Our Story, 1964 to today

Governor Rockefeller’s Certificate of Appreciation to Adele Johnson’s Dancing Studio for its contribution to the Special Events Program at the New York State World’s Fair.

Mary Johnson, with lights on, introducing dance to LILCO shareholders, who were among the top utility companies in the nation.

Adele and Mary Johnson present “Come to the Mardi Gras” at Temple Emanu-El in East Meadow, New York. This performance marked the beginning of the school’s travel team throughout Long Island and into New York City.

Adele and Mary Johnson present “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” Part II at the Rivoli Theatre in Hempstead, New York, now being led to heights of great success and praise such as “Best Performing Arts School” and “showmanship of the highest quality” on Long Island, New York.

Adele and Mary Johnson present “Encore ‘78.” Congressman John W. Wydler sent a Western Union Telegram expressing his inability to attend the commencement dance performance of “ENCORE ‘78” at Hofstra University in New York.

Mary Johnson and her two sisters formed Three Sisters Tappin’ and began touring as a unique tap dance and Djembe drum performance, sharing the stage with Gregory Hines and Savion Glover. Three Sisters Tappin’ introduce tap dancing and drum performance to the Westchester Ballet Center, New York.

Backstage at the Virginia Theatre, New York, Mary Johnson introduces her adult tap dance students to Gregory Hines. Mary Johnson encourages the graduating class at the elite Blue Mountain Middle School, through a unique tap dance demonstration, to dream big and follow their dreams.

Mary Johnson opens the On Time Dance Studio, where professional dance classes are taught to children of all ages and adults. She brought tap students backstage to meet Gregory Hines, who encouraged them to continue studying tap dance.

The students received a standing ovation for their performance of Chattanooga Choo Choo with a live band, and performed an original production called “Nago” based on Babatunde Olatunji and Mickey Hart’s “Planet Drum,” a Grammy Award winner for Best World Music Album of 1991. They also performed an African-American dance sponsored by the Thomas J. Lipton Company and presented by the Volunteer Center of United Way, and a Kwanzaa Celebration featuring dancers, musicians, drummers, and a live band.

At the Taconic Correctional Facility in Bedford Hills, New York, women’s prison inmates participated in dance rehabilitation through performances including “The Cabaret: A Memory to Believe In” and “Cabaret II,” with a September 1994 performance by the Taconic Tap Dancers.

Mary Johnson also taught dance at Lakeview Cottages, a children’s homeless facility in Peekskill, and presented “On Time” performances of traditional African dance and tap, accompanied by musicians Else Lampmann, Philip Miller, and Thurman Higgs. The African Arts production of “NAGO” was performed at the Paramount in June, and the On Time Dancers performed on Governor George Pataki’s inaugural parade float.

Mary Johnson was honored with a New York State Assembly Citation as “an outstanding citizen, one who is worthy of the esteem of both the Community and the great State of New York,” and received the Westchester County Board of Legislators Certificate of Merit as Woman of the Year.

At the International Food Fest, the On Time Dancers gave a special Senior Citizens performance. The Peekskill School District administration awarded the On Time Dancers First Place district-wide.

This year marks the organization’s transition to Dallas, Texas. The Dallas Morning News, December 11, 2001, covered the work in “Ballet trips on realty”: “As ballerinas perfected steps, Sponsor’s financing faltered. Gift keeps little dancers on their toes.”

In 2002, Mary Johnson founded IMAGINE… the Impossible. School Principal Sandra J. Foster offered this assessment of Mary Johnson’s work: “Her work enhanced students’ self-esteem, promoted self-discipline, and filled them with pride.”

Joe Tremaine encourages IMAGINE… students to continue studying dance and shares with them its many great benefits. IMAGINE… the Impossible received an Outstanding Service to the Community Grant. ArtsPartners elementary schools, both during and after school, were quite complimentary of Mary Johnson: “It takes a village to raise a child, and IMAGINE… The Impossible is playing a major role in cultivating and nurturing the children they serve.”

Featured in the article “Better behavior by leaps and bounds,” IMAGINE… held an Eight Week Summer Intensive of professional classical ballet training for boys and girls ages three to middle school. Students performed for Dallas’ yearly Operation Christmas Gift, were profiled in “Dance partners wanted: Ballet workshop is charity in motion,” and performed in the 19th Texas Black Invitational Rodeo.

IMAGINE… completed all requirements for Building Capacity / Building Communities and was featured as “Dallas Dinner Table is still taking diverse reservations.” A letter arrived from the Director of the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs. A message from Mayor Miller and colleagues thanked the young performers of IMAGINE… for their ballet performance at the ceremonial event.

IMAGINE… held an Eight Week Summer Intensive Professional Fine Arts Training Camp in Dallas, Texas for boys and girls ages three through high school. A Daystar TV interview featured IMAGINE…‘s instructors and dancers with host Joni Lamb. The Communities Foundation of Texas awarded IMAGINE… a $30,000 grant, and an article addressed the benefits of classical ballet to inner-city children.

IMAGINE… performed at The Adam’s Mark Hotel and the Hotel Adolphus in Dallas, Texas. The Dallas Morning News covered the program in “Their dancing shoes are cash-strapped.”

U.S. Senator Barack Obama encourages IMAGINE… to Dream Big Dreams at the Faith and Values Interdenominational Prayer Breakfast.

Mary Johnson and IMAGINE… the Impossible are nominated for The President’s Coming Up Taller Award by Dallas Women’s Museum CEO Wanda R. Brice (Committee on the Arts and the Humanities).

SMU Communicating Excellence: Celebrating Diversity in the Communication Arts, Disciplines and Professions.

Somali Bantu Refugee Children are introduced to Mary Johnson. Mary teaches dance to Somali Bantu Refugee Children and prepares their dance troupe for a Christmas Performance at North Park Mall, Dallas, Texas.

Mary Johnson takes the Somali Bantu Refugee dancers to the Gaylord Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas to meet Joe Tremaine. “He encourages the young dancers to never stop dancing.”

Mary Johnson prepares students from the orphanage in Ledier, Haiti for a classical ballet performance at Hotel Forteresse, Mirebalais, Haiti, on Saturday, July 27th, 2013.