Drawdy’s Dance School has drawn attention and curiosity from those coming down Collins Street when they see a group of parents – some with lawn chairs- watching through a window.
The youthful dancers from the school are gearing up for their competition at the Showstoppers finals in Orlando being held from July 4 to July 8.
Their skills and determination are evident by the row of trophies and banners that line the walls of both of the school’s studios.
Drawdy’s dance students have already competed in four other competitions and the upcoming finals will be their last for the year.
In the last two years, they’ve won in the Top 3 overall with their performances.
The most recent competition was the regionals in April, held in Lakeland.
In South Carolina, three of Drawdy’s dancers won first place in every category and were awarded with scholarships.
“Our kids go and they do really, really well,” said Amanda Drawdy, the owner of the studio. “We’ll compete this weekend against anybody from all over the nation who got invited to go to finals. Showstoppers is such a national competition, it pulls from all over. Last year we were competing against kids from Arizona, kids from Ohio, kids from Tennessee.”
The school will be taking 18 routines to the last competition of the year.
While it’s not mandatory, the school offered to take the winners to the finals.
It’s a major accomplishment for the school that has only been in existence for five years.
At first, she thought it would be a financial burden to start a business. She and a friend were teaching classes at the YMCA and when the numbers grew, she had a change of heart.
“At the end of our first recital, we had just around 60 and every year we’ve exponentially grown,” she said.
This year, it ended its recital session in June with 185 students, including those taking music classes as well. About 40 dancers enroll for competitions.
At this point, both studios are full during its days of operation – Monday to Friday.
Further beyond one of the dance studios can be found a room where Drawdy’s husband has music lessons.
The dance classes were initially held at the back of the Dark Horse Music Store, but when the number of students began to grow, Drawdy had to find a more spacious environment to accommodate her students.
“Within eight months we had outgrown that space and had to find something else,” she said.
Classes were then being held exclusively in one of the two studios that are side by side.
When the number of students kept expanding, Drawdy then acquired the second studio.
The school offers lessons for those as young as age 2.
“We are definitely a presence from 4 to 8, every night of little people in downtown Plant City,” she said. “Most nights we have at least two of our little kid classes.”
For those under age 18, they have the ability to be placed either in intermediate, advanced, or competitive levels.
At 18, dancers can still perform at the school but can only do the competitive level.
The competitive dance routines that are currently being taught revolve around ballet, lyrical, and jazz, tap, and hip hop.
Students typically rehearse with those in their age group, however, kids in the same family, whose ages range, can perform in their own group.
They will be having a party right before finals as a pre-celebration.
Drawdy’s and her friend grew up as dance partners. Starting her own school was a way for Drawdy to make lessons more affordable.
“I started dancing when I was 2,” she said. “I love dancing. When I turned 16, I started helping to teach in a studio in Auburndale and I loved dancing. I had a scholarship to go dance…but I decided to go the route of teaching, so I taught for 10 years in public schools: Springhill Elementary, Pinecrest, and then in Polk County for one year, but I wasn’t happy with that. My husband is also musically advanced. He too wasn’t happy being a teacher. He wanted to step out of that. He’s a full-time worship leader. He’s spent a year being a pastor.”
The instructors at the studio all have experience dancing and use their discipline to help their students to stay focused.
Some students have conveyed their desire to dance in the long run and turn it into a career. Many want to do more than just wave from a float during the Christmas parade, but to actually put on a performance, Drawdy said. This was the first year that they appeared in front of a float during the Florida Strawberry Festival Parade, but they wanted to liven it up with their dance routines.
The groups of parents and grandparents looking inside at the performances through the window has become a way of advertising when they catch people’s eye and have them wondering what’s intriguing on the other side of the window.
Drawdy also notes the commitment that the families have, even weathering the Florida heat.
Her vision is to build another studio with more accommodations and would love to remain in downtown.
Right now, she is trying to keep her students prepared for their special days coming up in Orlando.