Jennifer Stevens Scholarship Recipients
2022 - 2023 - Keziah Hanna & Scarlett Nicholson
2021 - 2022 - Maven Navarro & Brisa White
2020 - 2021 - Belle Winn
2019 - 2020 - Haley Pickett
2018 - 2019 - Emmeline Bearden, Morgan Wray, & Cathryn Bigham
2017 - 2018 - Emmeline Sullivan
JENNIFER STEVENS
Jennifer Stevens grew up in Duncanville, Texas were she began taking dance lessons at age four. She studied dance while in college and received her BS degree in Business Management from the University of North Texas.
Jennifer taught for over 14 years at Sara’s Dance Studio before opening Danceworks in 2000. She enjoyed teaching ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, and lyrical and sharing her love of dance with her many precious students. She strived to be a positive influence and role model for her fellow teachers, students, and community.
Jennifer also had the opportunity to be the choreographer for the Waxahachie High School Drama Department for twelve years. Their musicals were recognized for many awards at the Dallas Summer Musical High School awards during the last six of those years. She also enjoyed working with the Ellis County Children’s Theater’s camps and summer musicals, as well as working as the movement and music director at First United Methodist Church Funday School.
Jennifer was a member of the Texas Association of Teachers of Dancing, Inc. since 1993 and was an examiner in Jazz. She served in many offices while on the TATD board of directors such as Merit Scholarship Chairman, Secretary, and President.
Jennifer Stevens unexpectedly passed away on April 29, 2018 from heart disease. A scholarship has been started in her name through the Waxahachie Theatre Department.
She is truly missed and we are proud to carry on her legacy.
WHS DRAMA CHOREOGRAPHER - Getting to choreograph for the Waxahachie High School Theatre Department is such an honor. I grew up going up to the school with my mom and watching her choreograph and always dreamed of getting to perform on stage one day. I would’ve never imagined that I would get to follow in my mom’s footsteps and choreograph on the stage named after her. I’m so grateful to the department for naming the stage after my mom. It is so amazing to do what my mom taught me to love and work with this incredible department each year. This department was so special to my mom and is so special to me. I miss my mom daily, but getting to choreograph for this incredible department on the Jennifer Stevens Stage gives me so much comfort knowing she is there with me along the way!
-SUMMER STEVENS, 2023
THE JENNIFER STEVENS STAGE - "My beautiful mom choreographed 29 musicals and 18 recitals at the old fine arts center. She would be absolutely floored to be honored this way. She most likely would have looked at Ryan Turner Mullican and Andy Reynolds like they were insane and given a huge laugh. She poured her heart into creating magic on stage. She would be so ecstatic to know her legacy will be carried on for years to come. I miss her more and more everyday, but knowing I can come home to a little piece of her brings me comfort and joy. Thank you Clyde Melick and WISD for this precious tribute."
-SOPHIA STEVENS, JULY 18, 2018
“I believe a dance teacher’s influence on a student’s future extends far beyond what goes on in the classroom. Our teaching philosophy is centered on instilling a passion for dance while building self-esteem and confidence in every child. The students’ well-being is our priority; their technical capability is secondary.”
— Jennifer Stevens, Founder of Danceworks and Choreographer for WHS Drama Department