Meet Ms. Jay of Jazzle Dance Studio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ms. Jay.

Hi Ms. Jay, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m Ms. Jay, Owner & Director of Jazzle Dance Studio! The performing arts has been a part of who I am since forever. I began taking dance classes at three years old and have trained in various disciplines of dance at world-renowned dance institutions including Ballet Tech and Broadway Dance Center in New York City. I’ve also trained in vocal performance and musical theater from my performing arts middle & high schools. I’ve worked in childcare for nearly two decades in many roles including Early Head Start Preschool Counselor, Sleep Away Camp Counselor & Unit Leader, After School Teacher and teen Peer Educator throughout New York.  I began my dance teaching career at a dance studio in Queens, NY in 2011. I Instructed tap and hip-hop before relocating to Atlanta to attend Emory. I hold a B.Sc with a minor in Dance, M.Sc,  multiple licenses and teaching certificates and I am a Laboratory Scientist. In 2014 I began teaching ballet, jazz, tap and hip-hop classes for a sports complex center dance program in Dacula, GA. After a few weeks of teaching, I established a competitive dance team because I wanted my dancers to experience a more advanced level of competitive and commercial dance.  Six seasons later, my team was highly decorated with over 21 first-place awards, 20 judges awards and three choreographer awards. I opened Jazzle Dance Studio in August of 2021 to expand upon my competition teams’ success and to offer dance education in my community of Cobb.

Jazzle Dance Studio is a “dance clubhouse”! It’s a magical space for boys and girls to come and forget about life outside and dance, act and make everlasting memories with new friends and my AMAZING Jazzle Staff!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Opening any business comes with its own set of challenges and mine was no different. Jazzle blossomed in the midst of a devastating time in my personal life. It was extremely difficult to find motivation on the days where my emotions were overwhelming. I also have imposter syndrome. Sometimes I cannot believe that I am allowed to be in the same space as choreographers and mentors that I admire like Debbie Allen, Molly Long and CiCi Kelley. Like I cannot believe my dance dream is alive, just like theirs! Another obstacle is finding balance. I have another career as a Scientist which I also absolutely love. It’s sometimes hard to transform my brain from analytical work to Studio Owner, to creative Choreographer, sometimes within the span of minutes!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Jazzle Dance Studio?
Jazzle Dance Studio offers weekly dance, musical theatre and acro/tumbling classes for dancers ages 2-12 in an environment where dance artists can flourish by expanding their knowledge, vocabulary, improvability, emotional execution and technique. We also have two competitive dance competition teams. Jazzle and Jazzle Elite dance company are competition dance teams for dancers 4-12 years of age. Competition dancers take classes weekly, learn competition dance routines and compete at dance competitions locally and nationally for the opportunity for individually and team trophies, awards and scholarships. We host monthly parent’s night outs where parents can drop their children off for us to entertain while they go on date night, run errands or just have some time for themselves. In the summer we offer two fun-filled performing arts camps for 3-12 years old called CAMP JAZZLE!

What matters most to you? Why?
Helping to instill confidence, drive, personality and strength to the next generation is what matters to me. Almost any creative will tell you that their passion was ignited by that special teacher or coach. I strive to produce a program where my staff and I become that for our little people! Providing dance education through classes and competition dance team to dancers of all financial backgrounds also matters to me. Competition dance is so important to me because the life skills I instill into my team extend far beyond the world of dance. This year I founded a nonprofit dance scholarship foundation entitled the SANDERS fund, dedicated to my mother & sister. The SANDERS fund is a nonprofit dance scholarship foundation dedicated to providing opportunities for dance education to children ages 2-12 years of age. We can accept donations directly at our website: www.jazzledancestudio.com/thesandersfund. Donations are given to dancers in the form of a scholarship based on financial need.

My vision for Jazzle is to create a safe, inclusive space for dancers to fall in love with the performing arts!

Pricing:

• 25 Minute Class: $38/Month
• 55 Minute Class: $71/Month
• 85 Minute Class: $108/Month
• Camp Jazzle Summer Camp: $130-$260/week
• Parents Night Out: $30

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jazzledancestudio.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jazzledancestudio/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jazzledancestudio
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYZxNe7cKcC7B8RVDUSN0HQ
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/jazzle-dance-studio-atlanta
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@jazzledancestudioatl?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc