Tonie Bense – about the love to dance and teach

Growing up in a home filled with girls and a mother who taught dance left little time for anything else.

“We grew up dancing together,” said Tonie Bense, owner of Tonie’s Dance Studios. “Dance was mom’s total focus.”

Tonie was born and raised in Meridian, Mississippi: She lived with her mother, Mary Alpha Johnson, and her two older sisters, Robin Starr Owen and Alpha Marie Pollman. Her parents divorced when Tonie was 3 years old.

“I think I was born to dance,” she said.

The dance studio was in their basement and an important part of their home. Dance was the family’s way of life, Tonie said. Even her late grandmother, Marie Quave, participated in the action. An expert seamstress, Quave sewed all the elaborate dance costumes for recitals and performances. She was also the studio receptionist at the Alpha School of Dance for 40 years.

“There were no men around so it was just us,” Tonie said. “Our home was like Grand Central Station with people in and out all the time.”

Not only did Miss Mary Alpha, as she was lovingly referred to, teach dance to multiple generations of children, but she choreographed many of the productions at Meridian’s Little Theatre. During this time she created the Magical Kingdom of Dance, a unique method of teaching young children an easy way to learn all the French terminology and complicated dance moves.

“It was a great business for her to be in,” Tonie states.

During the summers while her girls were in summer camp, Miss Mary Alpha traveled to other parts of the country to work with other dancers at workshops, conferences and conventions.

“Mother sometimes taught for Ted Mack in Great Barrington, Massachusetts during those childless summers“. Eventually the two became personal friends. She would visit there and he would visit her in Mississippi.

That led to some of her better students being selected to dance on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour TV show,” Tonie said.

Miss Mary Alpha kept her studio open in Mississippi for 67 years. She was still going to classes, at the age of 89, though had stopped teaching by then. She died last year at the age of 91.

Tonie Bense about her mother: “She never lost her excitement and passion for dance throughout her life.”

And it seems Miss Mary Alpha’s legacy continues through her youngest daughter’s own education and business acumen. After Tonie graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi, she was offered a job at Springfield Elementary School in Panama City to head the Sunshine Girls/Drill Team. She was 22.

Three months after moving to Panama City she met her husband, Allan Bense, on a blind date, she said smiling. They married a year after that. They didn’t have much to start with but they were happy.

“Our first home was a garage apartment across from the St. Andrew Bay Yacht Club,” she said. “I owned a stereo and a TV and I had more than he did. Allan’s parents died when he was a young teen and he had to make it on his own.”

While Allan worked as a loan officer at Southeast Bank, Tonie opened her first dance studio.

“I always knew I’d have my own studio one day,” she said.

“I always loved it and have never tired of it. I think I inherited my passion for dance from my mother.”

After working at the bank for several years, Allan had an opportunity to become part owner in a partnership with the Patronis Brothers and Jim Smallwood. In 1992, when their youngest son was 5, Allan ran for the Florida State Senate, but lost.

Meanwhile, Tonie was content being married, but at the same time felt compelled to continue building her dance studio business.

After the addition of three children, Courtney, Jason and Taylor, managing a household and a business often made life hectic. Now all three children are grown and have become successful adults.

Their daughter, Courtney lives in Tampa with her husband, Will Weatherford, the current Florida Speaker of the House. They have three daughters. Their middle son Jason lives in Panama City with his wife, son and daughter. He owns Emerald Coast Striping Company. Their youngest son, Taylor is single and lives in New York City. He works as a musician and music producer.

“That was a very big balancing act indeed,” Tonie said. “It was easy with my firstborn, a girl. She thrived at the studio and loved dancing and being at the studio.” When the boys were born, Tonie found herself juggling schedules
and coordinating with babysitters, friends and Allan to manage childcare and household responsibilities.

“I was lucky my husband was able to take an active role and spent evenings with the children until I was able to come home to help with homework and bedtime rituals,” Tonie said. “I became very good at ‘couch’ choreography in those late nights as well as ‘car’ choreography.”

