Dance for ALL abilities
Our Story
At Aspiring Attitudes, we believe that dance is for everyone. Our story began with a simple yet powerful conviction held by our founder, Shannon Wrights: that the joy of movement and the art of dance should never be limited by ability.
Shannon, who is visually impaired, knows from personal experience the challenges of being held back. Despite being told she couldn't dance due to her vision, her fighting spirit and passion for dance led her to earn a Bachelor of Science in Dance Management from Oklahoma City University. She was driven by a single purpose: to create a space where no one would ever be turned away.
Starting from her home, Shannon began teaching dance to students of all abilities, including one mother's child with cerebral palsy who had been turned away from other studios. That initial "yes" was the beginning of Aspiring Attitudes. Since then, her dream has grown into a vibrant dance studio where typical and special needs students learn and perform side-by-side.
Our mission is to provide an environment where students can reach their highest potential, regardless of physical, developmental, emotional, or financial limitations. We are not a special needs studio that includes typical dancers, nor are we a typical dance studio that includes special needs dancers. We are one big group, a family, all learning and growing together.
At Aspiring Attitudes, we celebrate every small movement and every grand leap with equal excitement. Our students not only learn dance routines but also develop self-confidence, build social skills, and form lasting relationships. We are committed to fostering a supportive community where everyone belongs, and where the focus is on a can-do attitude rather than on perceived limitations. Our story is still being written, one graceful step and joyful smile at a time.
Mission and Vision
Mission: Aspiring Attitudes is an integrated dance studio that encourages each student to achieve their full potential. Our goal is to provide the truest dance experience possible to both typical and special needs students, including those with severe physical and developmental limitations. We strive to achieve this goal by adapting dance instruction to meet the needs of each individual student through group classes or private lessons, and by including all students in annual recitals and local performances.
Vision: To empower individuals of all abilities through the transformative art of dance, breaking down barriers and building a future where everyone has the opportunity to shine on and off the stage.
Board of Directors
We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit dance studio. As such, the studio is governed by a board of directors.
​
​The Aspiring Attitudes Board is a working board comprised of men and women from the Oklahoma City metro area who are disability advocates dedicated to the success of the Aspiring Attitudes mission.
​
In addition to making decisions at regular meetings, each board member performs tasks that benefit the studio, such as writing grants, volunteering at events, or fundraising. The Board of Directors are the "volunteers in chief" of the studio.
John Galvin
President
Originally from Ireland, he has now spent half of his life in Oklahoma. His daughter, Keeleigh, has been dancing at the studio for seven years, and he wanted to join the board to give back to an organization that has made a significant difference in her life. His hobbies include anything tech-related, from tracking aircraft to mining cryptocurrencies.
Ross Duren
Board Member
Ross Duren joined the Aspiring Attitudes Board in June 2025. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the proud father of two children, Gentry and Parker. Gentry is a dancer with Aspiring Attitudes, allowing Ross to personally see the importance of inclusion.
​
With a professional background in mental health and a personal passion for supporting individuals of all abilities, Ross brings both insight and empathy to the board. When not working he enjoys spending time with his wife, getting outdoors, running, visiting the farmers market with his family, and cheering on the Oklahoma Sooners and the Thunder. Ross is honored to support Aspiring Attitudes in its mission to create a space where every dancer feels seen, valued, and inspired.
Brooke Tipton
Vice-President/Secretary
Brook Tipton is a Child Development Specialist with the SoonerStart Early Intervention Program and a longtime advocate for children of all abilities. She holds a Master’s degree in Family Studies and Child Development from the University of Central Oklahoma and also serves on the board of the Oklahoma Family Resource Coalition.Brook and her husband, Matt, love spending time with their daughter Lou and their two cats, Salem and Boyfriend. She enjoys reading, connecting with friends and family, and cherishing time with her many nieces and nephews.
Deanna Myers
Board Member
Deanna was born and raised in Oklahoma. She holds a bachelor's and a master's degree in education from the University of Oklahoma. After teaching in Oklahoma City Public Schools, she joined her family's business to better care for her special needs daughter, Jennifer, and her youngest daughter, Ashley. She previously served as a board member for Jennifer's high school, Trinity and currently serves as a board member for Epic Charter Schools.
Sherry Bradshaw
Treasurer
Sherry was a Special Olympics coach for 14 years. She was introduced to Aspiring Attitudes by several of her athletes who also danced with the studio. She started volunteering with the studio in 2017 by helping with social media and the website, and by running sound at recitals. In the years since, her volunteer role has grown to assisting with shows, helping with both dance camps, and managing the office. She is passionate about helping to grow Shannon’s dream of a dance studio for all abilities.
Reem O'Donnell
Board Member
Reem O’Donnell is a mom of three neurodiverse kids who believes every child deserves to feel supported, celebrated, and understood. She’s seen firsthand how inclusion and accessibility can make a difference for families and loves being part of an organization that shares those values.
​
Reem knows it truly takes a village to raise happy, confident kids, and she’s grateful to be part of that village through Aspiring Attitudes. She lives in Oklahoma City with her husband, Patrick, and their three boys. When she’s not working at her kids’ taekwondo gym, you can usually find her volunteering at their school, cheering them on from the sidelines, or decorating for a theme party!
Hannah Sawyers
Board Member
An Oklahoma native and veteran educator, Hannah Sawyers is a passionate advocate for adaptive arts, leveraging her background as a board member for Aspiring Attitudes. Hannah holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations from Cameron University, a skill set she is dedicated to using to champion the organization's mission and spread the word about the transformative power of dance.
​
Hannah's commitment to Aspiring Attitudes is deeply personal, stemming from her childhood experience of being forced to quit dancing due to limited mobility and the lack of adaptive programs at her studio. This experience fuels her dedication to the goal that every student can dance! She is committed to ensuring that all children, regardless of ability, have access to the joy and growth that come from adaptive dance.
Whitney Villanueva
Board Member
Whitney joined the board in the spring of 2023. An Oklahoma native, she has been a pharmacist at Norman Regional Hospital for over 25 years. Her daughter, Melina, has been involved with Aspiring Attitudes for more than 15 years. Previously, Whitney served on the Autism Speaks and Autism Oklahoma committees. She wanted to join the board to help in any capacity and truly loves the studio’s focus on inclusion, believing that everyone should be valued and loved.