Many people have a mentor whose influence and guidance they'll never forget. For generations of Utah dancers, that mentor is Janet Gray.

The legendary teacher and choreographer is celebrating the 30th anniversary of her private East Millcreek studio with a reunion concert that will feature 200 current students and a handful of returning alumni, many of whose children are now students of Gray. Some of the choreography is a nod to Gray's beginnings, dating back to the studio's start in 1978. Gray's engineer son, Josh, also has created a documentary based on an interview with his mother, interspersed with performance footage spanning 30 years. It will be shown at the concert.

"It is really gratifying. When I started the business, I started it as a means of survival because I had to raise my son," Gray said. "I never thought about changing anyone's life. My mission statement was to just help these kids become better dancers. But all these years later, even when they go on to different things and they're burned out or stressed out, they tell me they ask themselves 'What would Janet do?' You have no idea how you will touch people. Hopefully it's just to be a good, honorable human being."

While it's clear Gray has a strong following, she says she's a little surprised because she has a reputation for being tough. So tough, in fact, that Gray has a signature T-shirt bearing her mantra, "I Yell Because I Care," which she frequently wears during class as a reminder for students.

Karen Stone, a retired professional dancer, met Gray in 1988 when Stone was an undergraduate majoring in ballet at the University of Utah. Stone says Gray's jazz and tap classes opened up a new world of dance for her.

"When I first got to the U., I had on the ballet blinders. I thought it was the only form I would ever do," Stone said. "But I loved her jazz, tap and musical theater classes, and I ended up using those styles more in my career."

Stone recently moved back to Salt Lake City after more than 20 years as a professional dancer on cruise lines and in dance companies. She now teaches ballet at Gray's studio, where her 3-year-old daughter, Nicola, is a student. For the concert, Stone and her dancer husband, Zoltan Bihari, will perform an adagio piece titled "Harlem Nocturne," which will feature elements of ballroom dancing, lifts and musical theater. Nicola will join them at the end of the dance, as well as performing with her own class.

Also on the bill is a tribute to one of Gray's mentors, tap legend Eddie Brown, who performed with Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. When Gray moved to Los Angeles to continue her training, Brown agreed to teach her despite then-prevalent racial segregation.

"When I was studying with Eddie, it was before the resurgence of tap, and he was so disappointed that African men wouldn't learn from him because they didn't want to get pigeon-holed as a stereotype," Gray said. "He was really hard on his students, but he said 'Janet, if I'm going to teach you, then you have to tell my story,' and so I kept my promise."

The idea of remembering a dancer's roots is something Shauna Rosengreen says is a key element in the concert. Rosengreen, whose daughter Katie is also training at the studio, was among Gray's first students.

"I think she's mellowed a little bit. I tell my children now that she's stern because she cares," Rosengreen said. "She pulls out this instinct in you to do your best and really try to earn her respect."

"Her students always come back. I think that is just a great tribute to her," said Stone.