Newspaper Page Text
June 27, 2018
Reporter
STAY HEALTHY DURING
THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER
Kim Pitman (front, 7th from left), Terri Waits (front, 6th from left), the staff of T & K Dance Studio, Taylor and Lawson Bittick, and T & K dancers at rehearsal surprised Kim with their
pink t-shirts to show their support.
No Matter the Battle, Suit Up and Fight
Kim Pitman and daughter, Taylor Bittick.
By Abby Cox
Kim Pitman has always
called Monroe County her
home.
Growing up in what most
would call “the country’
Pitman is the oldest of
three siblings, and is seen
as a loving mother, daugh
ter, sister and friend.
Blossoming at the young
age of six, Pitman began
taking dance classes with
Shelly Shuman. Continu
ing her dance career at the
Robison School of Dance,
she fell in love with the
world of ballet, tap, jazz
and pointe. Pitman then
pursued dance classes
until she graduated from
Monroe Academy in 1978,
and after graduating from
Georgia College in Milled-
geville with a degree in
psychology, she found her
true calling. Pitman began
teaching at the school
where she had grown up
and trained for so many
years. In 2002, Pitman
joined together with her
best friend and business
partner, Terri Waits, creat
ing the T&K Dance Studios
in Jackson, Georgia.
Pitman is immensely in
volved with her local com
munity. She is currently a
member of the First Baptist
Church in Forsyth, serving
as chairperson of the dea
cons. She volunteers at the
monthly food bank held at
Christ United Methodist
Church and for the past
two years, has helped to
choreograph the Backlot
Players’ summer musicals.
Pitman is also an ambassa
dor for the National Dance
Foundation.
However, Pitman’s life
suddenly changed when
she was diagnosed with
breast cancer in Decem
ber of 2017. Fortunately,
she was able catch the
cancer early, leading to
her decision to accept this
challenge—and to accept it
with poise and grace.
“Once I met with my
oncologist and had a
treatment plan in place,
I decided that I had two
choices: I could let this
diagnosis kill my spirit and
steal my joy, or I could take
charge of my life, continue
with my normal schedule
as much as possible and try
to stay positive. I chose to
stay positive and keep mov
ing,” Pitman said.
Pitman spoke about how
her friends, family, church
family and dance family
have given her unwavering
support throughout this
unpredictable challenge.
“They all have helped me
in numerous ways. I never
lack for food. I always
have a ride to treatment.
My friend, Michelle Col
lins, cleans my house. My
other friend, Diane Gregg,
even treated me to tickets
to see Jerry Seinfeld. She
said, ‘You need to laugh!’
and she was right—I did
laugh!”
The constant overwhelm
ing feeling of gratefulness
and encouragement that
Pitman has received has
motivated her to emulate
her supporters’ positive
attitude and strength.
“My dance students have
been particularly sup
portive,” Pitman said. “I
chose to continue teaching
through chemotherapy. I
had to modify my teach
ing style a bit—teaching
from a chair and taking
intermittent breaks—but
my dance students were so
encouraging. Their energy
and spirit made it easier to
keep going when the going
got tough.”
See FIGHT . Page 2C
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