According to Kristen Wardlaw, Owner and Artistic Director, the mission of Heavenly Rhythm Dance Studio (HRDS) in Collinsville, Illinois, is to provide an affordable, performance based quality dance education. Their goal is to teach students the balance between the artistry and technique of dance as well as the confidence and humility of performance. HRDS strives to inspire a passion for movement and to provide technically sound training, while maintaining a constructive and family friendly Christian environment. Within Heavenly Rhythm, they have a recreational program as well as a competitive program. They want to provide both aspects to the kids who walk through their door. They have a choice of their level of dedication as well as financial and time commitment. They really feel there is a place for every type of dancer at Heavenly Rhythm, those who want to only have fun, those who want to be pushed a little but still do other activities, as well as those who want dance to be their everything and only second to God and family of course!! They offer classes in Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, Jazz, Pom, Acro, Leaps & Turns, and Dance Technique.
In Kristen’s opinion, what separates their studio from other studios is their Christian stance. In a world where dance can get pretty risky pretty fast, Heavenly Dance holds to their Christian beliefs and values. They attempt to stay fashionably current, artistically current, and stay competitive in this crazy world but with never losing sight that these gifts were given to them by God and should be used to glorify Him. They teach their kids by example that you do not have to stoop to those levels to win or be successful. Stand firm to what you believe, and always remember that your talents are a gift. They feel it is important that they use them to make a difference in this world and never take them for granted!
Kristen has had some good moments throughout her years. She would say winning The Edge award (highest score of the 500+ routines at the competition) at Edge talent competition last season was definitely up there. However, she would have to say her proudest moments are when her dancers serve. They do many service events throughout the year for the community around them. She feels it is important for them to get out of the studio once in a while and see what the world has to deal with and how even at a young age they can make a difference. When her dancers accomplish something for someone else and she sees how good it 
makes them feel. Those are her proudest moments! She knows then that she is impacting these kids lives not just their dancing careers.
From Kristen’s experience, the biggest mistake she sees dancers make is not trusting their training. Too many times she sees kids just do steps. They do not want to make a mistake. She understands that and agrees that it is good to be a perfectionist and want to “train right.” She was that kid! She is still a perfectionist. However, at some point they have to leave the training to the classroom and trust that they have trained their bodies well enough so that they can actually LIVE in their dancing. At some point, the steps should leave and it should be all emotion and all feeling. Kids are missing out when they don’t “live” in their dancing. It is a whole new world of artistry, passion, and therapy! It breaks Kristen’s heart to watch elegantly trained dancers never be able to lose their self in a piece. She wants to scream, “YOU ARE MISSING THE BEST PART!” She wants so badly for dancers to experience the moments they are missing by stressing over the steps. Train hard in ballet class, in technique class, in progressions, but man let go and live in choreography class! ! ! !
Each year their team always sets a team goal for the year. This year their team goal is to “Take Responsibility For The Energy You Bring Into This Space.” Basically, they want to bring positive energy wherever they go. In the dressing rooms at competition, on that stage, at the restaurant afterwards, back in the studio at practice, wherever they go they want to make sure they are being responsible and taking ownership for how they affect the energy. They can choose, no matter what the circumstances, how they are going to handle it! They are challenging themselves this season to be responsible for that energy and make it positive. Thus, no matter what happens to them, they can only be a blessing to those around them!
HRDS has two competitive teams. Dynamic Rhythm consist of dancers ages 11 and older who wish to dance at a more committed level than the recreational dancers. They participate in two competitions per year and perform at several local events. Company Rhythm is an advanced, dedicated and highly competitive competition team ages 6 and up. Company Rhythm participates in four competitions each year and a nationals every other year. Company Rhythm includes a variety of age groups. The number of classes and routines that dancers participate in are divided by age and teacher recommendation.
Kristen always tells her kids that she fought this dance thing though God knew where He wanted her and He was going to get her there in whatever way possible. She just decided to take the long route. She went to College for Art education but after her sister died in a jet ski accident, things took a twist. She was coaching her high school dance team at the time of her sister’s sudden death and Kristen found herself not only mourning her sister’s loss but also mentoring her team while they mourned for their dear friend and fellow teammate. Being there for them helped Kristen heal as well and she instantly knew that dance was powerful and that being a mentor for these kids’ lives gave her purpose and a desire to keep going. She and her sister had danced together their whole lives and Kristen knew she had to do this in honor of her sister. She had to have her legacy of compassion, love, dedication, and perseverance live on. Kristen had to make her life, her sister’s life, and their love for dance and the Lord mean something. If Kristen was going to go through this pain, she was determined to make something good come from it. So, she began Heavenly Rhythm. The Initials of the studio (HR) are the same as her sister’s initials (Holly Reeb). Kristen wanted a name that would bring her into it but would also loudly proclaim their mission. Ten years later Heavenly Rhythm has been not only healing for her but also for her parents as they are heavily involved as well. Her mother works the front desk and gets to mother all the little ones that come through their doors. This world is a sinful place and bad things will happen. God says they will have pain and sorrow because of the ways of this world, but what they do with it is their choice. Her choice is to make the most out of it. She hopes Heavenly Rhythm is a place where dancers can escape their sorrows and pains and live in this beautiful therapeutic art they call dance!
If you would like more information about Heavenly Rhythm Dance Studio, visit their website at www.heavenlyrhythm.com, call them at (618) 223-8230 or email them at heavenlyrhythm@hotmail.com. You can also “Like” them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter and check them out on Google+.
Please post a comment if you have had any experience with Kristen Wardlaw of Heavenly Rhythm Dance Studio.
