Today we’d like to introduce you to Renee Augustine.
Renee, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My journey in dance began like several others at the young age of five. I began taking classes at Nancy’s School of Dance in Houston, Texas prior to moving to Miami, Florida. At the age of seven, I began taking Ballet and Jazz classes at a local facility.
About a year later, I stayed late after dance class to practice my solo for our upcoming dance show. It was there that I witnessed little girls performing; however, they were not dancing, yet combining dance and acrobatic skills with equipment. I later learned that this unique style of dance was called Rhythmic Gymnastics. I continued to watch in awe and wanted to take classes immediately! The following week I tried one of these special gymnastics classes with girls that were a little older and more advanced than I was.
Since I continued to participate in my ballet and jazz classes, the only rhythmic gymnastics class available was the advanced class. After class, I recall the gymnastics teacher telling me that although I was supposed to start in the beginner class, she would allow me to stay in the advance class as to interfere with my dance class. Over the next few years, I continued to take both dance and rhythmic gymnastics classes. And my love for both art form continued to blossom.
Around the age of nine years old, I decided to stop taking dance classes and continue in rhythmic gymnastics classes. I basically lived in the gym. I never wanted to leave! I was there even on the days I didn’t have scheduled practices. I vividly remember sitting in the back of the gym watching my gymnastics teacher teach the skills she learned as a young student while training in Cuba. I was supposed to be working on my homework from school, but I couldn’t take my eyes of my teacher’s classes.
At the age of ten I already know what I wanted to be when I grew up….a Rhythmic Gymnastics Coach! Although I was a young child, I had already made up my mind. Over the years I continued training with my young coach and took every class they offered, including the beginner and intermediate classes; I wanted to be the best I could be. If that meant going to the gym every day than I was willing to do it.
At thirteen years old I began to cover classes for my teacher whenever she wasn’t able to teach on particular days. It was a bit challenging as students that were older than me had to follow instructions from me. I even had the opportunity to continue teaching for several months as my gymnastics coach was out on maternity leave. I was responsible for teaching all the classes from ages 5 and up. Needless to say, although I was young I had big shoes to fill and have the ability to stand up as a leader and demand respect from every student.
Years later while in high school, I decided to try my luck at dance again and try out for the school’s dance team. I would always watch Hialeah Miami Lakes Danceline perform at school functions, and say to myself “I can do that”. I participated in my high school’s dance for 3 years while continuing to take my rhythmic gymnastics classes. After graduating high school, I honestly had no desire to go to college, Remember my intentions were set on being a rhythmic gymnastics coach. If it wasn’t for a heart to heart talk with my gymnastics coach I never would’ve attended college.
Next, I went on to Barry University and pursued a degree in Physical Education while also a part of their dance team. I also continued to help my gymnastics with her classes as well as judge several gymnastics competitions.
After college, I had a change of heart and no longer desired to be a gymnastics coach. I went on to becoming an elementary physical education teacher at Palm Springs North Elementary. I have currently been teaching here for the past fourteen years. In addition to all the excitement and challenges of a first-year teacher, I along with two other new teachers started a dance team at the school. It was a great experience, to say the least. It was the first time I was in charge of a team as well as having to make decisions that would benefit the team as a whole. I remained the school’s dance coach for ten years. The team performed at every school activity as well as compete at local at state dance competitions.
I always had the desire to open a business for myself, however, I doubted my abilities. I was under the impression that certain specifications and requirements were needed to run a business; qualifications I didn’t have perhaps? Four years into my physical education teaching career, I decided to open my own dance studio. I researched and learned that I did have what it takes and couldn’t believe I hadn’t pursued this endeavor years ago!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
On September 2008, Re-Evolution opened its doors for business. I was nervous and told myself I wouldn’t have any students walk thru my doors. I did all the advertisement I could and luckily the principal at my school allowed me to pass out flyers to the students. I also encouraged the dancers from my dance team as well to take classes. The dance studio consists of one room and a small lobby/waiting area. At the time I only had a curtain hung up from the ceiling to divide the two areas. I was so embarrassed by this curtain and would later have little 4-year-old dancers run out to their parents from time to time. I couldn’t wait to have a wall put in to complete a four-wall room.
