I am Lynne Stuart-Johnson, a.k.a. "Ms Lynne". I am a wife, a mother, and a teacher.

I started dance classes at the age of four and reached professional status in my late teens, performing for the New York City Ballet,the Radio City Rockettes and The Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. I also taught ballet classes as an elective class while working as a teacher at the International School of Stockholm, in Sweden.

I found that I preferred doing my own choreography and teaching young children the basics of ballet rather than performing. I believe this early interest in sharing my knowledge of dance with young children prompted me to immediately accept a teaching position at a local pre-school.

In as much as I knew how to teach all of the technical aspects of the dance, I found that teaching growing young, three and four-year olds, on a daily basis, kept me on my toes, figuratively speaking, more than in a ballet class. It reminded me of the gratification I experienced in the 60's, when I embarked on a new phase in my dancing career by holding "Special Kids Ballet" classes. These classes were for handicapped and special needs children. Of course, in those days, we did not use those words. They were "labeled" mentally retarded or disabled children. The rewards were unending. It was my love for children and true dedication to ballet that encouraged me to teach these children. I felt that "ALL" children can dance in their own way. To see the smiles on their faces, not to mention the joy and appreciation in the hearts of their parents, was truly a touching and moving experience I shall always cherish.

 

I raised three of my own children, guiding them through the "terrible twos" and the "tolerable threes" through the grade school and teen years to become mature, independent adults. A little bit of common sense mixed with gaining experience seemed to work for them.
P.S. They all took ballet with their mother!!

 

And here I am having worked with other peoples' children for over twenty-six years in Alexandria. In fact, some of the children I taught in those first years are now grown up with children of their own who are taking ballet with "Ms. Lynne"! I remember watching their development, their physical and mental growth,sharing in their self-esteem and enjoying the end results......happy,healthy and nurtured "little people". I have been putting all of my experience and common sense into good use for all these years.

 

What is my reason for wanting to be a good teacher? LOVE!