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At Dancin’ J’s Studio, our mission is to show students how hard work and discipline can also be FUN! Students ranging from ages 2 to adult are always welcome. We take open enrollment throughout the year. Classes are offered at competitive and recreational levels.
We do an annual recital in June, which is optional. No one is required to participate, but it is a fun way to show off what you’ve learned throughout the year. We understand that many students prefer to attend a studio with an annual recital. We do not do productions where only a few lead roles are featured. It is important that every student feels like a star. We will strive to bring the very best to the stage each June. We are always pushing forward and want to make each show bigger and better!
If you are looking to compete, we also take our elite students to competition. Some may frown upon competition, but our children are faced with competition throughout their lives. At Dancin J’s Studio, we also understand that parents do not want to travel far for a Regional Competition. For this simple reason, we attend only local events, which are mostly held in Pittsburgh area.
Our staff is constantly trying to better themselves. They attend multiple dance conventions each year to keep up-to-date with the latest dance moves. They take classes from some of the country’s top teachers and choreographers. We work hard in class to help our students better themselves as well. Dancin’ J’s Studio is always trying to stay a step ahead of the rest!
Miss Jen began dancing at the age of 8 at a local studio. By age 11, she
was chosen to be part of the competition team. She attended many
dance competitions in places such as Charleston, WV, Columbus, Myrtle
Beach, and Orlando, winning many awards over the years. By the age of
16, Miss Jen began teaching. She has taught ages ranging from 20 months
to 86 years. She has also choreographed for Greensburg Civic Theatre,
Norwin Chorus, Norwin Middle School East Theatre Club, and Norwin High
School Show Choir.
Miss Jen is a Norwin Show Choir and Chorus Alum. Yes, she can sing too!
As a Norwin Show Choir member, she performed and/or competed in
Canada, Cedar Point, the Harrisburg Capital Building, and at the
Washington Monument. She also participated in County Chorus, District
Chorus, & the Choir of Cultural Diversity during high school. Her musical
credits include Anything Goes (Purity), Crazy for You (Louise), and Bye
Bye Birdie (Kim). She was also a member of Steel City Angels dance
troupe for a year.
Performing arts has always been her passion with dance being her 1st
love. She has obtained Cecchetti 1 & 2 certification and has participated
in many local dance conventions as well as Dance Teacher Workshops in
New York City. She has taken classes from such well known
choreographers as Bob Rizzo, Brian Freidman, Desmond Richardson,Ian
Eastwood, and Pittsburgh native Jeff Shade, to name a few. Miss Jen has
also judged for the Yough Dance Team auditions. In 2010 she was part of
the Gotta Dance Hip Hop Team on board the Monarch of the Seas.
Miss Jen is also well-educated in group fitness, & in the summer of 2012,
she became a certified LaBlast instructor by 3-time World Latin Ballroom
Champ, Louis Van Amstel, & currently teaches this class at Anytime
Fitness in Irwin. In April of 2015, she also became a Pound Pro, teaching
the latest Rock-Out Workout at DJS. She is also a former Zumba
instructor.
Miss Jen has recently completed all of her CLI Studio certifications in
Preschool Dance, Injury Prevention, & Choreography Composition. She has
also obtained advanced leap/jump teaching certifications through Dance Labs,
as well as mUvmethod’s Stretch Solution Certification. Miss Jen is also a
certified dance educator through Dance Educators of America.
Prior to opening her own studio in 2003, Miss Jen taught at another studio
for 6 years. With much hard work and determination, at the age of 22,
Miss Jen was able to achieve her ultimate goal and follow her dreams...
