A Durant native, Julie Henderson began dancing at the age of 3. She studied locally under April Gandy, Jill Jones Spencer and Margarite Hix. She was an assistant teacher under Jill Jones Spencer and further studied the Arts by attending dance conventions and competitions in the tri-state area and summer camps at the Dallas Ballet Center.

 

While in college at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, where she received a B.A. in Business Administration, Julie began her own dance studio, Dance etc. where she was able to share her love of dance by instructing hundreds of area students in all areas of dance including tap, jazz, ballet/pointe, lyrical, hip hop and musical theater. Many of her students attended competitions, conventions and camps. Several students received scholarships to various conventions and camps including LA Dance force, Joel Ruminer's Dance Camps, Tulsa Ballet's Pointe to the Future summer program, The American Academy of Ballet's summer program and The International School of Dance summer training in Alba, Italy.

 

Julie has choreographed numerous routines for area show choirs, cheer squads and dance teams, and has judged area talent shows. She directed the Durant High School Dance Team, the Sparklers, for two years and choreographed three seasons for the SOSU Children's Opera. She enjoyed choreographing and performing in The Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival's summer musicals in 1999 and 2001, including Oklahoma! and The Pirates of Penzance and most recently completed her 15th season as Educational Choreographer for the OSF's Children's Theater productions.

 

Julie currently resides in Durant with her husband, Willy and three children Chloe, Lillian and Elliot. She has taught a number of dance classes in Durant for the past 25 years and is so excited to continue sharing her love of dance at Axis Dance Co!