Testimonials

TESTIMONIALS

The Wilson School of Dance is memorable for a number of reasons. Our host was the extremely welcoming Juanita Wilson. It is located in an old church building on a wooded lot. Light shines through the arched windows and lends a warm glow to the wooden fixtures including a few left over pews. Thank you to Juanita Wilson for inviting us to this lovely studio.

Valery Lantratov

(Artistic Director and General Director of the Russian National Ballet Foundation in Moscow, Russia)

Juanita is an amazing woman! Even with all her dance classes and

performances she still has time to talk to her students and friends one

on one. She is an amazing mentor and her studio gives those who

love dance a feeling of expression, comfort, and home!

Erika Uhlig

(Miss Teen Virginia America)

Juanita is a gifted teacher, a loving individual, and has done much for the arts in our community. All three of my daughters have taken dance with her through the years. Dance has given them grace, poise, and self-confidence. Because of her example she helped one of my daughters achieve the title of Miss Teen Virginia America! Thank you Juanita!

Pat Uhlig (Parent)

Juanita is one of the most kind and generous persons I have ever met. She has been my dance teacher and mentor for twelve years and she prepared me well to become a dance major in college. In fact, after all of my dance finals I hear from all of the dance faculty how exceptional my ballet technique is. I learned everything from her and I am very grateful for her expertise in all forms of dance. Juanita has so much passion for teaching and cares a lot about her students. Having Juanita as my teacher impacted my life and helped me become a wonderful dancer.

Meghan McSherry (Student, Teacher)

Ever since my son walked in the door of the Wilson School of Dance for a theatre camp over two years ago, he has felt welcome and at home. Juanita has been amazing about recognizing my son's goals and making sure his training caters to those goals. He has taken Hip Hop, Jazz, Ballet, and Tap, and has found all to be a blast. When he first arrived, he was mostly interested in dance as a means to get better in musical theater, but he has now come to really enjoy dance in and of itself, and for that I credit Juanita and all the other terrific teachers. My son has even had the chance to get some first-class acting training thanks to Joe's acting class. Joe has been great with offering advice, monologue suggestions, audition tips, and most of all helping the kids to get inside their characters. All in all, Wilson is a wonderful place for both dance aficionados and musical theater lovers to get great training in a warm and supportive environment.
Pam Balcke (Mother)

Wilson School of Dance is a great dance studio. They teach a wide variety of levels and types of dance, and have been very helpful in working with me and my busy schedule. I have taken jazz, tap, ballet and hip hop, and every class has been very high quality and very fun! Juanita has helped me choose my classes, so I always know what level will be best for me and what will help me. And Joe has been great with his acting class-it is really fun. It is a great environment to be in because all of the people are really nice. I have enjoyed every one of my classes there and I can't wait to take more classes in the future!
Peter Balcke (Student)

Our daughter Brooke started classes at the Wilson School seven years ago at the age of three and has taken lessons continuously since. She absolutely loves every second and every aspect of it, from meeting new instructors and classmates to the spectacular spring performances. Every instructor she has had in each type of dance has been a top-notch professional, choreographing and teaching amazing dances, while making the classes fun. After each class, Brooke exudes confidence and excitedly shows us what she learned that day. Most importantly, though, the Wilson school is not just a dance school; it’s a dance family. Juanita and Joe have created an atmosphere of caring, encouragement, and fun. Their love for their craft and their students shine both in and out of the studio. Brooke leaves the school every time with a smile on her face. She has made many friends and has gained poise, confidence, and pretty amazing dance and acting skills. We could not ask for a better experience for our daughter.
Rich and Diane Tyburski (Parents, Student)

It’s awesome how the staff always makes things fun and encourages you to do your best. I have had a great experience at the Wilson School of Dance. Dance is a perfect art for me because I am shy and in dance I am able to express myself without having to be shy. Juanita and Joe have been nothing but nice and helpful to me and everyone else. The Wilson school now feels to me like family, and the other students are all my friends. I give great gratitude to Juanita and Joe for improving my dance and acting skills plus giving me poise in dancing and projection in my voice for acting. I will continue to do classes for a long time, I want to do this for my profession, I know I will be successful and I will owe it all to Juanita and Joe.
Brooke Tyburski (Student)