Miss Mia began her dancing career at the young age of 5. It was love at first step. When she was 8 she was chosen to be on a competition line. She has competed all over the country including; Las Vegas, Florida, New Jersey and Myrtle Beach. Miss Mia has won many awards while competing including a First Place Overall for her jazz solo. In 2007 Miss Mia was chosen to perform on a National Performance Team in Wildwood, NJ for their National Competition. Aside from the studio dancing Miss Mia was a member of her college dance team. She was on of the founding members and also Captain while on the La Roche Competition Team. While on the team Miss Mia and the team won many awards including State Championships for Jazz and Hip Hop. Miss Mia continues her passion for dance at Dancin J's and hopes to inspire and teach new dancers at Dancin J's for many years to come.
CloseMiss Kylee began dancing at the age of 4. A few years later she became one of
Miss Jen's students. During her years as a student, Miss Kylee trained in jazz,
tap, ballet, pointe, hip hip, acro, and gymnastics. Under Miss Jen's instruction,
she soon began competing. She attended competitions in the Pittsburgh area as
well as in Charleston, WV.
Miss Kylee attended college at The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown where
she was a member of the UPJ Dance Ensemble.
Miss Kylee has attended the 2015 Pulse Workshop for teachers in New York
City. She has taken classes in person and online through Broadway Dance
Center in New York. She has been instructed by several well-known
choreographers, including Deborah Wilson, Sheila Barker, Chris Judd, and Dave
Scott, to name a few. She has also proudly obtained certifications from CLI
Studios and Dance Labs.
Miss Kylee has choreographed multiple award winning routines, achieving
awards such as top scoring duet/trio, top scoring group numbers, & several
outstanding choreography awards.
Miss Kylee loves dancing and is glad to be a member of Dancin' J's family!
Miss Mollie started dancing at the age of 1 and 1/2. She watched her older sister perform and that is when she started to love dance. In 2011, at the age of 7, Miss Mollie was asked to be on the competition team for jazz, where she performed “Hair Looks Fierce”. This dance won her the first of many awards. She went on to be on the competition team for 11 years, where she won many different awards for different dances. Miss Mollie was one of our student teachers helping a variety of teachers with classes, but now that she has graduated, she's ready to take the jump and have her own classes. #slaythestage
CloseOriginally from Pittsburgh, PA, Nicole Jones has a diverse dance background in ballet, jazz, modern, and Broadway styles. She first experienced dance with the Sacred Heart Junior Tamburitzans and transitioned into formal ballet training with companies including Pittsburgh Ballet Theater and American Ballet Theater. Nicole holds two Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Dance and in History from Point Park University.
Nicole instructs all ages in ballet, modern, jazz, and Broadway styles. She has taught for numerous dance schools and programs, including the Kelly Strayhorn Theater (PGH), Peridance Capezio Center (NYC), Mile Square Theatre (NYC) and American Dance Training Camps (US).
Professional dance credits include working with Vertigo Dance Company’s international program (Israel), August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble (PGH), DanceAction (NYC), Shana Simmons Dance (PGH) and performing the works of Noa Wertheim, Ohad Naharin, Martha Graham, Christopher Huggins, Gerald Arpino, Douglas Bentz, and Patrick Franz among others. Professional theater credits include SWING! (Norwegian Cruise Line – West Coast Feature), Legally Blonde the Musical (2019 Nat’l Tour – Chutney/Dance Captain), An American in Paris (2020, 2022 Nat’l Tours – Female Swing/Lise u/s/Dance Captain), Mamma Mia! (Apple Hill/Theatre Factory - Dance Ensemble), South Pacific (2022 Nat’l Tour – Ensign Janet/ on-stage swing/Dance Captain), Rock of Ages (Split Stage Productions – Ensemble).
