Watts Dance Studio: Still dancing after 51 years

By Lesley Jenkins
star staff
ljenkins@starhq.com

   "It just keeps getting better," remarks Ann Haynes Watts about her 51-year career with Watts Dance Studio. The studio boasts a busy year with record enrollments, numerous performances and a performance in Orlando, Fla., at the Magic Kingdom.
   The dance studio has become a family affair with daughters Chrisann Watts Tull and Carolee Watts Hacker maintaining full schedules at the studios in Bristol and Elizabethton. "We work alongside each other, respect each other, and most importantly, we get to share in the joy of sharing our art with children and adults," Watts said. Her grandchildren are helping carry on the family tradition by participating and assisting in teaching classes at the Elizabethton location.
   Jaime Lipford is a principal teacher at the studio, teaching all forms of dance, but specializing in Hip Hop. "It's a dance form enormously popular with young people," Watts said. "We have many students who migrate to the studio just for Hip Hop as it is not offered in every studio." All music used in the studio is carefully screened to ensure a lack of offensive messages.
   Highlights of the year included performing in Disney's Magic Kingdom on the Tomorrowland Stage. "The park-goers seemed to enjoy the show and they attracted a large amount of attention from the crowd," Watts said. Other performances included participation in the Covered Bridge Celebration, half-time performances at regional basketball games and the Arby's Classic. The Showcase Dancers are an auditioned group who perform regularly throughout the region and routinely travel to regional and national workshops to study with master artists.
   The 51st Spring Recital will be held May 8 at East Tennessee State University's Culp Center. Other upcoming performances include a spring stage production in April at T.A. Dugger Auditorium, participation in a regional dance performance of area dance schools, and the Covered Bridge Celebration.
   Watts Dance Studio is now accepting registration for enrollment in summer classes. Please call Watts Studio at (423) 542-3361. Watts Dance Studio offers classes in ballet, tap, jazz, acrobatics, and Hip Hop utilizing an adult, graduate teaching staff. Family discounts are available. Watts Dance Studio has two locations at 601 Race Street in Elizabethton and 1742 Edgemont Avenue (Edgemont Center) in Bristol.