Dawn Humphrey-Shaw IV has realized one thing throughout her career; longevity and tenacity is the key to success and the Arts are fundamental in a well rounded education. It takes between eight or eleven years to become a doctor or a lawyer, so what does fifty two years of dance and Fine Arts study create? It creates a master dance instructor.
Dawn has been a student of Performing Arts since the age of two and a half and has made it her lifelong career and focus.
She was born in Detroit, Michigan and under the tutelage of Robert and Norma Taynton, former principals of the American Ballet Theatre, Miss Dawn received a full scholarship and studied there until the age of eleven. By age twelve, she became a protégé of the Detroit City Dance Company under direction of director Carole Morisseau. By age fourteen, she received a full scholarship to Marygrove College and Harbinger Dance Theatre. Her focus of study was Russian, Cecchetti, and Pointe. As the Master ballet instructor for DCDC, she continued her studies in Dunham, Graham, Horton, West African Dance, Tap, Contemporary, Jazz, Hip-Hop, and Praise and Worship.
After High School, Dawn continued her dance career by pursuing her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree at Western Michigan University for the next five and a half years. Miss Dawn Humphrey-Shaw has always recognized the importance of giving back to her community and sharing her talent with all who are interested. She converted three general education schools in Highland Park, Michigan into Performing Arts schools for the Board of Education for fourteen years. Additionally, she also taught at Wayne State University before moving to Atlanta, Georgia in 2007. She currently teaches at several different studios throughout Atlanta and surrounding areas. For Ms. Dawn, sharing her love of the Performing Arts has been her life commitment and passion and she shows no sign of slowing down.