Miss Mckenna is a junior at Seton Hill University. Her major is pre-dance movement therapy and has a lot of dance and acro background. She has been doing gymnastics and acro for 18 years. Her dance background started 17 years ago with jazz, tap, and ballet. Her training included The Dancers Workshop 1 and 2 for 14 years and Susan Yadimak Academy for 3 years. Mckenna had the privilege of dancing in Disney during her senior year and will never forget it. While taking other classes at Fitness Envi and WDA over the summer to maintain her skills. She is counting her dance journey and is advanced in acro, jazz, and contemporary/ lyrical. Over the years McKenna has taught lots of kids in cheerleading and gymnastics. Before COVID, she taught ages 2ys- 15 years old at Willow Tree Gymnastics and has been a youth cheerleading coach for 4 years and a jr coach for over 6 years. While gaining her certification through USA GYmnastics and CPR certification. She is very driven and always puts her best foot forward. While maintaining multiple activities at once during elementary school and high school helped her become the person she is today. Her main goal is to make sure everyone feels welcome and always has fun because that’s what dance is all about. I can’t wait to be part of this wonderful dance family and I look forward to seeing you guys in the fall :)
Hello everyone! My name is Kate McCarty. I'm a senior Dance and Theatre major at Seton Hill University. I've been dancing since I was three years old and have trained in almost every style. My future plans include continuing to act and dance and moving outside of New York. I have such a passion for teaching the thing that got me through so many hard moments in my life. Dance has been my escape and I hope to create that environment for my dancers. I can't wait to work with you all!
ClosePlacement is made according to age and/or ability. Each class will increase its level of difficulty according to the ability of the class as a whole. You will be notified if a change in placement needs to be made.
Please be on time for your class. No gum will be allowed in class. Please pick up after yourselves and your children in the waiting area. You will be responsible for any damages made to the studio by your child. Younger children will receive stamps or a sticker for good behavior. Children may not receive their stamps or sticker if they have not behaved.
Observers are not permitted in the classroom during class. We have televisions in the waiting area for you to watch the classrooms. There will be an end of class observation at the end of the month. Please keep the doors closed and the noise down while waiting. If parents do not stay, please be on time for pick up.
There will be no deductions for missed lessons except in cases of prolonged illness; however, classes may be made up in another class of similar age and ability level.
In case of bad weather, we will post all cancellations on our website, also our social network pages (facebook & twitter). We will also text those individuals signed up for the text alert system for the classes affected.
We hope that you are happy with all your classes, but understand if you want to be move or removed from a class for any reason. In order to make class changes, you need to notify Miss Jen by either email or phone 724-515-5064.
Costumes will be selected by the instructors. You will need to submit the require deposit of $40 per costume and be current with your payment for them to be ordered. Costume fees are in addition to monthly tuition. All students will be measured during class time by the instructors, usually in early December. All students will be required to try on costumes upon arrival, to verify they fit. If an exchange needs to be made, you will be responsible for the related shipping or rush charges. Costume companies require a $10 restocking fee. Please note because of the long lead times for the costumes, we might not be able to exchange in time.
If your student is enrolled in our Elite classes they will get to participate in the various local Pittsburgh area competitions we attend. By being an elite student, it is required you are registered for Technique & Conditioning. Costumes for competitions will be selected by the instructors, and you will need to submit the require deposit and be current with your payment for them to be ordered.
Each year we hold a recital to showcase what was learned during the year. It is always the 3rd Saturday in June. We have a dress rehearsal the Thursday (Matinee) / Friday (Evening) night prior. The recital is not mandatory, but highly encouraged. Tickets will be sold in the beginning of May via our online ticketing system.
DJS does not provide monthly invoices. It is the parent/guardian responsibility for paying the monthly payment on time. Billing periods are based on a 4 week month, which equals 10 periods for the full season. Payments are due on the 1st lesson of each month & there will be a $20 late fee added after the 15th of the month. You can pay online through Studio Director, with a card (a 3% service fee is automatically added) with PayPal (to missjen@dancinjsstudio.com) or at the studio by check or cash. If paying at studio, it can be placed in the drop box located in the lobby. Envelopes are for cash only. Mark name, class time and amount paid on the envelope and enclose the payment. If paying by check no envelope is necessary, but please marks the student’s full name and how your payment should be applied in the memo portion of your check. There is a $35 service charge on returned checks.