Butler Dance School Roots of TV Performer's Success

Cherie Pettenger was shocked to learn one of her former dance school students was dancing on "So You Think You Can Dance?" But only because she did not recognize Amelia Lowe.

It has been more than 12 years since Lowe, 18, danced at the , formerly of . As of last year, the school has closed and Pettenger, owner of the school for 42 years, has since retired.

Pettenger said she has seen nearly every episode of "So You Think You Can Dance?" But she will be watching more closely now that she knows Lowe will be performing.

"It's better than going to Broadway," she said.

Lowe is competing with 19 other dancers in the Top 20 of the television dancing competition to be named America's Favorite Dancer. On Wednesday night's episode, she received positive reviews from all three judges when she and partner Will Thomas danced to "The Lovecats" by The Cure.

In , Lowe said dancing for the show has been the most intense dancing of her life.

"The show has been a wonderful experience, but it's definitely been a really difficult one and hard to get through," she said.

Lowe lives with her parents and sister in Butler. She attended high school at the Morris County School of Technology, focusing on dance and theatre. She also studied dance at the Performing Arts Academy in Pompton Lakes.

But before that, a young Lowe would come to dance class at the Cherie Pettenger School of Dance with her mother, Karen Lowe, who also took dance classes at the school.

"I remember doing my first recital there," Lowe said of the school.

Lowe learned ballet, tap and acrobatic dance at the school. Pettenger said she remembered Lowe coming to class wearing her glasses and that while most of the other dancers did not wear glasses, Lowe seemed to feel comfortable in her skin at the school.

For the 42 years the school was open, Pettenger said she taught nearly 100 students per year. Students came from throughout the tri-boro area and beyond.

Pettenger said she is excited when she hears her students have gone on to compete, as her school was never competition-based but more for recreational or extra-curricular dancing. She said she takes credit for "lighting the little spark" that led to Lowe's continuing dancing career.

"It was small time, small town, a place to come and love dance and not be embarrassed about what you look like," she said.

Lowe not only remembers Pettenger and her school, but also credits her for helping launch her dance success. She affectionately calls her "Miss. Cherie."

Pettenger looked at photographs of Lowe and remembered her quiet nature.

"I didn't recognize her on the show," she said. "As you look at her [in the photographs], you can see she's very shy and quiet."

Pettenger said she also remembers Lowe's passion and that it is passion like hers that motivated Pettenger to continue with the school all those years.

"I enjoy seeing the sparkle in their eyes when they figure out they can do something," she said.

Pettenger said Lowe was "just a sweetheart" and that she looks forward to watching her continue to succeed on the show.