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- J'Adore Dance
- Jessica
- Instructors
About J'Adore Dance
At J’Adore Dance, we believe that anyone and everyone can dance! Historically, dance has been an important form of cultural expression, used to pass beliefs, values, and narratives of past events to younger generations. We desire to bring dance back to the people! Our classes promote dance as a form of recreation, expression, physical activity, personal growth, and most importantly, FUN, in a supportive, noncompetitive environment!
The heart in our company’s graphic is symbolic of the three major benefits of dance. The first is the physical wellbeing dancing encourages. In our classes you will get a full body workout that includes the 3 important components of overall fitness: cardiovascular, flexibility, and strength. In a culture that perpetuates a sedentary lifestyle, dancing offers a fun way to get up and moving!
The second benefit is mental wellbeing. Dancing not only exercises your body but also your mind. Research shows that children who dance on a regular basis do better academically. Unlike the mindless routine of most cardio equipment, dance requires you to constantly think about what will happen next and remember sequences and rhythms.
The third benefit is emotional wellbeing. Dance is a wonderful way for people to express how they feel, respond to music instinctually, and build bonds with others. Research has shown that involvement in dance has helped many people deal with mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety, as well as issues such as shyness.
Our greatest mission at J’Adore Dance is to advocate that all people have the ability and right to dance. We try to incorporate classes that encourage groups of individuals to dance who may not typically be seen as able or interested. Because of the presence of a young baby in our lives, Salsa Babies and Salsa Tots are our first classes that respond to this mission. We hope to encourage new mothers and babies, as well as their families, to get out and dance. In the future we hope to offer a wide range of classes that meet different groups’ needs.
About Jessica Baudin-Griffin
Jessica has been dancing since the age of 3, although she has an unorthodox dance training background. As a toddler she loved to dance and was placed in a creative movement class. These classes focused on the elements of dance, rather than strict technique, and this is where Jessica developed her love of self-expression through movement. She continued in these classes and others like them until high school.
Her love of the Arts led Jessica to enroll in a performing and visual arts high school. During these years, Jessica began to focus more on dance technique in order to become a well-rounded dancer. She studied Jazz, Modern, Ballet, Tap, and Hip Hop, as well as Musical Theatre.
Upon entering University Jessica discovered a love of teaching and began her Bachelor’s of Education with a specialization in special education and a focus on the arts. While working on her degree, Jessica began to explore different kinds of dance, participating in Belly Dance, African, Latin, and World Folk Dance classes. She also continued to study Modern and Hip Hop and danced with the Orchesis Modern Dance Company and the University of Alberta Dance Team, a competitive performance dance troop that focused on Hip Hop and Jazz.
During this time Jessica also took courses in teaching dance to children. This led her to become a freelance dance instructor for the City of Edmonton. Jessica developed and taught dance classes all over the city to children, youth, and adults. Teaching these recreational classes made Jessica realize that there is a large population of people who enjoy dance without the standard dance studio goals of performance and competition.
After graduating her B. Ed with distinction from the University of Alberta and being awarded the Federal Government’s $10,000 Millennium Award for Community Involvement and Social Activism, Jessica worked for a year as a Pre-K teacher in the inner city before the birth of her daughter, Bria. Upon Bria’s arrival, Jessica realized she was not ready to return to the very demanding career as a teacher and decided to focus on building her own dance business, J’Adore Dance. Through J’Adore Dance, Jessica hopes to continue bringing dance to groups of people who do not fit into the traditional dance world, and advocate for dance as a lifestyle.
