Girl Crush-Dancing Queen

It has been so long since I have written a girl-crush post. It’s not that I haven’t had them, it is just that I could never settle on who to write about first.

Today I want to share someone with you that is new in our lives but has been impressive since the minute I met her (which happened to be when my toddler was tearing apart her office.)

Heather Wanner is the owner and director of the Shoreline Dance Academy.

I have the privilege of sending my daughter to Shoreline, in Ocean Grove, for ballet class. Heather is not her teacher (Oh, boy Ms. Cathy-now that’s a post for a later date) but I have interacted with her often as she is a very hands on owner.
Here is why I have a crush on Heather, not only does she run a successful business but she does it in such a way that everyone who walks through the door feels like they belong.

Heather has a very impressive biography as a dancer and to watch her in action is amazing. She can make even fitness class dancing look like art. There is no question she has skills.

Heather translated all of that skill and experience into the courage necessary to open her own school. The best part is that her enthusiasm is contagious. Heather is a talented artist, but she runs her business with the heart of a mom.

Shoreline is a very welcoming place. As someone who has never slipped her foot into a toe shoe or had the word lithe associated with her, it is often intimidating to take my kid to places where I feel like a fish out of water. I never feel that way at Shoreline. Heather wants all her students, and all their families to have a positive experience. She is always smiling. She is welcoming to everyone-even crazy boy siblings who want to play with the office supply of bottled water. There are games in the office and it is not unusual to see siblings camped in the lobby doing homework while their sisters or brothers are dancing in the other rooms.

Heather gets that first and foremost we are all parents and our kids just want to dance. She loves it and she wants them to love it too.

Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of very talented dancers at Shoreline and wildly impressive teachers. As a Dance Academy, Shoreline is no joke. But there is no pressure. There is no feeling that this is the only thing these kids need to do. (And if, say a mini-ballerina happens to show up with a hole in her tights (week two!!) it’s no big deal.) Shoreline is a warm and fun place where everyone, dancer and parent alike enjoys coming. I know my girl is getting top notch training in an environment where everyone loves what they do and wants her to love it too-for a long, long time.

Heather is our crush this week because she has built a place where my Dancer Daughter loves to go and her non-dancer mom does too.