My first year I probably had a total of twenty students. I felt like such a failure. I was always impressed how other dance studios in the area had sixty plus students. How did they have such high numbers I wondered? I later learned that the best advertisement is word of mouth…there is no greater form of advertisement than the positive words from attending dancers. Another struggle I encountered was that I had to teach every single class at the dance studio, which meant 6 days a week. All of this while continuing to teach full time as an elementary PE teacher as well has hold dance team practices four times a week. What was I thinking? Something had to give or I was not going to survive, physically or mentally.
Ironically, a reoccurring knee injury I had encountered as a child in gymnastics training had finally caught up to me. I was unable to walk normally and ended up needing knee surgery. This couldn’t have happened at a worse time. In addition to teaching, coaching after school and running a business I also began doing choreography for Quinces and Sweet 16’s. An event was scheduled about 2 months after my surgery. How would I be able to attend rehearsals, let alone teach dance classes? I was forced to end my services as the school’s dance coach. It was at this time that I
Please tell us about Re-Evolution Dance Studio.
At Re-Evolution Dance Studio we offer classes in Creative Movement, Ballet, Lyrical, Jazz, Hip Hop and Competition Teams. We focus on teaching students the foundations of dance. Many of our dancers are new to the world of dance and our studio provides a great basis for their future dance experiences and opportunities. I take pride in the fact that I have extensive experience in rhythmic gymnastics training and also I am a certified Florida teacher. This gives me the opportunity to care for each child as an individual and provide specific dance skills that will aid in their overall performance Although our studio is small in size, our dancer’s and teaching staff have big hearts! We also have several students that take classes as a prescribed for of occupational or physical therapy.
We are also known for having great costumes for every dance performance! Every year I get a lot of compliments from parents as well as audience members on how beautiful our dance costumes are. I make sure every costume has all the accessories needed to go along with every dancer’s costume.
Another thing I am proud of is the fact that I provide the entire dance recital package. Included at every end of the year recital are raffles as well as homemade refreshments…free of charge! I understand that the dance studio is a business and funds have to be collected in order to make a profit; however, I think it is vital that I give back and provide this grand gesture of appreciation.
Also, I have never denied any child the opportunity to perform due to financial reasons. From the outside, many would say I am wrong for allowing such a thing to occur, but I look at it from a struggling parent’s point of view. I have had numerous parents of former students mention to me that have relocated to other states or surrounding cities that they really miss Re-Evolution’s family environment and attention to detail to the needs of every student. I always hear the phase
Ironically, I find myself mentioning this unique aspect of teaching to my elementary students at every fifth-grade promotion. When I give my speech to the audience, I remind them that the quality of education they are receiving, the love and dedication is like no other. Every year I have former physical education students visit me over the years and beg me to go to their schools and how they remember I always told them “it would never be the same again.” The same can be said for students that choose to leave my dance studio.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
One of my favorite childhood memories was receiving the award for the best student at a rhythmic gymnastics performance and me balling my eyes out! I’ve always been a super shy young lady (I haven’t changed ’till this day) and I would never speak in dance or gymnastics class.
My gymnastics teacher saw my parents consoling me and asked why I was crying? I managed to say the words “I don’t think I’m good enough to receive this award…and someone else can have it.” My parents and coach were shocked by these words, but this is how I felt inside. At times I still feel this way. Until the age of about 10, I would cry every time I received a special award I thought I wasn’t good enough to receive.
Contact Info:
- Address: 17690 NW 78th Ave #102
- Phone: 305-828-6789
- Email: info.reevolutiondance@gmail.com
- Instagram: r.e.d.s.5678
- Facebook: Re-Evolution Dance Studio
Image Credit:
Tiffany Gomez
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