If there were to be a second edition of the book “Austin Remembers,” I would submit a tribute remembrance to a very special person who doesn’t live in Austin but has contributed enormously to our city and citizens of every age for the greatest portion of her life.

She is Jane Taylor, developer of the Jane Taylor Academy of Dance. From 1964, Jane has dedicated her life to sharing her talents, not only through teaching, but also, instilling principles of life to aid a child to develop an inner beauty and confidence as well as an outer beauty of grace and poise. Jane openly expresses her love and devotion to her own family, her husband, four children, her mother­ — who is 95 years old now — and her sister. Her only daughter, Natalie, has partnered with her in the operation of the school for many years. Jane’s father died of Lymphoma, so Jane has an annual fundraising program to support the Leukemia-Lymphoma Foundation.

Not many people are aware of the many facets in the operation of a successful dance school. Many skills are involved, such as public relations, administration, management of staff, scheduling and organizing classes according to age and ability levels, teaching the basic foundation steps and the choreography. Then the presentations, which opens up another realm of skills: costuming, staging, lights and sound. Arranging pictures and verbiage for programs, taping of music, videography, plus a plethora of behind stage details.

Jane and Natalie involve the students in competition, state and national workshops, our Fourth of July parade and show at the Bandshell, the annual Jerry Lewis telethon out of Rochester, Minnesota, an annual presentation at Sacred Heart Care Home, and other worthy contributions.

Every spring and winter, large audiences will gather to see the stage productions prepared for the families and friends of the students. The winter program is part of the “Christmas in the City” event featuring excerpts from the Nutcracker Ballet involving the fathers and mothers partnering with their daughters and sons in the opening scene. Needless to say, many rehearsals are required to make a production successful.

Thirteen years ago Jane and Natalie with other interested individuals met each week and established a Sacred Dance Group which is now in their 7th season touring the Austin are retirement/rest homes as “People Loving People.” Their program features liturgical dance, sacred music and song. Messages of inspiration and encouragement are spoken throughout the program.

To describe Jane at this time of living seven decades of caring, loving and serving others through her love of dance, I would have to say, she has a strong faith in God, in herself and her students. She has the energy, joy and wisdom to successfully maintain the school, her family and situations life brings. She dances with the energy of a teen and jumps with joy at an exciting thought.

Where does she get all that energy, you might ask? She would say that everything she has comes from above to equip her to fulfill her purpose here on earth.

I have had the privilege of knowing Jane since she was 10 years old when her mother brought her and her sister to register them into my dance school in 1953.

Thank you, Jane! I applaud you, along with the hundreds of others who have benefitted from your devotion, direction and your love for dance.

With gratitude to the one above who makes our lives beautiful.

Ruth Bucklin White,

Austin