because my husband is Hawaiian,” Shoemaker said.

     The winter dance recital is a part of students' final grade in dance so Shoemaker has to get all of her students prepared and make sure everything is in place and satisfactory. Each dancer is responsible for getting the dances ready and making sure all costumes fit well and look appropriate. Additionally, Shoemaker spends a lot of her time making sure she motivates her students for the recital. 

     “I motivate them, but it's hard when they don't know what to expect from it,'' Shoemaker said.  “Once they experience one recital then that's when they [are] more motivated.”

     The main reason why Shoemaker started organizing dance recitals is to give students something to strive for and an experience to remember for the rest of their lives. 

     “I have been teaching here for 21 years [so] I have students that I taught their mothers and they would always come in and say that's the class they remember being in,” Shoemaker said.

     The recital is an exciting event for students to show off their talents and for parents to come out and watch their kids perform the dances that they have learned from Shoemaker. Shoemaker allows only appropriate dances in the recital and also in the classroom. 

     Shoemaker has an average of 14 to 15 students for each class period. She teaches and prepares her students to be great dancers and to remember the things she has taught them in dance class. Shoemaker teaches each of her students to embrace and show off the beautiful structures she has taught them. 

     “Dance is athletic, inspirational and creative,” Shoemaker said. 

     Shoemaker lets her students create their own style of dance as long as it's appropriate, such as hip hop and contemporary dance. 

     “I've always been involved in dance,” Shoemaker said. “I went to school to embrace my dance styles and learn more appropriate dances.”