Wendy Crawford is the daughter of Glen Laman and Toni Laman. She was recently featured in the Tallahassee Community College African American History Calendar.
This Year’s theme features individuals that “work to preserve history and community memory, as well as for empowerment through fields of music and cultural expressions. These fields include honorees with culinary fashion, film, music, literature, performing and visual arts.
Wendy is the honoree for the month of February 2024 on the calendar. Her citation reads as follows:
As the Artistic Director and Owner of Dance Fusion Studios, Wendy Crawford has led her team to regional and national dance championships nine times in the studio's ten-year history.
Formerly the head coach of the Florida State University Golden Girls Dance Team for a decade, she transformed the team from being unranked in her initial year to achieving remarkable accolades:
- 1st in Florida
- 1st in the ACC
- 2nd in the Nation
Crawford's expertise and support were instrumental in Team USA securing the gold medal at the World's Championship, triumphing over both Japan and China.
Notably, under Crawford's guidance, two dancers from Dance Fusion Studios were selected for this gold medalist team.
As a seasoned judge, she contributes her expertise to national dance competitions across the United States and has undertaken overseas assignments to audition and train national dance teams in Australia, Switzerland, France, Spain, Ecuador and Colombia.
Crawford passionately unites and celebrates her dancers within the local community, fostering engagement through performances and service. With a focus on belonging and personal growth, she instills high standards, nurturing encouragement, challenge, and daily motivation.
Her dancers consistently earn prestigious titles and hold leadership roles in Tallahassee and beyond, reflecting the students’ desire for excellence. She is driven to elevate the standard of dance in Tallahassee by transforming a wee little dance class into a catalyst for capability, confidence, teamwork, and community.
Her goal extends beyond imparting the necessary training for dancers to thrive at a collegiate and professional level. Her deeper hope serves as a perpetual reminder to her dancers: by shifting their focus from self-imposed perfection and pressure, to the joy of sharing their passions and celebrating themselves, they can surpass their initial expectations.