empowering words.The adult class, along with all of the classes offered at Miss Dee’s, perform at traveling competitions that are adjudicated by teachers out of Las Vegas, Pittsburgh, Detroit and Ohio. In addition to the annual recital performed in early June at the Greenville High School Performing Arts Center, the students also perform for residents at Metron in Belding, and Spectrum Health United Hospital Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.“Our performances are dedicated to all the women who wanted to dance and never did but can,” she said.