My husband and I have been very pleased with our girls' progress at Wilson School of Dance. We joined the dance school last October after several years of lessons in suburban Pittsburgh. The instructors at WSD have a wonderful knack for understanding the abilities of each student and challenging them accordingly. In addition, the school promotes an atmosphere of enthusiasm rather than competition among the students. We feel completely at ease sending the girls to their lessons, and they come home with happy faces and an eagerness to perfect their newly-learned combinations. We feel very fortunate to be part of such a wonderful school. Jennifer Connor (Parent, Student)

Wilson School of Dance is a great community of people and an amazing place to learn. I feel like I have grown a lot, not only as a dancer but as a person. The teachers here truly care and always make the classes lots of fun. I have made many friends that share the same passion as me. I love the school and I am so happy dancing here.

Amanda Connor (Student)

I like Wilson School of Dance because of the teachers and the dance. The teachers are all very nice, and the teachers I've had have set new goals for me and have let us do our own choreography in class a little. You can take Lyrical, Broadway, Hip Hop, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Acting. That is why I like Wilson School of Dance.

Alyssa Connor (Student)

My daughter has been taking dance classes for three years with Sherry, Kelly and Juanita. She loves dancing! It is a thrill and a joy to see her express herself. Every year for the Spring Performances, I am amazed at what poise, grace, and confidence she displays on stage! Thank you for all of your hard work in making this an enjoyable experience for her! You offer such a variety of dances for all ages that I’m sure we will be enrolling her for many years!! Thanks.

Jean Taglavore (Parent)

Juanita, thank you for a great year of dance instruction! Madeline learned so much and she had a fun time, too! We feel your dance school is a treasure! It is unique among dance options in Charlottesville. You bring so much to the dance experience and your commitment and hard work is noticed and so greatly appreciated. Congratulations on a wonderful year and Thank You!

Marie, Joben, Madeline, & Peter Kronebusch (Student & Family)

We appreciate all that you do for our children. You've been an inspiration over the years.

Carol Buckner (Parent)

When we asked around our daughter's day school where other kids went for ballet and jazz lessons, the near unanimous answer was The Wilson School of Dance. Aside from the excellent teachers, we like the locale. The school is located in an old church where you can really feel the vibes.

Ahn Nguyen-Tuong (Parent)

Wilson School of Dance gave both of our kids, Dory and Josh, a love of dance and a comfort of moving. We will always be grateful to Juanita and her excellent teachers for giving our family so many years of love and appreciation of the visual arts. Thank you, Juanita and Joe.

Bill & Ellie Tucker (Parents)

Wilson School of Dance has been an important part of our daughter's life for five years. It has been a pleasure to see how solid dance instruction has helped her to grow as a dancer and an individual. However, this is only part of the Wilson School of Dance experience. Juanita Wilson Duquette is an extremely principled individual and it is apparent in the way that she works with dancers and in the teachers that she employs. The result is an experience that complements and supports our job as parents.

Martha Smith (Parent)

What can you say to a woman that is willing to give her everything in support, encouragement, and betterment of another? Juanita has been a second mother to my daughter. There’s nothing you can say that could match her giving, ability, beauty, depth of character, morality, and freedom for these children to be who they are – only better! A role model you wish you had – but you’re so glad your daughter did have! Her gift in choreographing is unmatched. Her passion for life, music, and expression is like a warm coat on a cold day. She created an upbeat atmosphere – never hostile, moody or more concerned with incidentals; The child first, the art second. This chapter in our lives has been a pleasure to live! We love you!

Susan Wunderlich (Parent)

What can I say? Juanita is the consummate professional, the ultimate teacher and motivator. Furthermore, I not only consider her a business acquaintance, but also a dear and precious friend. She has been so wonderful to my family. We love her dearly. Juanita is one of God’s true gems.

