Shirley J. Larkin

Shirley J. Larkin (June 17, 1934 - August 10, 2011) is the founder of Larkin Dance Studio in Maplewood, MN and is known by many in the studio competition industry as the 'Matriarch of Dance'.
History
Larkin was born in St. Paul in 1934 and learned to dance while in primary school. As a high school sophomore at Central High School, Larkin taught her first students. She later gave lessons out of the basement of her home in Mahtomedi, and then soon she went on and taught out of available classrooms at the former Gall School in White Bear Lake, MN. Later in 1979 she moved her studio to strip mall, Plaza 3000, on White Bear Ave in Maplewood, MN. Larkin was a graduate of Chicago National Association of Dance Masters She served as president and secretary of the Minnesota Chapter of National Association of Dance and Affiliated Artists from 1962 until 1970. She was National President Emeritus of Professional Dance Teachers Association. In addition to her busy schedule, Shirley Larkin choreographed many musicals, taught dance workshops and has judged numerous dance competitions.
Larkin was known by many in the studio competition industry as the 'Matriarch of Dance.' In the 61 years she ran Larkin Dance Studio she influenced the lives of thousands of dancers, teachers, parents, and friends. Larkin dancers have gone on to win competitions all over the country and to pursue careers as professional dancers. In a 1999 interview with the Pioneer Press, Larkin explained why her students excelled. “You have to have the dedication and discipline to be committed to it. It’s not easy. You have to want to.” Larkin had two mantras as a teacher, according to her daughter Molly Symanietz: “Keep dancing the Larkin way” and “Praise him with dancing,” from Psalm 149:3. “Shirley’s a legend in children’s dance,” said Darryl Fink, producer of the Hall of Fame Dance Challenge. “Nationwide, I think Larkin is one of the names that everybody knows. And it all goes back to Shirley.”
Throughout her life she and her husband Russell, who died in 1996, had six daughters including Mary Kay, Patricia, Michele, Nancy, Kelley and Molly. Shirley J. Larkin died in the Alzheimer's unit of the Lighthouse Senior Center in 2011 and at that time she was 77 years old.
Larkin Dance Studio and Legacy
Larkin founded Larkin Dance Studio in 1950 and spent 61 years sharing her talent, love and gift of dance with many children and families. Larkin Dance Studio is a full-service dance studio that has tap, jazz, lyrical, ballet, hip hop, zumba and pointe classes held by a professional staff of highly experienced dance instructors. Guest teachers also come in from all over the country to teach classes to the Larkin competition teams.
In January 2014 Larkin Dance Studio upgraded to a larger location off Highway 36 in Maplewood. Larkin Dance Studio enrolls students from all around the metro area and even some students from Wisconsin. Just over 900 students are enrolled in classes at the studio, with around 200 students who compete on competitive teams at competitions around the metro area each year. The competing teams also go to nationals each year where they complete with studios from all around the country. The studio is known to be very successful and after graduation many Larkin dancers continue their passion for dance by pursuing professional careers, college dance teams, or teaching/ coaching among other things.
In the Summer of 2016, Larkin Dance Studio won "The Studio of the Year" award at The Dance Awards.
Her daughters and current owners of the Larkin Dance Studio, Michele Larkin Wagner and Molly Symanietz, along with the Larkin staff work harder than ever to keep the Larkin legacy alive after she died in 2011 and the staff continues to teach the students to dance "the Larkin way."

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