As a military wife for 27 years, PAT HAWKES has taught in various states throughout the United States. Her family moved to Ft. Belvoir in 1978, and she started teaching in a local studio shortly thereafter. With more than 40 years experience, Pat is now teaching the children of former students. She opened Dancensations in 1989 and developed a program that prepares students to become successful in dance or whatever field they choose.
Under the guidance of Pat, many of the Dancensations’ Showgroup alumni have gone on to attend such schools as James Madison University, University of the Arts in Philadelphia, University of Arizona, and Julliard to name a few. Several of these students have been readily accepted into their college dance programs or dance teams while obtaining partial or full scholarships, and many of them have gone on to entertainment careers.
The studio has been represented at the Kennedy Center, on Broadway, at several theme parks, including Disneyland and Disney Tokyo, in music videos, and in various venues around the world. A few of Pat’s recent graduating students have been hired by Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, and Texas Ballet Theater.
Born and raised in Massachusetts, she is often teased about her accent, which she denies she has. Pat has been married to “Mr. Jack” for 46 years and has two children and 5 grandchildren, one “adopted” granddaughter (Gloria’s child) and too many “borrowed” children to count. All of them mean the world to her.
