Theresa Hanken wants her students, young and old, to feel good about themselves through dancing.
"I hope students get a love of dance out of the studio and to have confidence to be themselves and feel good in their own skin," Hanken says. "I want them to accept other people for who they are and realize that not everybody fits into a box."
Hanken, 44, has owned Hanken School of Dance for 17 years. Her studio is currently located at 2022 Sam Walton Way, Lake Wales, and caters to people ages 4 and older. Classes run from the second week of school through May, Monday through Thursday.
Hanken teaches ballet, lyrical, pointe, jazz, hip-hop, tap, acrobatics, ballroom and Latin dance. She also has a pre-dance class for younger children where they learn tap, ballet, singing and acrobatics in one class.
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From left, Amanda Moss, Carma Weinhardt, Rachel Ohly, Lyndsey Kay and Haley McCollough practice a dance routine.
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A sensual body-shaping class also is available for women only. The class starts with a jazz warm-up and the students work on different areas of the body.
"We need to feel good about our bodies," Hanken says. "We shouldn't pick them apart. Though we can work on making them better, we also need, at the same time, enjoy what we have."
Hanken currently has about 70 students, saying she lost a lot of students because of the economy.
"I'm not worried about it," she says. "I have no doubt it's going to come back. Even with the recession, it's something inexpensive. It's something kids can do to stay active and be around other children."
Hanken started dancing at a young age. When she was 8 years old, she started tap-dance classes, hoping she would be like former child star Shirley Temple.
"I always wanted to dance," Hanken says. "I don't ever remember not wanting to. I started taking dance classes and just never quit."
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Lyndsey Kay, left, and Carma Weinhardt practice ballet at the Hanken School of Dance in Lake Wales.
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Originally from San Francisco, Hanken turned 5 years old during the trip when her family moved to Winter Haven. She continues to live in Winter Haven with her two sons, ages 16 and 18.
Hanken took dance classes at Taylor Studios Danceworks in Winter Haven with teacher Dottie Taylor. Hanken helped Taylor teach classes, and after high school she started working with Fred Astaire Studios, where she learned how to teach ballroom dancing and competed for four years.
Following her run at Fred Astaire Studios, the teaching bug hit Hanken after she taught a class for Taylor.
"Once I started teaching the kids, I knew I would never stop teaching again," Hanken says.
Hanken taught for Taylor for five years and then opened her own studio in Lake Wales.
Janet Kay of Lake Wales has sent her daughters to Hanken's studio for 15 years. Her oldest daughter is in college and she has one attending classes now.
"We like everything about it," Kay says. "Theresa is so easy to work with. She's just a real neat lady. She's just great."
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Joshua Jay, left, dances with Carma Weinhardt, while Justin Rodden and Haley McCollough perform at right.
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Hanken says she enjoys seeing the 'expression on her students' faces when they learn something.
"I love it and I can see in them how much they love it," Hanken says. "It gives them self-esteem and it gives them confidence and poise."
Hanken views teaching as her own personal form of therapy.
"When I've had a bad day, when life happens and I feel like everything's so horrible, I come in here and they look at me and smile and it all goes away," Hanken says.
Hanken's students are in it for the fun as well, she says.
"Most of the kids do it because they want to have fun," Hanken says. "As far as someone wanting to become a professional dancer, I haven't come across that yet. I have had several students who desire to teach, and that's a nice compliment."
Hanken School of Dance isn't a competition school, but the students do go to dance conventions.
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Theresa Hanken gets beginning students, from left, Morgan McKee, Lilianna Barnes, Madison Padgett and Jacki Ouellette, ready for a routine at Hanken School of Dance.
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"Competition is good for a competition personality, but not everyone has that type of personality," Hanken says. "I think you should dance because you love it. I don't think you should compare yourself with the person standing next to you. That makes you either self-conscience or egotistical."
Hanken adds she doesn't mind friendly competition, but she doesn't want that to become a big deal for her students.
"I want them to love the dance and love each other and help each other," Hanken says.
