GJDC Booster Club

04/08/2024

Congratulations to GJDC on an amazing weekend! 💜

04/04/2024

Good luck to our dancers as they head to Velocity this weekend! 🍀💜

03/31/2024

Congratulations to Miss Taylor and Nik! Your GJDC family wishes you both a lifetime filled with love, joy, and endless adventures together. May your union be blessed with happiness and prosperity. Cheers to the beautiful journey ahead!

03/31/2024

Happy Easter to all the GJDC families.
Enjoy the beautiful weather today and the time with your loved ones.
🐰🤍🩷🩵💜🐰

Happy Easter GJD! 🐰🌷💜

We hope you all have a wonderful holiday filled with love and blessings.

03/08/2024

Next, we hear from Miss Melissa

Miss Melissa is the Broadway/Musical Theatre queen 👑 inside and outside of the studio. This year she is bringing another musical theatre piece to the GJDC stage called Hercules 💪
Here are a few inspirational words from Miss Melissa…

❓Q: Are there any female dancers or choreographers who have inspired you throughout your career?

💬 A: My professor in college, Tabatha Robinson Scott introduced me to the Horton technique. I have always loved her classes and choreography. After college, I began dancing in her company. We performed at Alvin Ailey, Lincoln Center, and in Washington, D.C. Working with her and eventually becoming her Assistant Director taught me so much. I still use all her music and exercises in my Modern and Contemporary classes.

❓Q: How do you believe the dance industry can better support and empower women?

💬 A: Honestly the dance world is mostly made up of women. Which makes it more competitive. It’s harder to stick out and be noticed. Support is important but so is having tough skin. Everything is a give and take. If we stop judging ourselves and others so harshly it will make it easier for the artistry and creativity to shine through. Be kind. Lift each other up!

❓Q: In your opinion, what unique perspectives or strengths do women bring to the world of dance?

💬 A: At the end of the day, dance is art and storytelling. Women have many stories to tell. We go through more physically and emotionally. We are able to tap into things that men just simply could not understand.

❓Q: How do you balance your personal life with the demands of a career in dance, and do you have any advice for aspiring female dancers or choreographers?

💬 A: This is not an easy industry no matter who you are. The physical demand is hard enough but it is very difficult to balance home life, especially now as a mother. Dancers and dance teachers work an opposite schedule than most. Many times I have to say no to events or parties because I work in the evenings. It is not easy at all but if you love it enough, you find a way to make it work.

❓Q: As we look towards the future of the dance industry, what do you hope to see in terms of progress for women's representation and recognition?

💬 A: The industry is already composed primarily of women but I would like to see dance taken more seriously as a career and that means that dance companies need to be able to pay their dancers enough to live comfortably. Most dancer have to have other sources of income which tends to be difficult with the schedule that dance companies keep.

03/08/2024

Next up… is Miss Aiala.
Aiala is a recent addition to Grand Jete Dance Company. Before joining GJD, she danced and taught ballet professionally and internationally.

This year Miss Aiala has choreographed two company pieces this year that are from the ballet Coppelia 🩰.

❓Q: Are there any female dancers or choreographers who have inspired you throughout your career?

💬 A: My first ballet teacher's (Carla Alessandra) resilience is truly inspiring. Despite the odds, she runs her own studio in the disadvantaged neighborhood where I grew up, creating opportunities for aspiring dancers like I was. Her guidance paved my way into a professional ballet school. My coach (Nora Esteves), who was a principal dancer and had an international career, provided crucial support during my formative years and when I moved to the USA. Their influence and support have been invaluable, shaping not just my dance journey but also my outlook on perseverance and self-assurance, which now I get to pass on to my students.

❓Q: How do you believe the dance industry can better support and empower women?

💬 A: Many dance industry jobs don't have the same perks and benefits regular jobs do. Given that the dance scene is predominantly female, it becomes even more challenging to sustain a livelihood without adequate benefits. Also, there is a certain expectation of how a female dancer should look, which limits the recognition of the incredible diversity within our community. Embracing this diversity and breaking away from stereotypes could greatly enrich and empower the dance industry for the better.

❓Q: In your opinion, what unique perspectives or strengths do women bring to the world of dance?

💬 A: Women's innate grace, emotional depth, and intuitive understanding of movement often create performances with profound storytelling and expressive power. Additionally, women often bring a collaborative spirit and nurturing energy to dance spaces, fostering supportive environments that encourage artistic exploration and growth.

❓Q: How do you balance your personal life with the demands of a career in dance, and do you have any advice for aspiring female dancers or choreographers?

💬 A: Balancing personal life with a dance career is tough but doable. Prioritize self-care, like rest and mental wellness, alongside training and performances. Lean on your support network for help. For aspiring female dancers and choreographers: Stay true to your passion, persevere, and grow. Build resilience, seek mentors, and embrace learning from diverse perspectives and styles. Celebrate your achievements and trust your talent and determination to carve your unique path in dance.

❓Q: As we look towards the future of the dance industry, what do you hope to see in terms of progress for women's representation and recognition?

💬 A: I envision a future where women lead, choreograph, and innovate in the dance industry with equal opportunities. Celebrating their artistic contributions across genres is crucial. We need more diverse narratives on stage while also addressing challenges like balancing career demands and tackling body image and gender inequality. We need more female leaders to create an equitable and inclusive dance community where women thrive, inspire, and lead confidently.

03/08/2024

Our first feature is Miss Amanda. Amanda is one of two owners of Grand Jete Studio of Dance and has been dancing for over 25 years.

