Rick Patrick
rick@greenepublishing.com
Quite possibly the understatement of the decade would be that Madison’s cultural life just won’t be the same now that Becky Robinson has officially retired after more than 50 years of sharing her love of dance with countless dance students. In the spring of this year, Robinson held her 50th dance recital for her studio called “Becky’s Dance Steps Studio.” Appropriately, she invited dancers from over the years to come back and perform. Perhaps there is no more fitting tribute to one who has not only shared her love of dance, but has helped spark that same love in the hearts of literally hundreds of youngsters.
During her career, she has literally taught generations of dancers, teaching daughters and even granddaughters of former students. “I think that’s maybe the one thing I have loved the most is the fact that I have been able to teach generations of dancers, moms, daughters and even granddaughters,” said Robinson. One of her prized possessions is sign that states, “Proud teacher of grand-dancers.”
Robinson’s teaching days actually pre-date her graduation from Florida State University in 1976. When she was 14-years-old, her father, the late L.D. Robinson, helped to convert the family garage into a makeshift dance studio and she began teaching dance to children in her neighborhood. After graduating from high school, she knew she wanted to continue with her love of dance. Her father convinced her to pursue a degree in education, which turned out to be a wise move. “As it turned out, that was a good course of action, Robinson said during an interview in 2021. “I was able to incorporate what I learned studying education into my work in the dance studio.” When she returned to Madison with a degree in elementary education and a minor in dance, she began teaching at Madison Academy while teaching dance in the evenings. “After two years of that, I realized I wasn’t ‘Superwoman’ and I decided to concentrate on the dance studio full time.” In those early years, she operated her dance studio out of the old American Legion building, among other locations around Madison. In 1981, she moved to the location on Base Street that would be her “home away from home” for over four decades.
In addition to her studio teaching, Robinson shared her expertise by choreographing many musical theatre productions at North Florida Junior College. During that time, the school had a thriving theatre program that featured not only student performers, but many from the community as well. Robinson recalls many fond memories working with the late Gwen Faulkner who directed several large productions such as Carousel, South Pacific, Brigadoon, The Music Man, Camelot and many more.
Robinson’s dance recitals became the highlight of the year for many in the area. In addition to the dance recitals, her performers were regulars during events such as Down Home Days and the annual Light Up Madison Christmas celebration.
“This was a difficult decision,” said Robinson about her retirement plans. “I have enjoyed every minute of my career. Dance has been very good for me, and I hope I have been good for dance in Madison. This has not been a job, but something I have been passionate about. But as you get older, perspectives change and I felt it was time to just slow down a little. The Madison community has been so supportive of everything I have wanted to do; and I am so grateful for that.”
Teaching dance for as long she has, there are literally hundreds of young dancers who have had the benefit of her tutelage. One vivid memory of a former dancer and school student of Robinson’s, Emerald Greene, remembers Robinson’s long hair when she began teaching at Madison Academy. “I remember during story time when I was in the second grade, the girls in the class would brush Becky’s hair as she read to us. I remember our first dance recital, we wore Mickey Mouse ears and did the ‘Mickey Mouse Theme’ with M-I-C-K-E-Y, M-O-U-S-E.”
“I have so many wonderful memories from Becky’s Dance Steps Studio,” said Summer Baldwin, a former student of Robinson’s who went on to make a career of her own as a professional dancer and teacher. “As a professional dancer and dance teacher now, I am often inspired by how organized, professional and supportive Becky was to me from the age of three to 17.”
It is easy to see that Robinson’s legacy of dance and the Arts will live on long after the last ballet slipper is laced up. Although the lights in Becky’s Dance Steps Studio are dark now, the light of the dreams that were formed within those walls will shine on for many years to come. Thank you Becky for being an inspiration to many, even those who have never tapped a single step. 