My daughter has worked with Shawna Riggio for years and we couldn’t be happier with our experience. Shawna is kind, professional and determined to bring out the best that your child has. We have seen our daughter’s confidence grow through dance and it shows OFF on the dance floor. Simply put- myself and my daughter adore Shawna and are so happy we have had the opportunity to work with her.

Shelley M.

Shawna is so much more than a dance instructor. She is a role model and a mentor. Her ability to help her students learn and grow not only in dancing but also in school and other activities is unparalleled. She helps each of her students grow emotionally, in their confidence and as a dancer. Wherever they are they will excel and reach their personal best with Shawna. In addition, she is dedicated to sharing with the parents of her students the progress they are making and her gratitude for having them in her classes. It is heartwarming to hear her talk about the kids. She lives her passion for dance and personal growth and brings it to life for those she teaches and for all of those involved with her students. Time in her studio is time well spent!

Katie M.

My daughter recently become more focused on advancing her dance skills and enhancing her dance performances. Working with Shawna Riggio at RAWK, it has helped her start to accomplish her goals. Shawna not only works on technique but she focuses on building strength in her toes, feet and most importantly her core. This is fundamental to my daughter becoming a stronger dancer. Outside of the physical aspects of dance, Shawna works with the girls on their confidence as young women, how to handle stress, and provides emotional support. She truly invests her whole self in each student she teaches. We are grateful to have Shawna as my daughter’s dance teacher.

Lori T.

My daughter enjoyed dance before... but after attending Rawk it became a PASSION! Shawna has a way of igniting this in her students! Our daughter comes home singing the songs and practicing her routines from class with a huge smile on her face. As a parent, I couldn't ask for anything more than seeing my child develop a love for something!

Melanie Q.

Shawna is everything you could ask for in a dance instructor. She emphasizes great technique, fun, and dedication- pushing her students to go beyond their own expectations while providing support and encouragement all along the way. My child has thrived in the environment she has created; where expectations are high, growth is exponential, and fun is the key ingredient.

Lisa Y.

Shawna Riggio is the Whole Package. She is incredibly talented, knowledgeable, skilled, passionate, thoughtful, intense, and compassionate. She is beautiful inside and out and one of our family's greatest blessings.

Benjie A.

What Shawna creates is more than a wedding dance. She creates an experience for everyone involved. The time, care, expertise and respect with which she approaches everything she does is not something you can find anywhere else. She met us right where we were...dance level, energy, vision and values. Shawna was able to bring to life what we envisioned in our minds. It was the perfect moment!

Sydney & Barret 3-15-15

Shawna Riggio teaches dance always mindful of the bigger picture. While she is gifted as a dance choreographer and instructor, her true greatness shines in the roles of teacher and mentor. Shawna espouses her students to work hard, have strength of character, and to be their best possible self in everything they do. Through Shawna's guidance, our daughter's self confidence, pride, poise and inner strength have grown immeasurably.

C. Fanale MD

Shawna came into my life at a crucial time, when I was deciding to pursue a career as a professional ballet dancer. She helped me refine my technique and introduced several concepts on body alignment that transformed my dancing and the way I initiate my movement. Not only did my technique improve tremendously, but I developed an inner confidence and an ability to express myself through my movement. Shawna’s positivity and deep care towards each of her students is what sets her apart from most teachers I’ve had. She inspired me daily and made me want to be the absolute best that I could be. The lessons I learned from Shawna will be applicable to my life in and out of the dance studio for the rest of my life.

Anna Dobbins, Cleveland Ballet Company Member

In the years that I was trained by Shawna, she helped me grow not only as a dancer but as a person. She sets a standard for excellence and discipline that still plays a part in my work ethic today. Each class, she provided strength building tools that were applicable to any style of dance. She balanced technique and artistry with equal emphasis, preparing me to go into the professional dance world. After my years of training with Shawna, I was stronger, more versatile, and found a new sense of confidence. Shawna is someone who genuinely had my best interest in mind and was invested in helping me reach my full potential. She has acted as more than just a dance instructor to me; she is role model, mentor and friend.

Courtney Ramirez, Butler University Company Member

Our wedding wouldn't have been the same without Shawna's amazing choreography for our surprise first dance! We used a mashup for the dance and Shawna choreographed our dance to match each song perfectly. Neither my husband nor I considered ourselves dancers, but Shawna was patient and consistent in her coaching of our dance and we couldn't be more proud of the result. Our friends and family were blown away by our dance and were so impressed with our ability to execute the complex choreography. Shawna made sure that we were comfortable with the dance, but also encouraged us to push ourselves and set high expectations. A couple weeks before the wedding, we decided to add a wedding party flash mob to kick off the reception party and Shawna did an amazing job putting together last minute choreography that was entertaining and simple enough for our whole wedding party to learn. Our wedding was full of positive energy and the dance floor was full all night thanks to Shawna's choreography of our surprise dances. We can't recommend her highly enough!

Joanna & Drew 7-24-16