This season she has choreographed several company pieces including:
🟣That
👁‍🗨Right Here, Right Now
🐝The Flight
✨Radio Star
And the following numbers alongside Miss Arenda: It Comes & Goes, Shake It Out, Lost It To Trying, Your Song, and Look At Me.

We sat down with Amanda to ask her a few questions about women in the dance industry. Here are her thoughts...

❓ Q: Are there any female dancers or choreographers who have inspired you throughout your career?

💬 A: My biggest influence was my dance teacher growing up, Miss Susan Fox. Miss Susan taught me from age 3 into high school and was heavily involved in Fosse-style choreography and teachings. Miss Susan studied under the pioneer and his apprentices, using this knowledge to sprinkle onto her own students which carried forward the love for fosse-stylized choreography and concepts. You can find this influence in one of my current pieces this season called "That"; among many others throughout my career. Susan's influence has made me the teacher I am today and I could not be more grateful for her guidance in my journey through dance.

❓ Q: How do you believe the dance industry can better support and empower women?

💬 A: I think the dance industry overall is very heavily influenced by women. Women have broken the mold from early on with pioneers such as Martha Graham, Isadora Duncan, Anna Pavlova, and more who have paved the way for what dance is today. To better support, I would say to idealize these rites of passage and continue legacies for generations to come.

❓Q: In your opinion, what unique perspectives or strengths do women bring to the world of dance?

💬 A: I believe everyone is their own artist with their own ideas on teachings, styles, and persona. I think the strength that comes from a singular person is a gift and should be celebrated, shared, and honed in on. As a woman, I hope that my influence is nurtured within every dancer I encounter throughout my teachings.

❓Q: How do you balance your personal life with the demands of a career in dance, and do you have any advice for aspiring female dancers or choreographers?

💬 A: Balance is key. Although sometimes you have to adjust and roll with the punches. But I do my very best to separate my personal life from "working hours". This means during studio hours I am 100% available. But on weekends and off hours, I practice self-care by being present in my personal life. It has been a learning curve over 10 years of being a woman business owner. My biggest advice is that although we love our job, clientele, and students; self-care needs to be a top priority.

❓Q: As we look towards the future of the dance industry, what do you hope to see in terms of progress for women's representation and recognition?

💬 A: I think it is important to carry on the legacy of the pioneers of dance and continue with their teachings for the generations ahead. It is also important to make your own mark and don't be afraid to be unique. I pride myself on my unique style of choreography and teaching which is loved among our studio and beyond. By not comparing myself to others and grinding my own way; I am creating my own influence and I am hopeful that it will be seen on a larger scale. If not, I am humble and hopeful my students take their learning and pass it along into the future. Recognition is not about winning the big award but is as simple as saying “Thank you for teaching me”.

03/08/2024

🩰 Happy International Women's Day! 🩰

Today, we're celebrating the talented women who bring magic to the GJDC dance floor every day.

Join us in celebrating the strength, creativity, and artistry of women in dance.

Stay tuned...today we will feature the incredible women of GJDC and hear who inspired them as well as their thoughts on how we can best support each other.

Together, let's continue to inspire and uplift one another.

Happy International Women's Day! 💃✨

03/01/2024

Last weekend GJDC attended Revel Competition and Convention in New Brunswick, NJ.

It was an incredible weekend. GJDC had the opportunity to take classes with top talent in the industry as well as showcase their pieces with such passion and artistry! 💜

Another thank you to our sponsors:
Art of Dance
Hausman Fruit Farm
Kennedy Design & Build
Liz’s Chocolates
Werner & Co Certified Public Accountants
Express Sign

Their support helped our dancers get to Revel as well as our upcoming events!

02/19/2024

All our dancers were amazing on stage this past Friday but it was these little Radio Stars who stole the show with all their cuteness!!!!💜💫

Radio Stars 🌟

We can’t wait to share our behind the scenes with you all from our showcase!

In the meantime check out our Mini Team and their fabulous costume and poses for comp season 10.

We can’t wait to watch you all shine on stage 🤩

📸 • .photo

02/18/2024

What an amazing way to kick off Season 10💜
Up next Revel!

Company Showcase 2024! 😎💚

Friday we debuted all of our routines for the season and we could not be more proud of all of our company dancers.You all shined so bright and we can’t wait to take the stage next week at ✨

Be on the look out in our stories for links and updates on our company during season 10.

Thank you .photo for capturing so many moments during our showcase. We are so grateful for you!

Commence SZN 10
Amazing job dancers! 💜

j

02/17/2024

On behalf of all the dancers and parents, we want to take a moment to wish Amanda and Arenda the happiest of birthdays! 🎉 Your dedication, passion, and leadership have been instrumental in making the Grand Jete Dance Company not just a group, but a family. 💜💜💜
Your commitment to excellence and your ability to inspire our dancers are truly remarkable. We are so grateful for all the time and effort you put into making each practice and performance a memorable experience. Your guidance and encouragement have helped our children grow not only as dancers but also as individuals.
May your birthday be filled with joy, laughter, and all the love you deserve. Here's to another amazing year ahead filled with success, happiness, and plenty of dance parties!
Thank you for everything you do for our dance team. Wishing you a fantastic birthday and a year ahead filled with endless blessings!

Warmest regards,
The GJDC Booster Club

**Please comment below to share some birthday wishes as well as any special pictures you have with your dancer and the birthday twins!