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BY VINCENT DANGOLOVICH
COPY EDITOR
VWDsoo6@psu.Enu
Dancing is the ultimate exercise... disguised as fun.
At least that is what adjunct professor Deborah L. Davis
teaches her students at PSH, Harrisburg Area Community
College, and at her Lewisberry studio, Ballroom Break.
She and her husband, Frederic Shipley founded the
studio in 1988 when, according to their website, they
felt Harrisburg was in need of quality dance lessons at
an affordable price. Registered with the National Dance
Council of America and certified by the Imperial Society
of Teachers of Dance, they have more than 50 years
combined experience in teaching, competing, and judging
ballroom dance.
Davis's work has her listed in Marqui's Who's Who in
American Women and the National Register's Who's Who
in Executives and Professionals.
Despite her impressive dance credentials, Prof. Davis did
not start dancing as a child as one might expect.
"I started late," admitted Davis in a recent interview. She
started in her mid-20's while working at an ice cream
distributor.
us Life
Prof Spot: Deborah Davis
WHAT THE Fmo
Penn State Harrisburg's very own control and vibration lab in the fallout shelter
THE CAPITAL TIMES
"It was the (19)70'5. Disco was so hot that everyone went
three times a week," Davis adds. "We all started with the
Hustle, everyone in the business, my age, started with the
then."
She started her dance education at Freeman's School of
Dance, a studio that sadly closed following the instructor's
death. Davis moved on to a chain school where fate
introduced her to her future life and business partner
Shipley.
Following success in the dance world, fate dealt a life
threatening blow. In 1998, Davis complained of flashing
lights and feelings of fatigue. After a year of the symptoms,
doctors diagnosed her with eye cancer. Davis spent
approximately a year and half of her life legally blind,
battling the melanoma.
While some would think a blind dance instructor would
have to sit out a few dances, Davis used the experience to
become a better follower on the floor.
"I had to feel," she said, "had to depend on my other
senses and my dancing greatly improved."
Four years of treatment at Will's Eye Hospital in
Philadelphia cleared Davis of the cancer. Her previously
20-20 vision was only slightly impaired following the
March 3 2010
brush with then potentially fatal cancer. Still she smiles
as she points out that she only needs occasional reading
glasses after being legally blind.
Currently, Davis teaches a class in either ballroom or
Latin dance every semester while still maintaining her
studio and judging competitions. She also plans to bring
PSH a ballroom dance club and/or a college formation
team that would compete and exhibit at dance events.
As for her favorite part of her job, Davis points to the
people she meets. From students to world-renowned
professionals, her career has given her opportunity to meet
many interesting individuals. Some have even gained
mainstream fame in the form of Dancing with the Stars.
As for her favorite dance, Prof. Deborah Davis says she's
learned to like all the ballroom styles but points to one for
a very special reason.
"The Hustle—lt started it all," she says fondly. "I just
really like the music."