Diane Palubiak
Miss Diane grew up in Fort Worth, Texas as the second youngest of five girls. She met her future husband on a blind date while attending Columbia College in Missouri. Together, they lived in Little Rock and St. Louis before finally settling in Marietta, GA to raise their four children.
While never having danced growing up, Diane fully embraced being a dance mom while her two eldest daughters were in the company at Dance Stop Studios. She served as wardrobe head for seven years, where she spent many a late nights sewing sequin trim to costumes. While her sewing skills were not the best, she learned how to creatively adorn costumes with hot glue, staples, and tape making for many comical, but memorable, moments. During performances, Diane could always be found backstage helping with quick changes and last minute alterations in the company dressing room. While she never had the opportunity to watch an entire show from the audience, she was the dancers’ biggest supporter from the wings.
Diane also worked at Decapo, the dancewear store owned by and attached to the studio, for six years. While managing the store, she was in charge of hiring, ordering, and maintaining inventory as well as the store’s main pointe shoe fitter. When Dance Stop relocated to the shopping center across the street and did not have room to continue the store, Diane began working at Banana Republic where she remained with the company for nearly 20 years. In 2013, she was excited to join the studio’s front office staff. As Office Manager, Diane drives over an hour five days a week, but wouldn’t change it for the world, because she loves working with her daughter.
When not working, Miss Diane loves spending time with her family and watching her three granddaughters. She also enjoys winding down by walking, purchasing scrapbook supplies, and watching Lifetime movies.
We love Miss Diane, affectionately known as “D-Dawg,” and know Sawnee School of the Arts would not be where it is today without her at the front desk. We’re excited for her tenth season at the studio!