My name is Jenny Miller and I have a daughter that dances with Bates Dance Studios. I want to tell you a little bit about what Bates has done for my daughter. When she was younger we would never have imagined her getting up in front of large crowds. She was a very shy young girl.

The summer after her 1st grade year our school district was having summer school programs for kids. One of those programs just happened to be a dance class given by Mindy Bates Dryden when she was still in college. My daughter was excited to try it. She LOVED it.

That fall we enrolled her in classes at the studio. She really liked the classes and teachers. When spring came and preparations were getting ready for recitals, my husband and I became hesitant. We didn't know what our daughter would do about getting up and dancing in front of so many people. We were amazed!!! She had no fear and the recital came off without a hitch!

What does this have to do with Bates Dance Studio? They have transformed my once shy little girl into a confident, responsible, headstrong, independent young woman. I credit the teachers of the studio for helping her become who she is. She has learned not only dancing skills but I think skills that she can use for the rest of her life.