Artistic director, Premier Dance Academy, Clearwater, FL

Nominated by: Elizabeth Wolfe, student: “Tonya Guldenpfennig is the person I admire most in the whole world. I started taking ballet when I was 50, at another studio. It was as if I was invisible. Then Miss Tonya opened Premier Dance Academy, and I started my real ballet instruction there at age 53. Miss Tonya gives her personal attention to each student. She has a contagious positive attitude and truly believes each dancer can achieve her dreams. Miss Tonya has fixed my hip alignment, my arms, my bottom—my everything. She inspires us all with her energy, her brilliant choreography, her faith in each of us, her amazing knowledge of dance and performing, her effort to make the studio better every day, and the way she has faced her own dance challenges with unwavering determination and plain hard work. She expects no more from us than she is willing to do herself as she dances with us, works out with us, sweats with us, side by side, every class. She is what every dance teacher aspires to be!”

AGES TAUGHT: 2 through adult.

GENRES TAUGHT: Ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, lyrical, and contemporary.

TEACHING DANCE FOR: 20 years.

“When you see a dancer with the look of ‘I finally got it!’’— that’s the memory every dance teacher cherishes,” says Tonya Guldenpfennig. (Photo courtesy Tonya Guldenpfennig)

WHY SHE TEACHES: I learned at a very young age that there was no greater passion in my life. I felt whole when I was dancing. I would wake up each morning, and still do, looking forward to being at the studio and surrounding myself with all the joys, body aches, and fulfillment that dancing brings to me.

GREATEST INSPIRATION: Ray and Cindy Hollingsworth. I started at their school in my hometown as a little girl, and Ray took me under his wing, fostering a very special appreciation for the art of dance and making evident the importance of passing on all the wonderful experiences to future dancers.

PHILOSOPHY OF TEACHING: To offer every student, at all levels, skilled, compassionate training and to educate and guide dancers through the exciting world of dance while promoting self-confidence, creativity, and success. To provide an outlet for those students who dance not because they want to but because they must!

WHAT MAKES HER A GOOD TEACHER: I am very strict and require discipline within class, but I also take great pride in the knowledge of each student’s strengths and weaknesses and being creative in knowing how to push in a positive way to allow the dancers to accomplish the goals they reach for.

FONDEST TEACHING MEMORY: I can’t even begin to put my finger on just one—new memories are born every day in each class. When you see a dancer with the look of “I finally got it!”—that’s the memory every dance teacher cherishes. The memories of all your dancers growing before your eyes, in dance and in life!

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE FOR STUDENTS AND/OR TEACHERS: Dance for joy, for accomplishment, for success—because if dancing makes you happy and brings you joy, you have achieved success.

WHAT SHE WOULD DO IF SHE COULDN’T TEACH DANCE: I honestly could not see myself doing anything other than teaching dance. (Just ask my husband!)

MORE THOUGHTS ON DANCE AND TEACHING: I would like to thank all my past and present dancers for letting me be a part of their growth in dance and the parents for their amazing, daily support of their children’s desire to dance.

DO YOU KNOW A DANCE TEACHER WHO DESERVES TO BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT? Email your nominations to David@rheegold.com or mail them to David Favrot, Dance Studio Life, 10 South Washington St., Norton, MA 02766. Please include why you think this teacher should be featured, along with his or her contact information.