Tawn Marie’s Dance Centre (TMDC) is located in Syracuse outside the village of Liverpool, New York. Tawn Marie Campolieti, Artistic Director, describes her studio as a place where students feel like they are home. They teach strong technique and strong character to students who strive to be the best that they can be. TMDC aims to challenge all of their dancers to achieve their personal excellence while at the same time experiencing the joy of dance. They offer dance classes for preschool to adults ranging from recreational to competitive dances in several genres such as Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Tumbling and Acrobatics and including classes meant to introduce dance to Pre-School and Kindergarten students.
In Tawn Marie’s opinion, their studio stands out amongst other studios because they not only go the extra mile to make sure that they are providing the best all around training in the area but they run their school like a family. Their students never want to leave. Additionally, Tawn Marie and her teaching staff teach in a collaborative effort. They work together as a team to become the strongest team possible.
Tawn Maries Dance Centre has had an award-winning competitive team since 1996. They believe they achieved this by the hard work and dedication of their dancers and the excellent personalized instruction that their teachers offer.
TMDC has earned numerous accolades including regional and national awards since they opened in 1996 such as consistently being voted top dance studio in the town of Syracuse, New York, being named Best Studio in 2014 by the United States Tournament of Dance, being voted Top 50 dance schools in the United States by Dance Teacher magazine, winning the top small business award by SBA and for the past few years, being named one of the Top 50 Dance Studios in U.S.A. to Watch two years in a row, and winning Top Studio awards at every competition they have entered. They believe they have earned these awards because of the excellent personalized coaching and choreography their instructors provide and the dedication and hard work of their students. The center runs their business very professionally and has a stellar reputation nationally. They have won the Diamond Award from the United States Tournament of Dance and the Access Broadway Cup. Their students have received many scholarships both locally and nationally.
At TMDC, preschool dance is one of their most important programs since it lays the 
foundation for a child’s lifelong love of dance! The program is very popular and fills up year after year. Their program mixes ballet for grace, tap for coordination and rhythm and tumbling for strength and flexibility. This mixture of disciplines keeps their tiny dancers active and learning throughout the entire 45 minute class time and provides a fantastic introduction to the world of dance.
Tawn Marie has had many proud moments as a dance teacher. She is always proud when one of her students works hard and moves forward in their confidence and technique. For instance, she has a student that received a full ride artistic scholarship to the University of the Arts. She was only one of two dancers in the nation to earn this scholarship and she really needed this financial help to allow her to attend college. She also received an invitation to dance in the Dizzy Feet Gala for Nigel Lythgoe and the Capezio Anniversary Show in New York City. However, the moment when her student Cherish Furcinito won the title of Miss Dance of the U.S was truly memorable. Also, winning Top National Studio at Access Broadway and Top National Junior Studio at United States Tournament of Dance are moments of which she is very proud.
Big mistakes that Tawn Marie has seen dancers make are thinking too much and not performing from the heart. True passion is what sets dancers apart. There is so much talent out there, but when it is real and honest and touches the audience from the heart, then it is something you remember!
TMDC is active in community events as well and performed A Christmas Fantasy, for the city of Syracuse for many years. Their families work hard to raise money for local charities every year. She thinks it is important to teach kids more than just dance. Being artists means being in tune to the people around you and helping your community in many ways.
Additionally, Tawn Marie is currently a national adjudicator for competitions and has choreographed many dances for national dance teams and is certified to teach by Dance Masters of America.
Her goal for the Centre for the upcoming year is to continue to strive to become better at everything they do and for the studio to always be better than they were yesterday – always improving. Additionally, since they had 18 graduating seniors this year, it will be a bit of a transitional year for the Centre but they will focus on continuing to build beautiful dancers.
After many years of dreaming about owning her own dance school, Tawn Marie opened the studio in 1996 due to her desire to share her love of dance with others. She has always felt most at home when she was headed to a dance event or dance studio and she wanted to create that for others. Additionally, her area was in need of a new vision. That need along with her love for kids and for dance all came together at the same time and Tawn Maries Dance Centre was born.
Tawn Maries Dance Centre is open five days a week to teach the art of dance to both adults and children. Their Fall/Spring 2015 – 2016 schedule has a range of classes available in a variety of genres for both first time dancers and dance enthusiasts. Their clients can choose a class that will work for both their dancers and their families – Preschool, KinderDance, KinderAcrobatics, Acrobatics, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, L;yrical, Tumbling, Hip Hop, Adult Tap.
If you would like more information about Tawn Maries Dance Centre, visit their website at tawnmaries.com, call them at 315-457-3151 or email them at tawn@tawnmaries.com. You can also “Like” them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.
Please post a comment if you have had any experience with Tawn Campolieti of Tawn Marie’s Dance Centre.