James F. Beeman (Parent & Student)

In addition to being a wonderful dancer and teacher, Juanita is an inspiration to the kids and to me. I am inspired by her sincerity, her enthusiasm, her great patience, and her love of children.

Sue Drumm (Parent)

Only someone with an infinite love for dance can teach another to dance from the heart. It is rare to find such a genuine person, and incredibly lucky to find such a dedicated teacher.

Emma St. Ours (Student)

Dance strength technique extremely well prepared first year dancing dance in college Neva Russo Student Classes at Juanita’s Juanita school studying study bar exam Dancing dance joyous experience stress lifts class Carolyn Dunn Student woman everything support encouragement betterment another Juanita second mother daughter giving ability beauty depth of character morality freedom children better role model daughter have gift in choreographing choreograph choreography passion for life music expression warm coat cold day created create creates upbeat atmosphere child first pleasure to live We love you Susan Wunderlich Parent Juanita gifted teacher loving individual done much arts community three daughters taken take dance years Dance grace poise self-confidence her example helped help daughters daughter achieve title Miss Teen Virginia America 2004 Thank you Juanita Pat Uhlig Parent Juanita consummate

I think all of the teachers and everyone at the school love children, and the kids know it!

Sue Drumm (Parent)

Eleven years of training at Wilson School of Dance gave me the strength and technique to be extremely well prepared for my first year dancing in college.

Neva Russo (Student)

Classes at Juanita’s school are the only way I was able to get through studying for the bar exam. Dancing is such a joyous experience that all my stress lifts by the end of class!

Carolyn Dunn (Student)

professional ultimate teacher motivator business acquaintance dear precious friend wonderful family We love her dearly Juanita God’s true gems James F. Beeman Parent Student wonderful dancer teacher Juanita inspiration kids me inspired sincerity enthusiasm great patience love of children Sue Drumm Parent infinite love dance teach another dance heart genuine person incredibly lucky find dedicated teacher Emma St. Ours Student Testimonials Juanita amazing woman dance classes performances performance has time to talk students friends one on one amazing mentor studio love dance feeling feel expression comfort home Erika Uhlig Student Miss Teen Virginia America 2004 daughter taking take dance classes class three years with Sherry Kelly Juanita loves dancing thrill joy express herself Ever year Spring Performances Performance amazed poise grace confidence displays display on stage Thank you hard work making make enjoyable experience offer variety dances dance all ages enrolling enroll many years Thanks Jean Taglavore Parent experience Wilson School of Dance spectacular children spend their afternoons Sandy Muraca Parent all teachers everyone school love children and the kids know it Sue Drumm Parent Wilson School of Dance gave give gives kids Dory and Josh love dance comfort moving grateful Juanita excellent teachers family many years love appreciation visual arts Thank you Juanita and Joe Bill Ellie Tucker Parents Eleven years training Wilson School of Dance strength technique extremely well prepared first year dancing dance in college Neva Russo Student Classes at Juanita’s Juanita school studying study bar exam Dancing dance joyous experience stress lifts class Carolyn Dunn Student woman everything support encouragement betterment another Juanita second mother daughter giving ability beauty depth of character morality freedom children better role model daughter have gift in choreographing choreograph choreography passion for life music expression warm coat cold day created create creates upbeat atmosphere child first pleasure to live We love you Susan Wunderlich Parent Juanita gifted teacher loving individual done much arts community three daughters taken take dance years Dance grace poise self-confidence her example helped help daughters daughter achieve title Miss Teen Virginia America 2004 Thank you Juanita Pat Uhlig Parent Juanita consummate day school ballet jazz lessons unanimous Wilson School of Dance excellent teachers locale school old church feel vibes Ahn Nguyen-Tuong Parent Wilson School of Dance important part life 5 years pleasure solid dance instruction helped grow dancer individual only part Wilson School of Dance experience Juanita Wilson Duquette extremely principled individual apparent works dancers teachers employs result experience complements supports job parents Martha Smith Parent