Community Highlights: Meet Dr. Janet Bentley-Ewers of METRO ATLANTA DANCE

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Janet Bentley-Ewers.

Hi Dr. Janet, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am a wife of 24 years, mother of 3 children, dancer, doctor, playwright, studio founder, Vice President of a regional firm, and a child of God. Growing up with bouts of homelessness and not having enough, I have always thought about how I can give back and serve others and the world through what God has envisioned in me. My career journey started in 2001, after being laid off from my job at a psychiatric unit in New York, which lead me down the road of a 20-plus year career in compliance. My dance journey started in 2010 when I began doing praise dance at a church in Pennsylvania and continued my training in dance with experiences in ballet, African dance, contemporary and jazz dance- ultimately culminating in becoming Director of Creative Arts at The Father’s House Church in Atlanta, GA. One of the most inspiring parts of being in dance is the ability to not only influence others through movement but also influence those around me with wisdom and inspiration about how dance can change your life for the better. My studio, Metro Atlanta Dance, located in Roswell, GA, is a testament to that sentiment in that we offer all levels of dance genres to ages 2 and up, including adults whose last encounter in the dance world may have been as a teenager. In all of my journey experiences, including my “Level Up with Janet E.!” platform, which is centered on finding one’s God-given purpose, the goal is always to instill confidence, joy and inspiration into the lives of others, no matter what point of life we are in and the obstacles we encounter. Hoping and praying that my story and journey continue to inspire others on their own journey of purpose.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Throughout my youth, there was bouts of poverty and homelessness and I often moved alot and changed schools often. This level of instability can cause a person to live in a survival existence as opposed to a thrive environment. However, something has always been within me to push for more, excel for greater and work towards excellence, in spite of any obstacles and barriers. I believe this was a God-given drive that has propelled me since the age of 12 to be who I am today. Oftentimes, I look at the obstacles in my past and understand that I had to go through most of them in order to build my resilience, my purpose and the drive that I have today. Each time I felt like I was being knocked down, God provided a hand to lift me up.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about METRO ATLANTA DANCE ?
I am the founder and President of Metro Atlanta Dance studio, located in Roswell, GA. We are a dance studio offering classes in all dance genres including jazz, contemporary, ballet, tap, musical theater, and heels. Our purpose is to offer an inclusive and positive environment for children, teens and adults alike to help fulfill their passion for dance, whether they are novices or experts. We have about 100 students and offer performance opportunities in the Winter and Spring, including our Storybook performance in March of each year. We also have our annual specialized workshops and events, i.e. our Black History Month and Hispanic History art exhibitions. Our goal is to be cultural beacon to the community and pour out the love of dance to others to explore and enjoy, We offer different programs through ClassPass and Prime, as well as Silver Sneakers. Anyone interested in learning more can go to our website at www.metroatlantadance.com for more information.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
If anyone is interested in collaborating or supporting me through church, the studio or other efforts, please reach out to me through my email address- janet@metroatlantadance.com or can reach out directly to me through the Metro Atlanta Dance website.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.metroatlantadance.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjanetandjordinthedancers/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janet.ewers.9/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-janet-bentley-ewers-03b73959
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jbentleyewersaa