Why Dance? “Every original act asserts our commitment to living. Our program encourages our students to strive for their personal best. This helps them learn to experience life fully. When we create, we plant ourselves firmly in the moment and teach ourselves that what we do matters”--Miss Donna

How has Donna Rakerd, aka Miss Donna, succeeded in building a vibrant dance studio in town? A clue might be in west side location, one of two of Silhouette’s dance studios in Lakewood. More evidence might be found in it’s large picture windows, pristine dance floor and lofty ceilings that heighten interest from those walking or driving by while affording to students a positive learning environment. Another clue would be the table lined with a multitude of upcoming dance classes from Ballet to Jazz to Acrobatics to Hip Hop to Yoga and Bellydance.

Silhouette offers most of these classes but also opens their doors to other groups, like VERB ballet, for use of either Studio. Along with a wide range of class options, Miss Donna states personal service to the students as one of the things that sets her apart from her competition. "I started my company twenty years ago as a platform to teach children the art of dance," Miss Donna said. "I wanted to use my experience in social service and love of dance to nurture young dancers. Through the years my dance studio has grown and now we offer classes to anyone age 3 to adult .” Miss Donna’s earliest experience with movement was in childhood,. Miss Donna has been dancing since age 4, taking classes in studios much like her own, until she attended Kent State University.

At Kent she pursued a degree in Social Service and also continued dance. She has been teaching for the last 20 years. She attends several educational training seminars and conventions throughout the year and is an active member of Dance Masters of America. Silhouette Students competed recently at the I LOVE DANCE Competition in Cleveland on April 13th, with close to twenty of her students participating. These dancers received six first place, two second place, and two third place trophies. Also, her students performed on April 12 at a Lake Erie Monsters game during the first and second periods. This performance was a Hip Hop and Acrobatic routine featuring dancers ages 7 to adult.

When I posed the question to Miss Donna, “ Why Dance?” in connection to marketing the studio to the public she shared these thoughts about the benefits of dance:

FRIENDSHIPS: Beyond basic instruction, dance opens a wide array of social settings in which friendships are forged and dreams come true.

CONFIDENCE: Dancers possess an aura of self-confidence. Their entire mental outlook takes on a renewed sense of creativity, motivation and energy.

CREATIVITY: Dance provides an emotional outlet in which a person can truly reflect his or her feelings through body movement. The ability to dance is present in everyone, it only needs to be cultivated through sound instructional methods. Then you're on your own, expressing yourself with passion and flair.

HEALTH: Dancing helps the body's circulatory system as it makes your heart pump blood faster. Dancing encourages weight control and overall fitness through calorie burn off. The constant movement and muscle extension during dance sessions also provides a pleasing, mild exercise most people long for but rarely achieve, especially in such pleasant circumstances.

Miss Donna is very active in our community donating her time with groups such as MAMA (Madison Avenue Merchants Association to help keep Madison Avenue as a thriving business district), Birdtown Revitalization efforts and the annual Community Festival in Madison Park on September 6th in which many of her students perform each year. For the Lakewood ArtWalk on May 17th, Silhouette Dance Too (15641 Madison) will be hosting the Harding Middle School Student's Art Show from 4pm-9pm, “this is a great opportunity for anyone interested in dance for themselves or their children to come see what we are all about”, say Miss Donna. Additionally, students from the Studio will be performing in Lakewood Park during the Mainstreet Lakewood Walk + Roll event on Saturday, July 19th and the Community Festival this Summer. And finally, Silhouette will be offering an intensive Summer Dance Camp on July 8, 9 and 10th for ages 12-Teen, and July 15, 16, and 17th for ages 7-11 .Dance Locations for Silhouette are:

East-End Main Ballroom:
Attn.: Donna Rakerd
12501 Madison Avenue
Lakewood, OH 44107
Tel: 216-228-3871.

West-End Silhouette DANCE 'TOO':
Attn.: Donna Rakerd
15641 Madison Avenue
Lakewood, OH 44107
Tel: 216-228-3871.