DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
When the crowds gather Friday night for the annual Decatur Sculpture Tour downtown, many spectators will be greeted by the smiling faces and the tapping feet of the dancers of the Razz M’ Jazz Dance Studio, who have been dancing downtown for the DST since it started.
The studio, which is based on Morningstar Boulevard in Decatur, recently celebrated its “Sweet 16th” recital, capping off a 16th year in business with three days of recitals in late May at Bellmont High School.
The studio, a joint venture between Karen Razo, who oversees the business side of things, and Jenna Razo-Koons, who serves as lead instructor, is very active in the community, performing at many summer events throughout Adams County and surrounding counties.
Offering recreational classes, along with competition classes, the studio has a wide range of young kids involved, from two-year-old toddlers to 20-year-old girls who aren’t quite ready to hang up their shoes.
RMJ will perform eight routines during the downtown event, culminating in their production number, “I do”, which features a number of wedding-related songs and 75 dancers. Nicole Busse and Olivia Rhoades serve as the bride and the groom in the entertaining routine.
“There is nothing more rewarding than seeing how far each dancer has progressed throughout the year,” says Razo. “We are so proud of each dancer’s work ethic and commitment to dance.”
The studio has, as usual, had a very active year already, competing at three separate regional competitions in Indianapolis prior to the recitals.
The season began with the competition at Warren Central with the Starpower Regional, where the studio had 16 routines receive “5 Star Premieres.” Seven numbers were awarded First Overall High Point.
A few weeks later dancers and families attended the Beyond the Stars Regional in Beech Grove, Indiana, where they received seven “diamond” ratings. The production (“I do”) received the Industry Dance Award People’s Choice, while the studio itself was awarded the “Studio of Excellence” award.
The final regional competition was also in Indianapolis and under the “Applause Talent” umbrella. The studio received 19 “Platinum” awards and 30 “Double Platinums.” “I do” was awarded “elite platinum.”
On a more personal level, the studio has lost two dance moms to illnesses in the past few years and the extended family of the studio has made a big impact on the families since then. Along with providing emotional support and comfort, members of the studio have stepped up in that time to make sure that dancers’ outfits still fit, the hair was just right, and that every dancer felt as part of the larger family.
The studio included references to both moms, Mandy Arnold and Jill Busse, in its recital program and both have left a lasting legacy, not only with the dancers they left, but also with their impact on the entire studio.
Razz M’ Jazz will be hosting a golf outing this summer in honor of Busse.
The studio will be right back downtown at Downtown Decatur Day on June 17th, performing a different set of dances from the Sculpture Tour performances.
Later that evening, the studio will perform 17 routines at Hoagland Days before taking a break to focus on the girls’ Super Bowl – the Starpower Dance Nationals at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center in South Carolina from July 11th to the 16th.
If Adams County seems a bit empty during that week, it probably is, because hundreds and hundreds of county residents will take to the interstates and the airways to converge on Myrtle Beach for the week, cheering on RMJ dancers throughout the week.
The studio will also host its annual Dance Camp at the end of June. The four-day event is a big hit with young dancers in the heat of the summer.
Registration for the 2023-24 dance season will take place on Saturday, August 5th. Stay tuned to WZBD.com for more information as the summer goes on.