Tonie said she would not have been as successful in business without her husband’s ongoing support. During her
first year she taught 75 students in one studio. Today she owns two studios employs 12 teachers and more than 600 students are enrolled in her dance classes.

“He is proud of the studio’s growth and always sings my praises,” Tonie said. “A supportive husband is the key to success.” But she admitted that success comes with its struggles.

Being part owner in the bank led Allan to become a partner in several small businesses that he continued to be active with throughout his tenure in the Legislature. Allan Bense served as a Florida State Representative from 1998 to 2006.

During the last two years, 2004-2006, he served as Speaker of the House and the couple rarely saw each other.

One of the biggest challenges they faced was when Allan was elected to his first term as Representative. From day one he knew he wanted to be Speaker of the House, and it required his full attention and focus, Tonie said.

“The job required him to travel the state extensively, getting members to sign pledge cards,” she said. “He was out of town a lot.”

But there were memorable perks that came with being the wife of the Speaker of the House, she said.

“We were invited to go to the White House for a Christmas dinner and he couldn’t go so I took my sister and we got to meet the First Lady Laura Bush and President George W. Bush. They were both so personable and nice.”

Throughout their 38 years of marriage the Benses have worked steadily at their chosen careers and have dedicated a lot of their time to several community and state boards.

Tonie Bense is a member of the Gulf Coast Medical Center Spirit of Women board and was appointed to the Florida Commission on the Status of Women.

He is the president and CEO of Bense Enterprises, a multi- faceted general contracting company. After his last term he returned to Panama City to take care of business at Bense Enterprises, Holiday Golf and Roussos Heating and Air. He has been active on several community and state boards. Allan serves as the current chairman of the Florida State University Board of Trustees and the board of directors for the James Madison Institute and the Bay Economic Alliance. He is a board member

for the Florida Council of 100 and Gulf Power Company. In November, Allan was honored by the Florida Council of 100’s with the prestigious Governor’s Leadership Award for his work on behalf of Florida’s economic growth and development.

Toni and Allan were happily leading busy, productive lives until Sept. 8, when Allan became seriously ill with a viral infection later diagnosed as Guillain-Barre Syndrome, an extremely rare disease that affects the peripheral nervous system.

“One day he woke up paralyzed from his head to his toes,” Tonie said. “He couldn’t even close his eyelids.”

Fortunately, GBS patients have hope for a full recovery, she said.

On Nov. 4 after spending several weeks at area hospitals and a week at Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Allan was moved to the Sheperd Center in Atlanta, Ga. The center offers specialized rehabilitation modalities for GBS patients and those with serious injuries.

“We have learned that we are not in control, God is in control and we must be anxious for nothing,” she said.

With help from occupational, speech, physical and recreational therapists Allan has regained some strength in his arms but still cannot walk. They expect his therapy to continue for several more weeks if not months before he returns home, Tonie said.

“Each tiny step in the road to recovery is a blessing to us,” she said. “Allan has become my top priority and focus. We are excited and relieved that he is on the road to progress and recovery.”

In their absence business remains brisk at Tonie’s Dance Studios and Tonie credits her “great and supporting” staff.

Friends and colleagues have been supportive throughout the ordeal, too.

Pam Walsingham took her first dance class at age 7 in Tonie’s studio. Now they are friends and work together. Pam about Tonie: “She’s sweet and beautiful and I wanted to grow up to be just like her. She is so true to herself, authentic through and through.”

Walsingham has been teaching at Tonie’s Dance Studio for 26 years.

“She and Allan have been so giving, they just make an awesome team”.

Friends and family have also pitched in to care for the couple’s pets – two Wire Fox Terriers, Trixie and Tyson and Allan’s “beloved, persnickety” cat, Gracie.

“Staying positive and keeping a sense of humor has been great medicine,” Tonie states.

“We appreciate the outpouring of love, care and concern along with all the beautiful prayers that have helped us to get through each day.”

By Diane Mercado, Photography by: Savannah Jane Photography