Position: Colorado Area Representative for Fred Astaire Dance Studios and Parker Studio Franchisee
Place of Birth: Fort Smith, Arkansas
Favorite Food: I like all kinds of food, except oysters. (Truthfully, a Big Mac!)
Favorite Music: Jazz
Favorite Dance: I like every dance, but prefer rhythm dances
Competition Style: Rhythm and Smooth!!
What I Love Most About Teaching: I love teaching because of the joy on someone’s face when they feel the accomplishment they’ve been working so hard for. I still get that warm, fuzzy feeling when a teacher has that look of pride at seeing the happiness on their student’s face. I appreciate what they are feeling when they teach.
Who I Admire Most and Why: My mother, because of her dedication to helping animals. She is the Director of the Sebastian County Humane Society and spends her time educating people about caring for pets. She provides care and a nice place until they are in their forever homes. She is the strongest person I know.
One Thing Most People Do Not Know About Me: I can’t sing, but everyone thinks I can because I do it all the time. They just think I am trying to be funny
Biography: Mary Jo joined the Fred Astaire Studios in 1991. She remembers many evenings with her family watching Fred Astaire movie reruns. Having danced since age 8, belonging to this organization is a dream come true. Mary Jo’s favorite aspect of the business is helping people develop their talents, regardless of their dancing level. Mary Jo says, “Seeing the excitement on their faces, whether it’s because they just learned the box step or placed first in a National Competition, is a wonderful experience for a teacher. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it.” Mary Jo is one of the Top Female Instructors to win the coveted Freddy Award all but 2 years of her 15 years as an Instructor with Fred Astaire Dance Studios. She also holds the record as the only female instructor to win the Top Teacher Overall in a National Competition. She has received many awards for her school’s achievements. Mary Jo loves being part of the Fred Astaire Organization, where her goal is to create an environment where students and staff can freely express themselves through the beauty of ballroom dance, and to provide a dance studio that Fred Astaire himself would be proud of.
