McClendon School of Dance Profile:
The Visionary
Entrepreneur, Choreographer, Motivational Speaker, Artistic Director
Driven. Energetic. Neoteric. Instructive. Spiritual. Electrifying! These adjectives are
quite frankly, simply "Denise."
Denise Smith McClendon, the founder of the McClendon School of Dance, one of the oldest and most prestigious dance schools owned by an African American in the state of Georgia, is a magnifying force to be reckoned with. For 30 years, "Ms. Denise," as she is affectionately called by her dancers-many of whom began dancing with her as young as two years of age and continue as adults- has been perfecting and providing a much needed artistic craft to metro-Atlanta, in the dance forms of ballet, tap, modern, jazz, Pointe, African, and Praise & Worship. Her students magnify excellence as they are continuously accepted into prestigious dance programs such as Alvin Ailey's Dance Theater at Fordham University.
Her presence is strong and her desire to train dancers to exceed even beyond their expectations reigns supreme. Add to that, her determination-which is more of a calling-to instill educational, moral, and spiritual values in her students is immeasurable.
Her combined feats as a choreographer, taskmaster and surrogate mother, resonate from behind the doors, kept closed to all who are eager to serve as spectators. Hers is a serious mission, and one that cannot be interrupted. Discipline is paramount for this veteran choreographer, and even her neophyte dancers know before they walk onto her floor, that respect for the craft, for the instructors, and for self is mandatory.
She has been married to her loving husband W. Oliver McClendon, Jr. for over thirty years, and blessed with four beautiful children, Keisha, Jai, Kari and Tre'. A former teacher, member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., member of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and a member of the MECCA Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. Denise is a motivational speaker, minister of dance, serves as a judge for various events, enjoys community service and loves to mentor her students who desire to achieve their goals.
Celebrating its thirtieth year serving the community and incorporated in 1980, McClendon School of Dance, Inc. is located at 2618-E Max Cleland Blvd., Lithonia, Georgia 30058. Using dance as a fountainhead, McClendon has a holistically designed curriculum which incorporates dance and motivational instruction, an emphasis on academic excellence; and appropriate moral and ethical values. In addition to its dance specialties, classical ballet, tap, jazz, modern, and praise and worship, McClendon provides academic tutoring as well as instituting a culturally relevant social program including seminars and workshops for pre-teens, teens, and their parents. Emphasizing proven teaching techniques, McClendon has realized success in molding and developing youth by building character in kids and young adults.
Beginning with just a hand full of students at Collier Park Recreational Center in Atlanta to a present enrollment of over 200 students in a proper studio setting, McClendon dancers often have their performance and demeanor compared to the world renowned Boys Choir of Harlem. During a visit to Atlanta to participate in an event held in his honor, Dance Theater of Harlem Founder Arthur Mitchell awarded McClendon dancers with six of ten audition scholarships. "The McClendon dancers are some of the best technically trained dancers that I have seen in Atlanta," Mr. Mitchell said. The school has also forged relationships with prominent talents such as Jhane Hill, principal dancer with Ballet der Deutschen, Dusseldorf, Germany; Cubie Burke, former dancer with American Ballet Theater and Dance Theater of Harlem; Karen Brown, former principal dancer with Dance Theatre of Harlem and current director of the Oakland Ballet; and Allyne Gartrell, former dancer and current rehearsal director of Dallas Black Dance Theater--all who routinely guest instruct and choreograph for the studio.
The vision of the school encompasses the foundation that the school is built on: To set free the inner beauty of young minds by teaching, motivating and developing character in individuals who are then capable of meeting the many challenges of today's youth. This will help them understand and use wisdom of God's teaching in their daily lives in making wise decisions and choices.
Community Involvement:
McClendon has an abiding commitment to youth who, for whatever reasons, cannot afford dance training.
Therefore, the school has established the Adrienne Alexander Scholarship Fund and The Kimberly Edwards Scholarship to provide funds for deprived and deserving youth to participate in the full dance program.
The school has also adopted the Sadie Mays Nursing Home to provide routine entertainment and performances for the holidays and yearly events.
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